KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With the anticipation of the 2022 football season under second-year head coach Josh Heupel drawing closer, Tennessee Athletics has emphatically eclipsed benchmarks for total season-tickets sold and new season-tickets sold.
As of Aug. 3, Tennessee has sold 16,781 new season tickets for the 2022 campaign—168 percent of its goal of 10,000 new season tickets. That also more than doubles Tennessee’s high since new season ticket sales have been tracked; the previous high was 7,502 leading into the 2015 campaign.
UT has sold 58,871 total season tickets, which is more than five percent above and beyond its targeted goal of 56,000.
Last month, Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White launched a comprehensive five-year strategic plan for Tennessee Athletics entitled Rise Glorious. The roadmap document established clear operational standards and focused on six foundational priorities, including the growth of resources to compete for championships. As part of the resource pillar, ambitious season-ticket benchmarks (PDF) for the next five athletic years were unveiled.
“Vol Nation has made an extraordinarily strong statement about their excitement for this team,” White said. “We were optimistic that we could reach our Rise Glorious season-ticket goal of 56,000 by Sept. 1, but we’ve sold close to 17,000 new season-tickets to push us past that goal with still a month left until kickoff. There are very few fanbases worldwide capable of delivering that rate of growth.
“That unwavering commitment and support from our fans sends an extremely powerful message to our current players—along with the country’s top recruits—about the possibilities and opportunities that exist for student-athletes here at Tennessee.”
The season-ticket sales surge perpetuates the department’s momentum following a record-setting fundraising year. During the 2022 fiscal year, the Tennessee Fund set records for fundraising total ($80,759,936), cash receipts ($68,568,453) and total donors (18,859).
Heupel and the Volunteers enter the 2022 season with a clear identity. Sixth-year senior quarterback Hendon Hooker leads an offense that shattered eight team single-season records in Heupel’s first fall, including points (511), total offensive yards (6,174) and touchdowns (67). UT returns eight starters from a unit that ranked seventh nationally in scoring offense (39.3) and was the fastest in the country at 2.99 plays per minute. Defensively, seven starters return from a group that was among the nation’s top 10 in tackles for loss.
Limited season-ticket inventory remains, and the only way fans can guarantee new seats in the lower level of Neyland Stadium is through season tickets. All premium inventory is nearly sold out. Fans interested in the remaining season-ticket availability can contact the Tennessee Fund at (865) 974-1218 or visit AllVols.com.
Tennessee kicks off the 2022 season in a special Thursday primetime contest against Ball State on Sept. 1.
-UT Athletics
