49ers Lead, Titans Trail in NFL’s Internal Ticket Revenue Rankings

The San Francisco 49ers generated more net ticket revenue than any other National Football League franchise in 2024, while the Tennessee Titans earned the least, according to an internal NFL report obtained by CNBC. The confidential 35-page Summary of Attendance Statistics details ticket sales, pricing, and revenue distribution across all 32 teams and is not publicly available.

The document, reviewed by CNBC, shows that the 49ers sold over 696,000 tickets and collected $176.5 million in net ticket receipts last season — the amount a team retains after taxes, fees, and surcharges. That figure is $40.8 million more than the second-place Dallas Cowboys and $67.5 million above the league average. However, the Cowboys sold the most tickets: a little over 837,000.

The Philadelphia Eagles ranked third after collecting $130.4 million and selling over 610,000 tickets. By contrast, the Titans recorded $81.2 million, ranking last in the league. The Indianapolis Colts followed closely behind at $83.3 million, with the Arizona Cardinals slightly higher at $83.4 million.

Dallas Cowboys stadium | Source: Pexels

The NFL’s revenue-sharing structure requires every team to contribute 34% of ticket revenue and the licensing amount of a club seat to the league, according to several NFL executives who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private matters. This pool, known as the visiting team’s share (VTS), is primarily redistributed equally among all 32 teams. In 2024, each team received $27 million from the VTS program, up from $25 million the previous year.

Funds not redistributed through VTS are allocated to league-level lending programs that help finance new stadium construction and renovations. Certain teams can receive waivers on a portion of their contributions if they are actively funding stadium projects. The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams were granted waivers of $23.4 million and $12.2 million, respectively, to offset costs for their new stadiums, according to the executives.

Beyond ticket sales, the league’s financial structure is heavily supported by national revenue streams. The 32 clubs averaged $433 million each in national revenue during 2024 from media rights, licensing, and sponsorship deals, the executives said. National revenue accounted for about two-thirds of the NFL’s overall income, while local revenue — which includes tickets, suites, stadium sponsorships, concessions, parking, and non-football events — made up the remainder.

San Francisco 49ers stadium | Source: Pexels

Ticket pricing data within the report reveals that San Francisco also charged the highest average general admission ticket price in the league at $190.78. The Philadelphia Eagles followed at $184.27, with the Las Vegas Raiders at $165.58. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots — six-time Super Bowl champions who have missed the postseason since 2021 — led the league in club seat premiums, charging an average of $471.92, more than double the NFL average.

When contacted by CNBC for comment on the Summary of Attendance Statistics report, the NFL declined to respond.