This is a day local Van Halen fans have been waiting for.

Tickets for the band's March 26 concert at the Sovereign Center in Reading went on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.

Those wanting to be sure they got their hands on tickets, however, started lining up at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 12 hours before the start of the Sovereign Center's "Hot for Tickets" on-sale celebration.

"When a band like Van Halen is playing in Reading, you have to support it," said one fan.

"I became a Van Halen fan back in the late 70s when I first was making out with my first girlfriend," said another fan.

Van Halen is hitting the road to promote its first album in 14 years, "A Different Kind of Truth."

Frontman David Lee Roth is back, but bassist Michael Anthony was replaced by Eddie's son, Wolfgang.

One diehard fan said he does not mind.

"I've been a big fan and not only that, I called my youngest son Wolfgang," he said.

Fans were treated to free coffee and Sonic coupons. Radio stations WRFY-FM from Reading and WMMR-FM from Philadelphia were also on hand to broadcast the party live to their listeners. They also gave away tickets to some lucky fans.

"We got tickets and we didn't have to buy them. Yea!" said Tom Dewalt.

Sovereign Center officials said earlier this week that they were expecting the concert to sell out as others have in cities such as New York, Las Vegas, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Concert attendance at the Sovereign Center was down 13% at this time last year, said Zane Collings, SMG's regional general manager, who's hoping Van Halen will get fans to "jump" back in line and make this year a success.

"We're hoping to see things turn around," said Collings.

"Please bring more bands down to the Sovereign Center," said Joe McLaughlin. "It's a great start. This is what the city needs."

Van Halen will start its 2012 North American tour in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday.

The band will be joined in Reading by Kool and the Gang.