The National Football League set an all-time regular-season paid attendance record in 2000 for the third year in a row, averaging more than 66,000 fans per game for the first time ever, the league announced today.

Regular-season attendance in 2000 was 16,387,289 for an average of 66,078, compared to 16,206,640 and 65,349 in 1999.

"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 16,387,289 tickets sold to the NFL’s 248 regular-season games in 2000 represented paid attendance at more than 90 percent of capacity. Paid attendance for 2000 increased by 180,649 over 1999 (16,206,640).

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