After having a record year for football attendance-wise, athletic ticket manager Mike Rockovich expects to top the 2003 season by selling out four of the five home games in 2004.

Attendance averaged 23,575 per game in 2003 with seven home games. With one less non-conference game, the schedule only has five home games for 2004.

NIU football coach Joe Novak said there is no question that four sellouts would increase home-team advantage.

“Let’s wait and see,” Novak said. “But if that’s true, that’d be great. We never had a sellout until last year, but if we came out next year with four out of five, it would mean so much for recruiting. The atmosphere on game day is incredible when playing in front of a sold-out crowd.”

Season tickets will go on sale May 17.

Rockovich said he thinks the season-opener should sell out because of the in-state rival opponent – Southern Illinois – and because the game opens the season.

NIU will play its second game against Bowling Green on ESPN2, and that is a natural sellout, Rockovich said.

“Bowling Green is the first conference opponent; they’re a good team, and NIU will be out for revenge.”

Rockovich also expects games against Central Michigan and Toledo to sell out because the former will be the Homecoming game, and the latter will be the last home game of the season and will be on ESPN2.

Rockovich said the hardest game to sell out will be on Oct. 2 against Akron. The Zips will come to DeKalb for the fifth game of the season and are in the MAC East; NIU is in the West.

Despite having two less games, season-ticket prices for 2004 are $75, down $10 from last season. However, single-game ticket prices will increase from $15 to $17.

A first-year promotion to attract new season-ticket buyers gives a discount to recent alumni. For alumni who have graduated within the past five years (1999-2004), season tickets will sell for $15 cheaper.

“The goal is to attract new season ticket holders,” Rockovich said. “They’re fresh out of college and may be close with school friends but may be tight with money. It’s an attractive package to get someone to eventually get in the fold with NIU season tickets.”

Last season, 2,317 season tickets were sold. With the deadline for ticket renewal on April 30, 630 tickets had been renewed at press time.