Apparently believing that if it isn't broken, don't fix it, the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl said it will retain its Dec. 24 date (a Friday) for this year's game.

Kickoff will be at 3 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

The game is scheduled to match the University of Hawai'i, if the Warriors are bowl-eligible, as the Western Athletic Conference representative against an opponent from Conference USA.

UH has played in five of the previous eight games.

The last two games and five of the most recent six have been played on Christmas Eve. The The 2007 game was played on Dec. 23, a Sunday, to avoid a conflict with Monday Night Football.

"Our top four rated games (for viewing households) were all on Christmas Eve," said David Matlin, executive director of the game. "And, so, too, were our two biggest crowds."

With a turnstile count of 20,217 last year, the game needs approximately 11,500 this year to be in compliance with the NCAA's rolling three-year minimum average for certification.

The second Diamond Head Classic basketball tournament will be wrapped around the Hawai'i Bowl, running Dec. 22, 23 and 25, Matlin said.

ESPN Regional Television owns and operates both events.