Gateway

Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: Sports

Friday night's game against Ohio State is on pace to be the largest crowd in school history. Fewer than 2,600 tickets remain for the game at Qwest Center Omaha. (Michelle Bishop/The Gateway) [Click to enlarge]

Maverick hockey fans are close to making history as fewer than 2,600 seats remain for Friday night's game against Ohio State at Qwest Center Omaha.

UNO launched the "Sell Out Ohio State" promotion earlier this month in an effort to shatter the attendance record at the Qwest Center.

The largest crowd to witness a UNO home game at the Qwest Center was on Feb. 9, 2008, when 10,598 fans saw a 5-2 win over Ohio State.

"This is an exciting opportunity to create yet another milestone for our hockey program," UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts said in a statement. "With 'Sell Out Ohio State,' our fans have an opportunity to be a part of a special event in the history of both Maverick hockey and athletics in the city of Omaha."

At 15,907 seats, the Qwest Center is the second-largest college hockey venue in the country behind Ohio State's Value City Arena at 17,500. If the game does sell out, it would be the largest crowd in the country to watch an indoor hockey game this season.

The Mavs regularly sold out games while playing at the Civic Auditorium, but they haven't come close to filling the much larger Qwest Center since moving in 2003-04.

The UNO Athletic Department launched a special Web site, selloutohiostate.com, to allow fans to purchase tickets without Ticketmaster fees and to track the number of available tickets.

Beginning Tuesday at 9 a.m., the Sapp Field House box office will be open for 33 straight hours. Customers will have the opportunity to purchase up to four tickets based on the time of purchase. For example, if a fan purchased tickets at the Sapp Field House Wednesday at 1 a.m., they would pay $1 per upper bowl ticket to the game.

The puck drops at 7:35 p.m. Friday night as the Mavs (13-12-5, 9-11-2-1 CCHA) begin a four-game home stand. After a two-game set with Ohio State, Michigan visits Feb. 12 and 13.

"A capacity crowd at the Qwest Center will give us a home ice advantage like none we've ever had before," Alberts said. "It is sure to put UNO squarely in the consciousness of all college hockey fans."

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