On the way to a Western Athletic Conference tri-championship in 2010, the University of Hawaii football team brought in the most ticket revenue since its Sugar Bowl year.

The Warriors’ 10-3 regular-season finish in 2010 attracted $4.71 million from sales of home individual game and season tickets, up from $4.51 million in 2009, UH said. Premium fees were not included.

It was the most since 2007, when the Warriors, who went 12-0 in the regular season, produced $5.84 million in ticket revenue on the way to a Bowl Championship Series loss to Georgia.

This year UH averaged 33,835 through the turnstiles, compared with 32,519 in 2009 and 41,325 in 2007.

UH athletic director Jim Donovan attributed the nearly $200,000 rise in revenue over 2009 to "the USC game and the fact we had a long losing streak (six games) early in 2009 before rallying back."

The Warriors’ season opener with then-nationally ranked Southern California and its new coach, Lane Kiffin, drew 41,766 to Aloha Stadium and produced net revenue of $1.1 million, according to UH.

It was most of any home game in UH’s history, helped by the attendance of an estimated 8,000-10,000 Trojans fans.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Wahine volleyball showed a $47,387 decrease from 2009, according to UH figures.

The Rainbow Wahine took in $748,001 in 2010, compared with $795,388 in the final four-bound 2009 season.

Donovan attributed much of the difference to the 8,199 that turned out for head coach Dave Shoji’s 1,000th victory in 2009, a turnstile crowd unmatched this past season.

Donovan also said that, across the board, UH is still feeling the impact of the down economy.

"Although we’re seeing positive signs (in the economy), it may be a while before we get back to where fans are attending more events," Donovan said.

Meanwhile, UH said it hopes to realize as much as a low five-figure profit from the Warriors’ appearance in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl when all the bills are in, Donovan estimated.

UH does not receive direct gate receipts from bowl games, but gets a $375,000 stipend from the WAC for the bowl and is eligible for a ticket bonus. Out of that, UH must pay its hotel, food, coaches’ bonuses and other costs.

In much of the past, UH has either barely broken even or lost money on non-BCS game participation. "Carl (associate athletic director Clapp) did an excellent job of keeping a handle on expenses for us," Donovan said.