Just about a month and a half following a massive update from the University of Tennessee’s ticketing department, the athletics program revealed more huge news on Thursday afternoon.
According to a press release by Tennessee on Thursday, the Volunteers’ football department has now sold out of season tickets for the upcoming 2023 Tennessee Football season. The total amount of season tickets that were purchased ends at 70,500 – an absolutely jaw-dropping number.
“The sellout figure emphatically eclipses the department’s strategic plan goal of 61,000 by 9,500,” Tennessee said via the press release. “The approaching 127th campaign of Volunteer football also saw a 96 percent season ticket renewal rate. In addition, Tennessee has sold over 9,000 new season tickets for 2023.”
This is only the second time in the past 22 seasons that the Tennessee Volunteers have sold out on season tickets. Tennessee states that the only other year it happened was back during the 2016 season, which was also one of the most anticipated seasons of the modern era.
“Vol Nation continues to show the entire nation why they are the best fan base in college sports,” Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said via the press release from Tennessee. “To be sold out of season tickets for the 2023 season is a testament to their unbridled passion and support of Tennessee Football. We can’t wait to see all our loyal fans on Rocky Top this fall!”
Tennessee’s Rise Glorious plan called for achieving the 70,000 season ticket mark for the 2026-2027 athletic year. The news on Thursday solidifies that Tennessee has hit its final goal a whole three years earlier than the administration originally planned.
Here’s a breakdown from Tennessee regarding the goal for season tickets according to the Rise Glorious plan:
Tennessee Athletics Rise Glorious Football Season Ticket Goals:
Year; Goal; Actual Sold
2022-23; 56,000; 61,490
2023-24; 61,000; 70,500 (sold out)
2024-25; 68,000; –
2025-26; 69,000; –
2026-27; 70,000; –
More from RTI: Kickoff Countdown: Tennessee Drops Hype Video With 100 Days Until the Season
College Football found life in Knoxville, Tennessee, during the 2022 season. With a stadium capacity of 101,915, Tennessee sold out every home game in Knoxville this past season, excluding the Thursday night opener against Ball State to kick off the year. Every other game, though, was sold out.
With an average number of 100,532 spectators per game this season, Tennessee landed with the fifth-highest average home attendance this past season according to FOX College Football.
- Michigan – 110,246
- Penn State – 107,379
- Ohio State – 104,663
- LSU – 100,596
- Tennessee – 100,532
Additionally, Tennessee was also one of the most viewed teams on television this past season, including highlight weekends such as:
- at No. 17 Pittsburgh: 4.5 million viewers, second most viewed game of the week
- vs No. 20 Florida: 5.5 million viewers, most watched Tennessee-Florida game on CBS in 13 years
- vs No. 3 Alabama: 17 million viewers peak, 11.5 million viewers on average
- vs No. 3 Georgia: 13 million viewers
- vs No. 6 Clemson (Orange Bowl): 8.6 million viewers, most watched non-Semifinal Orange Bowl since 2017
It’s certainly looking like Tennessee will sell out every home game during the 2023 season as fans continue to crave more and more U.T. football.
Here’s a breakdown of the attendance for Tennessee games during the 2022 season:
Week 1 (Thursday Night Kickoff Special) – Neyland Stadium
- Ball State @ Tennessee – 92,236 – 90.5 percent full
Week 2 – Acrisure Stadium
- Tennessee @ Pittsburgh – 59,785/68,400 – 87.4 percent full
Week 3 – Neyland Stadium
- Akron @ Tennessee – 101,915 – 100 percent full
Week 4 – Neyland Stadium
- Florida @ Tennessee – 101,915 – 100 percent full
Week 5
BYE
Week 6 – Tiger Stadium
- Tennessee @ LSU – 102,321/102,321 – 100 percent full
Week 7 – Neyland Stadium
- Alabama @ Tennessee – 101,915 – 100 percent full
Week 8 – Neyland Stadium
- UT Martin @ Tennessee – 101,915 – 100 percent full
Week 9 – Neyland Stadium
- Kentucky @ Tennessee – 101,915 – 100 percent full
Week 10 – Sanford Stadium
- Tennessee @ Georgia – 92,746/92,746 – 100 percent full
Week 11 – Neyland Stadium
- Missouri @ Tennessee – 101,915 – 100 percent full
Week 12 – Williams Bryce Stadium
- Tennessee @ South Carolina – 79,041/77,559 – 100+ percent full
Week 13 – FirstBank Stadium
- Tennessee @ Vanderbilt – 40,350/40,350 – 100% full
Bowl Game – Hard Rock Stadium
- Tennessee @ Clemson (Orange Bowl) – 63,912/64,767 – 99 percent full
