FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-201                 12/30/03

NFL SETS PAID ATTENDANCE RECORD

Paid attendance for NFL regular-season games increased in 2003 to an all-time record of 66,329 per game, the NFL announced today.

The previous record was set in 2000 when an average of 66,078 tickets per game were sold for NFL regular-season games. Last year, paid attendance averaged 65,755.

Total paid attendance for the 2003 regular season increased to 16,913,944, topping last year’s all-time mark of 16,833,310.

“We thank the best fans in sports for the great support they have given us this year and every year,” said NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE.  “Our clubs and players are very appreciative of the enthusiastic crowds at NFL stadiums.”           

The 16,913,944 tickets sold to the NFL’s 255 regular-season games in 2003 represented paid attendance at more than 90 percent of capacity.   

For the second year in a row, a record 90 percent of games – 229 of 255 -- were sold out in advance of the local 72-hour TV blackout deadline.

The top five paid attendance marks for a full season have occurred in the past five years. 

TOP FIVE NFL REGULAR-SEASON PAID ATTENDANCES
 

*  The Week 8 Miami at San Diego game is not included.  The game was moved to Arizona due to the San Diego wildfires and tickets were distributed at no charge.