MLB.com: First time they've done it prior to the season

The New York Yankees announced today that they have surpassed the three-million mark in ticket sales for 2005 regular-season games at Yankee Stadium. It marks the first time that the Yankees, who have drawn more than three-million fans in each of the last six seasons (1999-2004), have ever sold more than three-million tickets before the start of a season.

The earliest date that the Yankees had previously reached the three-million mark was April 15th in 2004 when they went on to establish the franchise's all-time single-season attendance mark of 3,775,292.
I guess everyone wants to see the Yanks go on a championship run.....