Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge aren't the only ones with reason for great optimism and anticipation about the upcoming season. The business side of the Boston Celtics organization has also had a summer to remember.

For anyone planning on fighting the I-93 traffic or hoping to hop on the Commuter Rail and ride right into the TD Banknorth Garden, you'd better have your tickets already or have a solid plan on how to get them.

Celtics president Rich Gotham said yesterday afternoon that the team is projecting to sell out all of their home games this season -- with the understanding that club seats/suites are still available.

"Winning is the best marketing," Gotham said at the Celtics Waltham practice facility. "The hope of winning is the second-best marketing."

Season ticket sales have gone up by roughly 40 percent so far and now account for about 80 percent of the tickets sold, Gotham said. Individual ticket sales are already equal to the amout sold two and a half months into last season.

No game has more than 1,000 seats remaining, and most of the games not sold out are from late March and on.

Prices have stayed relatively stable. Fifteen percent of tickets have gone up in price (not to be confused with a 15 percent increase in prices), according to Gotham.

Despite the sales explosion, the Celtics plan to have 300 day of game tickets will be available after Ticketmaster windows close.