GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Chicago White Sox are poised to end an eight-season attendance slide as individual-game ticket sales were brisk Friday, the first day they were made available to the public.

The White Sox announced the club has sold 50 percent more tickets than they did after the opening day of sales last season.

The most popular games were those that were expected: Opening Day, Paul Konerko's jersey retirement May 23, the World Series reunion weekend in July and the three-game White Sox-Cubs cross-town series.

White Sox home attendance has declined every year since the team drew a record 2.96 million fans in 2006, the season after they won the World Series. The White Sox drew 1.65 million fans last season, their lowest total since the 1999 season. They last drew two million fans in 2011.

The White Sox wasted little time taking advantage of the solid ticket-sales numbers, encouraging fans to purchase seven-, 14- and 81-game season ticket packages in order to secure tickets for the most popular home games.

Tickets were available Friday only over the phone or via the internet at whitesox.com. Tickets can be purchased in person starting Saturday at 10 a.m. CST at the Chicago Sports Depot, adjacent to U.S. Cellular Field, as well as the phone and internet options.