FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
            NFL-169                    1/5/05

NFL SETS PAID ATTENDANCE RECORD FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR; 66,409 AVERAGE PUSHES TOTAL PAST 17 MILLION MARK
FOR FIRST TIME

The NFL set a regular season attendance record for the second year in a row, averaging 66,409 fans per game, the NFL announced today.

Total paid attendance for the 2004 regular season increased to 17,000,811, topping last year’s all-time mark of 16,913,584 and marking the first time that the NFL reached the 17 million mark.

“We once again thank the most passionate fans in sports for their tremendous support this year and every year,” said NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE.  “Our clubs and players are very appreciative of the large and enthusiastic crowds at NFL stadiums.”            

The 17,000,811 tickets sold to the NFL’s 256 regular-season games in 2004 represented paid attendance at more than 90 percent of capacity.   

TOP FIVE NFL REGULAR-SEASON AVERAGE PAID ATTENDANCES