File Photo Courtesy of Bill Wood

NEWARK, Del. -- For the third time in the last four seasons, the University of Delaware has established a new school record for total season tickets sales for football.

As of Friday afternoon, Aug. 22, a total of 11,225 season ticket packages have been sold for the 2008 season. That total breaks the record of 11,160 set during the 2006 season. The 2006 mark broke the previous record of 11,133 set in 2005.

Delaware, will open its six-game home schedule Sept. 13 when the Blue Hens host longtime rival West Chester at 6 p.m. at Delaware Stadium. The No. 9 ranked (The Sports Network) Blue Hens will open the 2008 season Aug. 30 at the University of Maryland.

In addition to season ticket packages that are still on sale, great single game seats at Delaware Stadium are still available. East and West grandstand tickets are $22 each with North End Zone adult tickets available for $17 and North End Zone youth tickets on sale for $9 each. Patrons must purchase one youth ticket for every two adult tickets in the North End Zone.

Individual game tickets can be purchased in person during the summer at the Bob Carpenter Center Ticket Office weekdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. (closed July 1-13). Tickets can be purchased by phone by calling 1-800-695-HENS (Kent and Sussex counties), 302-UD1-HENS (New Castle County), and 302-UD1-4509 (TDD) or online at: www.udel.edu/sportsinfo.

Season ticket packages are priced at $120 for East and West grandstands and discounts are available for recent alumni (1999-2008) for sections F & I only ($106 each/limit two) and for UD faculty and staff ($106 each).

The popular Family Four Pack is once again available for families with children ages 17 and under in the North End Zone and are priced at $180 for a family of two adults and two children. In addition, group ticket discounts are available for purchases of 20 or more.

Season tickets can be purchased in person at the UD Athletics Season Tickets and Group Sales Office located in the Delaware Field House weekdays from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased by phone by calling 302-831-2257 or online at www.udel.edu/sportsinfo.

The Blue Hens, who went 11-4 last season and advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision national championship game last December for head coach K.C. Keeler, return 44 letterwinners and 14 starters, including five All-Americans, this season.

Delaware ranked fourth in the nation in average home attendance during the 2007 season with an average of 21,510. Delaware is the only school in the nation at the NCAA Division I FCS level to average 20,000 or more fans during the regular season each of the last nine seasons.