NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The line in the NFL's official record of a game says "paid attendance." The way it's announced in the press box is "tickets distributed."
For the the Titans' Week 18 season finale against the Texans at Nissan Stadium on Jan. 5 the number -- long ignored as anything relevant during bad times -- was 61,815.
But the actual number of tickets scanned by machine was about 20,100, the lowest number ever for a Titans' regular season game at the venue, with the team's poor play and rain combining to keep people away in surprisingly high numbers.

It may have been worse than that, as season ticket holders I know said they saw fans having tickets scanned for them. Some who were not there wanted to be recorded as attending to get credit. Club members get $150 in concession or pro shop credit if they attend seven of eight home games.
Tennessee lost 23-14, finishing 3-14 and securing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The previous smallest scanned crowd was approximately 35,000 on Christmas Eve, 2022.
Kickoff of that game against the Texans was delayed for an hour as Nashville experienced power outages and rolling blackouts due to freezing temperatures. The night before the game, burst water pipes in Nissan Stadium were an issue, and despite repairs some luxury suites were not usable.
It was 20 degrees with a windchill of 6 at kickoff, the coldest home game in franchise history.
The Texans won 19-14 behind backup quarterback Davis Mills to pull to 2-12-1. It was a fifth-consecutive loss for the Titans who blew a four-game lead in the AFC South and fell into a tie with Jacksonville at 7-8.
That was a bad point for the franchise, which finished 7-10, losers of seven straight.
But nearly 15,000 fewer people cared to show up for the Titans' 14th loss of 2024. '
As it nears the hire of a new general manager, who will yield final power on football matters to president of football operations Chad Brinker, the franchise has to be concerned with fan apathy, though in terms of ticket sales, visiting teams help a great deal.
Fans of the Packers and Vikings chanted audibly at Nissan Stadium during the just-completed season.
Home opponents outside the AFC South in 2025 include the Chiefs, whose fans certainly travel well, as well as the Patriots with new head coach Mike Vrabel, the Saints and the Seahawks.
Both Los Angeles franchises, the Rams and Chargers, are likely to bring fewer fans.
The Titans are two years away from opening the new Nissan Stadium, an indoor venue currently rising in the parking lot of the current stadium. Premium, exceptionally costly personal seat licenses have reportedly moved well. But they come with ties to other events the building will host, like Final Fours, College Football Playoffs, Wrestlemania and concerts.
The Titans' fortunes have turned quickly in the past -- they went from three wins to nine in 2016. But current interest and buzz is far more about the building than the team it will house.