AD tabs seats for lower prices

It will soon cost less to attend University of Hawaii sports events, especially if you don't mind heights.

UH athletic director Jim Donovan yesterday identified specific seating areas of home sports venues (mostly upper levels) yesterday for reduced ticket prices for the 2008-09 seasons.

"We're looking at it, viewing where our pricing's at," Donovan said. He said the specific new prices will be released in "early or mid-summer."

For football games at Aloha Stadium, the upper level of the south end zone and all levels of the north end zone are earmarked for lower prices, he said. Donovan also said plans call for lower prices at the upper level of the on-campus Stan Sheriff Center and the red level of Les Murakami Stadium for baseball.

These were the prices for individual tickets for the just-completed seasons in the designated areas: Football north end zone -- $24-27 adults, $19-22 seniors and ages 4-18, $5 UH students; football south end zone -- $29-32; Women's volleyball upper level -- $16 adults, $10 seniors, $6 ages 4-18, $3 UH students; Men's basketball upper level -- $18-22 adults, $14-16 seniors, $5 ages 4-18, $3 UH students; Women's basketball (all general admission) -- $8 adults, $6 ages 4-18, UH students free; Men's volleyball upper level -- $11 adults, $9 seniors, $3 ages 4-18 and UH students; Baseball red section -- $7 adults, $5 seniors, $3 ages 4-18 and UH students.

Donovan replaced Herman Frazier last month and inherited a deficit of around $5 million. He said improving waning attendance with some lower prices can improve UH's fiscal status.

He is attending Western Athletic Conference meetings today in Salt Lake City where the WAC's TV deal with ESPN was to be discussed.