In what might be a first for the University of Hawai'i, the athletic department is asking the board of regents for approval to lower some ticket prices for the upcoming seasons.

If approved at the regents' May 29 to 30 meetings in Kapolei, UH would lower the price of seats in selected areas for football, baseball and the arena sports in time for the start of the women's volleyball and football seasons, according to people familiar with the process.

UH was not immediately able to say how many seats would be involved in the six sports — football, baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's volleyball and women's volleyball — for which it charges admission. Thirteen sports have no admission charge.

UH athletic director Jim Donovan declined comment pending regents' action but had previously said he wanted to lower prices, where possible, to boost sales and come up with so-called "family packs" to entice more families to events.

With an accumulated net deficit of $4.4 million, Donovan has said UH's biggest potential area for fiscal growth is "in our empty seats at events."

Upon taking the athletic director's job in March, Donovan said he would reevaluate the pricing structure and try to bring "greater value to our fans."

To that end, Donovan has said he undertook a tour of UH events with his family to better calculate what would appeal to families.

For example, seats in the north end zone of Aloha Stadium were priced at $24 to $27 for adults last football season. Individual game tickets in that area could drop by 10 percent or more and season tickets by 15 percent or more, pending regents' approval. Perhaps as much as a quarter of Aloha Stadium's 50,000 seats could be involved in the repricing.

The number of seats and price ranges are expected to vary by sport. Upper areas at Les Murakami Stadium and the Stan Sheriff Center are also expected to see considerable change.