Titans New Stadium: Will the New Nissan Stadium Open in Primetime in 2027?
Updated: October 3, 2026
The Titans' new Nissan Stadium opens for the 2027 NFL season, and its first regular-season game will likely be in primetime. Every new NFL stadium from 2008 through 2026 hosted a Sunday, Monday or Thursday night game in its first week. The opponent will be one of Tennessee's nine 2027 home opponents.
Every New NFL Stadium Since 2008 Hosted Primetime in Its First Week
Nine new stadiums opened from 2008 through 2026. Each one hosted a primetime game in its first week of regular-season football. The table shows the first home game for every team in each building. Times are Eastern.
| Year | Stadium (name at opening) | Team | Week | Window | Opponent | Team's previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Colts | 1 | Sunday night | Bears | 13–3 |
| 2009 | Cowboys Stadium | Cowboys | 2 | Sunday night | Giants | 9–7 |
| 2010 | New Meadowlands Stadium | Giants | 1 | Sunday 1:00 PM | Panthers | 8–8 |
| 2010 | New Meadowlands Stadium | Jets | 1 | Monday night | Ravens | 9–7 |
| 2014 | Levi's Stadium | 49ers | 2 | Sunday night | Bears | 12–4 |
| 2016 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Vikings | 2 | Sunday night | Packers | 11–5 |
| 2017 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Falcons | 2 | Sunday night | Packers | 11–5 |
| 2020 | SoFi Stadium | Rams | 1 | Sunday night | Cowboys | 9–7 |
| 2020 | SoFi Stadium | Chargers | 2 | Sunday 4:25 PM | Chiefs | 5–11 |
| 2020 | Allegiant Stadium | Raiders | 2 | Monday night | Saints | 7–9 |
| 2026 | Highmark Stadium | Bills | 2 | Thursday night | Lions | 12–5 |
Two buildings opened with two teams, and in both, one team got the primetime game. The Giants opened the New Meadowlands Stadium, now MetLife Stadium, on a Sunday afternoon in 2010. The Jets hosted Monday Night Football there the next night. In 2020 the Rams opened SoFi Stadium on Sunday Night Football, and the Chargers played their first home game there one week later.
The last new stadium without a primetime game in its first week was Arizona's University of Phoenix Stadium, now State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals opened it on a Sunday afternoon against the 49ers in 2006.
Sunday Night Hosted 6 of 9 New NFL Stadium Openers Since 2008
| Window | First-week primetime games | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday night | 6 | Colts, Cowboys, 49ers, Vikings, Falcons, Rams |
| Monday night | 2 | Jets, Raiders |
| Thursday night | 1 | Bills |
Every Sunday night opener went to a team that won at least nine games the year before. The only primetime opener after a losing season was the Raiders, who went 7–9 in 2019, their last season in Oakland, and opened Allegiant Stadium on a Monday night in 2020. The Chargers came off a 5–11 season and opened SoFi Stadium on a Sunday afternoon.
Thursday is the newest choice. The Bills opened Highmark Stadium in Week 2 of 2026 against the Lions, in the first Thursday Night Football game of the season on Prime Video.
Titans New Stadium Opener in 2027: Sunday, Monday or Thursday Night?
Tennessee went 3–14 in 2025, and the Titans hosted no primetime games from 2023 through 2025. Their last home game in primetime was a Thursday night game against Dallas on Dec. 29, 2022. No team that opened a new stadium since 2008 came off a season worse than 5–11.
The league builds the 2027 schedule after the 2026 season, so the 2026 record counts most. If Tennessee stays near the bottom of the league, past openers make Monday or Thursday night more likely than Sunday night.
| Window | Likely week | What the history shows |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday night | Week 2 | The first game of each season usually goes to the defending Super Bowl champion. In 2026, the Bills opened their stadium with Prime Video's first Thursday game, in Week 2. |
| Monday night | Week 1 or 2 | The Raiders opened Allegiant Stadium on a Week 2 Monday after a 7–9 season. |
| Sunday night | Week 1 or 2 | All six Sunday night openers since 2008 went to teams with nine or more wins the year before. |
Six of the nine new stadiums since 2008 opened in Week 2, each time after the home team played on the road in Week 1. If the Titans open the 2027 season on the road, the new stadium's first game moves to Week 2.
Titans 2027 Home Opponents: Who Could Open the New Nissan Stadium
Tennessee has nine home games in 2027. Seven opponents are set now. The last two depend on where the Titans finish in the AFC South in 2026.
| Opponent | Why the opponent visits Nashville in 2027 | 2025 record |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | AFC South | 12–5 |
| Indianapolis Colts | AFC South | 8–9 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | AFC South | 13–4 |
| Buffalo Bills | AFC East rotation | 12–5 |
| Miami Dolphins | AFC East rotation | 7–10 |
| New Orleans Saints | NFC South rotation | 6–11 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | NFC South rotation | 8–9 |
| AFC West team | Same 2026 division finish as Tennessee | — |
| NFC West team | Same 2026 division finish as Tennessee | — |
The Titans' 2027 road games are at Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, New England, the Jets, Atlanta, Carolina and the AFC North team with the same 2026 finish.
Best Candidates to Open the New Nissan Stadium in 2027
Buffalo is the strongest case for a Sunday night opener. The Bills went 12–5 in 2025, opened their own new stadium in primetime in 2026, and last played in Nashville on Monday Night Football in 2021.
Houston (12–5) and Jacksonville (13–4) also won at least 12 games in 2025. Division games opened two of the nine new stadiums since 2008: the Giants at Dallas in 2009 and the Packers at Minnesota in 2016.
Past openers leaned on big-draw visitors. The Bears and the Packers each visited two of the nine openers since 2008, and the Cowboys visited one.
Build a 2027 Titans Mock Schedule With the New Stadium Opener
Put the first game at the new Nissan Stadium in the week and window you expect in the 2027 mock schedule builder, then export your Titans schedule. Follow each 2027 game as it is announced on the 2027 NFL Schedule Release Tracker, and see every Titans opponent on the Titans team page.
How we counted
- Regular season only. "First week" means the first week of regular-season games in the building.
- Temporary homes are not counted: the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Rams, 2016–19) and StubHub Center (Chargers, 2017–19).
- Game data for 2008–2025 comes from the nflverse games data compiled by Lee Sharpe. The 2026 Bills game comes from the 2026 schedule.
- Stadium facts: Titans, ENR, WZTV.
FAQ
When does the new Nissan Stadium open?
The Titans' new stadium is scheduled to open for the 2027 NFL season. The team's target for completion is February 2027.
Is the Titans' new stadium still called Nissan Stadium?
Yes. The Titans and Nissan signed a 20-year naming rights deal that moves the name to the new building.
Who will the Titans play in the first game at the new Nissan Stadium?
The NFL sets the date and opponent with the 2027 schedule release, expected in May 2027. The opponent will be one of Tennessee's nine 2027 home opponents.
Will the first game at the new Nissan Stadium be in primetime?
It is not confirmed. Every new NFL stadium from 2008 through 2026 hosted a primetime game in its first week of regular-season play.
When is the last game at the old Nissan Stadium?
Tennessee's last scheduled regular-season game there is Jan. 3, 2027, against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A home playoff game would move that date.
How many seats will the new Nissan Stadium have?
About 60,000, fewer than the current stadium's 69,124.
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