Early signs suggest University of Hawaii football season-ticket sales could end their downward trend of recent years, officials said.

“I think the trend is positive with our early renewal rate about 81 percent,” athletic director David Matlin said Tuesday.

He said UH has sold 12,156 season tickets to date, including 434 new ones. “That’s pretty good for May compared to past trends,” Matlin said.

Some years the renewal rate has been under 70 percent at this time, contributing to a free-fall that had seen season tickets drop from 27,699 in 2008 to 14,454 last season, the lowest in more than 35 years.

But coming off the Rainbow Warriors’ 7-7 finish and Hawaii Bowl victory, UH began one of its earliest renewal drives and Matlin said, “Given that we are still one month earlier in the process than in past years, UH Athletics is looking forward to improving on the 14,454 season tickets purchased last season with the time still left to purchase tickets and taking into account the traditional surge in sales as purchasing deadlines approach.”

Matlin said, “While we are appreciating the strong showing of support by our fans, there are still lots of good seats available and we would encourage Rainbow Warrior Football fans to get their tickets and come and enjoy the excitement.”

UH dropped prices in most end zone locations and sideline yellow sections and is offering student and senior pricing in the south end zone orange level for the first time.

Season tickets rose from 20,990 in 2011 to 20,994 in 2012 but have been on a slide since.

Matlin said, “We’re just trying to grow the numbers. We dropped about 12,000 since the most recent high water mark (2008), so we’re just trying to grow the base back. Of course, the way you do that is that you stabilize it and then start building it back up.”

Season tickets are available for purchase online, at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or by calling 944-BOWS (2697) during the same hours, UH said.