One reason the University of Hawaii hoped the NCAA would not stand in the way of the Warriors’ football season opener with Southern California is the opportunity for it to be the largest revenue-generating home game in school history.

With a sellout—or something approaching it—in the Sept. 2 game, UH could go over the $1.2 million mark in ticket revenue for the first time in its history.

To date, UH’s biggest revenue game was USC’s last visit, 2005, when the Warriors took in $1,148,424 in ticket sales.

"Obviously we’re hoping for a sellout," said Jim Donovan, UH athletic director. "It (the record) would seem logical with some of the things in place."

For one, UH has raised the price of some sideline single-game tickets for the USC game only from $38 to $50 and student tickets from $8 to $15. Some premium locations also had changes.

The NCAA had prohibited USC from playing an exempt (13th) game when the Trojans were slapped with probation last month, but backed off on the UH game a week later and put the ban in for the following season.

Already close to 30,000 tickets have been accounted for well in advance of the sales for individual game tickets locally.

UH said it has sold more than 18,500 renewal season tickets, with new season tickets sales under way.

Under its contract, USC had a 7,500-ticket allotment for the game and sports information director Tim Tessalone said, "Tickets are moving well and we are approaching selling our allotment."

Travel packages advertised on the Trojans’ website are also doing well, according to Pleasant Holidays, which is the travel provider for USC fans.

"The USC vs. UH football game is generating a great deal of interest," Jack E. Richards, president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays said through a spokeswoman. "It’s not only the season opener for both schools, it’s Lane Kiffin’s first game as USC’s head coach and Trojan fans are showing their support."