The University of Hawai'i said it will discount a special introductory football road pay-per-view package by 65 percent for season-ticket holders and offer $17 to $24 discounts on season tickets in selected locations at Aloha Stadium in an effort to boost sales in a declining economy.

"In these tough economic times, we want to be responsive to the additional financial hurdles facing our fans," said UH athletic director Jim Donovan. "We feel these price reductions will help people better afford season tickets and enjoy fun family outings to UH football games."

UH and its partners, KFVE/KHNL and Oceanic Time Warner Cable, will offer 21 events — the largest pay-per-view package in the plan's seven-year history. It will include the most football selections ever, 11 of the 13 regular season games, five Rainbow Wahine volleyball matches and five men's basketball events. Last year UH had a 19-event package, which included eight football games.

The package will include UH's first two road games, Aug. 30 at Florida and Sept. 13 at Oregon State. The only exclusions are the Oct. 17 game at Boise State and either the Nov. 29 Washington State or Dec. 6 Cincinnati home games, which ESPN has selected.

For O'ahu residents the package price will be $380 to $430, depending on whether the order is a renewal from 2007 or new. Individual events will range from $25 to $60. Last year O'ahu customers paid $330 to $380 and $25 to $65 for individual events.

The per-event price for the package is $18.10 (up from $17.37) for renewal subscribers and $20.48 (up from $20) for new new subscribers. Neighbor Island residents will pay $185 to $210 for the package, up from $135 to $175 last year. Individual events are priced at $12.50 to $30.

As an incentive to buy or retain season tickets at Aloha Stadium, season-ticket holders will be offered a special introductory $99 price for the five road football games, a 65-percent discount from the regular fee. To receive the discount, season tickets must be purchased by July 18.

John Fink, vice president and general manager of KFVE/KHNL, said, "I want to make it clear that after we beat Florida and then we beat Weber State the guy wants to buy the pay-per-view package and says I'm a season-ticket holder, (well), you don't get the discount any more."

Fans will be sent a letter regarding the pay-per-view discount and will need to submit a form with payment to Oceanic to have their choice of cable accounts activated for road telecasts.

The repriced season tickets at Aloha Stadium will be in six selected areas spread over the North and South end zones, priced from $60 to $110. They will include student, UH student, senior citizen and other areas. All other season-ticket prices have been frozen at 2007 levels, Donovan said.

Season-ticket holders with seats in the newly reduced-price areas who have already made payments will be sent a refund check or have it posted to their credit card, UH said.

Pay-per-view is expected to underwrite approximately 8.5 percent of UH's projected $28 million to $30 million budget.

Football season tickets go on sale July 7 and may be purchased online at www.HawaiiAthletics.com, at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by phone, 944-2697, the same hours.

ROAD TICKETS AVAILABLE

UH announced it still has tickets available for the first two road games, Aug. 30 at Florida and Sep. 13 at Oregon State. The Florida game will start at 12:30 p.m. (6:30 a.m. Hawai'i). The Oregon State game will start at 1 p.m. (10 a.m. Hawai'i).