Enthusiasm surrounding the start of the 2017 University of Delaware football season and a new era under head coach Danny Rocco has resulted in a surge of season ticket sales this summer.

As of Aug. 21, Delaware has doubled its total of new season tickets (900) from last year. In addition, Blue Hen football season ticket holders have renewed their seats at a rate of 88 percent. Both totals are the highest since the 2010 season when Delaware advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game. The increase in new season tickets sold also represents the first growth in that area since that 2010 season.

Rocco took over the reins of the program in January after 11 successful seasons as a head coach at both Liberty University and Delaware’s Colonial Athletic Association rival Richmond. He has never suffered a losing season as a head coach and led Richmond to consecutive berths in the NCAA Tournament over the last three campaigns. The Blue Hens return all but three full-time starters from last year’s squad led by preseason All-CAA selections in center Brody Kern, defensive tackle Bilal Nichols, and linebacker Charles Bell.

Delaware will open its six-game home schedule on Aug. 31 when the Blue Hens host downstate foe Delaware State at 7 p.m. at Delaware Stadium. Future home games include a Sept. 16 meeting vs. first-time opponent Cornell (Band Day); Sept. 30 vs. defending NCAA FCS national champion James Madison; Oct. 14 vs. William & Mary (Parents & Family Weekend); Oct. 21 vs. Richmond (Homecoming); and Nov. 11 vs. Albany.

Season, group and mini-plan packages are on sale now as are individual game tickets. Contact the Delaware Ticket Office by phone at 302-831-2257, by email atathletics-tix@udel.edu or online by clicking on “Tickets” at www.bluehens.com. There are also a limited number of premium box seats still available for the 2017 football season.