Following a record-breaking weekend at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, Nashville Sports Council/TransPerfect Music City Bowl and University of Tennessee officials shared their thoughts on the power of college football in Nashville.

A remarkable 69,507 fans filled Nissan Stadium on Saturday during No. 9 Tennessee’s 49-13 win over Virginia, surpassing the previous college football record of 69,489 attendees set during the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl, which featured a thrilling matchup between Tennessee and Purdue.

"This record-breaking attendance is a testament to the incredible passion and dedication of college football fans here in Nashville, across Tennessee and the country,” Scott Ramsey, President and CEO of the Nashville Sports Council and TransPerfect Music City Bowl, said. “The TransPerfect Music City Bowl and the Nashville Sports Council are honored to have played a part in bringing together such an enthusiastic crowd to open up the college football season. We are proud to continue showcasing the vibrant sports culture that Nashville has to offer."

For the past 26 years, the TransPerfect Music City Bowl has been a highlight of the college football postseason. The bowl game has regularly drawn crowds exceeding 60,000 fans, with Tennessee fans regularly selling out Nissan Stadium. In fact, including Saturday’s season opener, games at Nissan Stadium featuring the Volunteers have surpassed 69,000 fans three out of the last four times.

"The University of Tennessee is extremely proud to be a part of this record-setting game,” Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. “It's a testament to the incredible support and passion of Vol Nation and we are grateful to have the opportunity to showcase our program in front of such a tremendous crowd. Seeing Nashville light up in orange all weekend just continues to show why we have the best fan base in all of sports.”

The Nashville Sports Council will continue to pursue future college football opportunities in the coming years. Until then, fans are encouraged to attend or tune into the 2023 TransPerfect Music City Bowl, set for Saturday, Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. on ABC.

For more information on other Nashville Sports Council events, please visit www.NashvilleSports.com.

# # #