Oct. 2, 2003

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Ticket sales for Saturday's "Battle in Seattle," the college football match-up between archrivals Central Washington University and Western Washington University at Seahawks Stadium, have gone over 11,000, game organizers announced today.

With two days left until kickoff and a brisk walk-up crowd expected, the contest figures to set a state record for attendance at a non-NCAA Division I game in the state of Washington.

The current small college record is 14,830, set at the Tacoma Dome in 1983 when University of Puget Sound played Pacific Lutheran University. Both were NAIA schools at that time.

"We're doing very well," said Western director of athletics Lynda Goodrich. "Originally, we were figuring around 10,000, so we're already well beyond that. We would like to see 15,000 to break the state record, - we'll see how the late sales and the walkups go."

The largest crowd to see two NCAA II teams in the Northwest occurred in 1993, when 22,136 came to Portland's Civic Stadium when Portland State University hosted University of North Alabama.

Tickets for the Battle in Seattle remain available at $10, $15 and $20 and may be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Seahawks Stadium box office.