We’d like your feedback on Virginia Tech’s Sugar Bowl ticket sales
There’s been an outpouring of opinions on Virginia Tech’s ticket sales so far for the Sugar Bowl, as the post below indicates. Well, we’re putting something together for this Sunday’s paper about it and would like your feedback in a more formal way.
Since this is about the fans, we’re asking for your feedback regarding Virginia Tech’s ticket situation. Have you bought tickets to the game? If so, did you go through Virginia Tech? Did you go through a secondary party? Why? Did the cost — of tickets, airfare or in general — turn you off to traveling to New Orleans? Would you go in a normal year but not this time with the economy in its current situation? Did the game’s date make it impossible to go? What are your general thoughts on the BCS ticketing process?
Here’s your chance to sound off on any particular angle. If you’d like to submit your opinion for the paper (and I’ll probably put the best ones online too), send an email to andy.bitter@roanoke.com or andy.bitter@pilotonline.com. Don’t post them in the comments section below because, and THIS IS IMPORTANT, you must put your full name, hometown and a contact number (for verification purposes only, not for publication) if we are to run your letter.
Here’s the standard disclaimer with all of our editorial submissions: Try to keep your letter to 100 words or fewer. We prefer something concise. All letters are edited. Because of the volume we receive, we regret we can publish only a portion of them, and cannot always acknowledge receipt.
December 13, 2011 - 4:36 PM
I feel that the ticket situation, while not optimal, is still successful for VT, given recent years lack of success. The Sugar Bowl is mid-week, right after a long vacation for many. In addition, the secondary market has always done a lot for Hokies fans, and when certain sites are selling at half the price, loyalty goes out the window… for the record, I bought my tickets from hokiesports.com five minutes after the sales opened to students.
The game being midweek , and at the start of a new year, precludes me from taking time off of work. otherwise, I would be there, regardless of travel costs. I will also say that if I were to go, there is no chance I would pay full price for tickets from the school’s ticket office. Its insane to ask $120 for a ticket that can be purchased at less than half the cost on the secondary market.
Love the Hokies but honestly have been disappointed so many times in the big games (Clemson in Charlotte the latest) not even considering it.Stanford, Kansas, Boise been to all of them and I am done.
It seems that all of the talk is about ticket sales, and maybe that is okay, but Virginia Tech should be concerned about preparing to try to win the game. After all, that is what this is all about, trying to win the game.
By the way, winning the game is certainly what Tech needs to try their best to do considering that Tech has lost too many high profile games on national television. Continued loosing of these games will sometime in the future cost Tech the opportunity to be selected for these types of games.
Let’s go Hokies !!!
I suppose on a subconscious level I am protesting Tech’s selection to the Sugar Bowl by not going anywhere. The truth is, I feel it is far more cost effective and wise to stay home.
By the time you pay for everything (airfare, hotel, tickets) it was just too expensive. NO is always a fun town to visit, and I know a lot of friends that are going, but it’s not a cheap endeavor by any means. You have to weigh 3-4 days of fun, or one full paycheck.
Personally, I was so dissapointed by their play in the ACC championship game, that I am just not all that excited about the game.
All that being said, if I did decide to go, I would not go through the ticket office. Why would I spend 150 a ticket, when I can get one on the open market for 53 bucks (as of this morning)?
I think the biggest drawback is the day it is played on. Being in financial reporting for a company with a year end close, it makes it very hard to attend.
I already gave a heap of money to VT thius year for my donation, season tickets, and ACC champ tix. If we were going, which we can’t because of work, I would probably buy tickets from a secondary vendor because of the price & the seats are usually better. And personally we have family in Atlanta so when we go to the Chick-fil-a Bowl, we stay with them & make it a family trip. That cuts down the cost too.
Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to go but it’s too darn expensive.
Hokie tickets sales to the SUgar BOwl as are good or better than most other schools this season. We’ve sold more than UVA and CLemson in the ACC and Michigan had not sold their allotment either. Most schools have not and will not make their allotment.
I bought two tickets through StubHub because I was able to tell my seat location right away. I also wanted to be guaranteed a good location at about the same our better price. I also bought proxy tix through VTTO to support our department. If you can go, please do! I still think we’ll have 25,000 to 30,000 there through secondary ticket brokers and game day sales. GO HOKIES!
Think it is very obvious that all the big bowls, football conferences and schools have allowed ESPN to take over college football in general and bowl scheduling in particular. Use to be All the bowl games were done by Jan 1st but now they drag out till the 9th. Will be visiting relatives in Miss so will probably drive over to the game–with tickets purchased thru secondary market. Understand that Michigan is having the same problem with ticket sales but National media not mentioning that. All the negatives about VT in the sugar bowl are unfortunately somewhat deserved after the poor showing against Clemson.
Imagine that. Another thing tech fans are overrated for, their traveling. NC State has sold out of their allotment, and UVA has sold right at 14k tickets. Maybe the media will stop overhyping the fans of vt as well.
Since it is obviously common knowledge for Hokie fans that you can get better and cheaper seats outside of the VTTO, it’s bordering on ignorant to base Hokie ticket sales on just what the VTTO sells.
If the secondary market is selling better seats for $50 and Tech’s price is $120, why the difference? Who determines the ticket price, the school, the bowl or demand. I know Tech has been ridiculous on their pricing for years. 30 years ago I took my children(grade school), my Dad(senior citizen) and went to one of those meaningless Thanksgiving week games against a Div II school with no students on campus. Kids wanted to see a college game and we were in the area so we went. All ticket prices were the same, $25 a piece. There were maybe 3500 people at the game. No reduced prices for the situation or demographic. I told them then to enjoy the money because it was the last time I was going to pay premium prices for a high school quality game. Another reason to concentrate on winning this game is recruiting. Faceplant in this game could affect recruiting in an adverse way.
I am sure they are over 10k and getting closer to 11k by now James. Glad to hear UVA is a few thousand ahead after their “monumental” year. The only thing UVa has ever sold out is the Car bowl in Charlotte, where NC State has a 3 hour drive to this year. Get a clue! You don’t know what you are talking about hater..
@ A HOke going to New Orleans: “We’ve sold more than UVA and CLemson in the ACC”. You failed Propaganda 101 or Math.
Fact:
UVA 13,625. (UVA Bowl Central 12/13/2011)
VT 9,500. (Roanoke.com 12/13/2011)
Does the VTTO (or any school that sells bowl tickets) have any say in determining the price of the tickets? Or is the price determined by the bowl committees?
Several reasons for lagging sales:
1. Sugar Bowl game is scheduled during the weeks after Jan 1, and is therefore inconvenient.
2. VT fans have been to lots of bowl games.
3. Fans have been disappointed by VT performance in bowl games.
4. Orange bowl has worn VT fans out with bowl games.
5. Economy has negative effect.
6. Constant criticism of press of selection process and VT in particular discourages attendance. Criticism stimulates some of the base, but it also creates a negative atmosphere and I think that rubs off on the fan base and discourages it. Herbstreit is the poster child for this effect.
7. Tickets are too high priced, especially from the VT ticket office, at least there is a perception that they are priced higher there and that the seats are not as good.
8. Airline tickets are out of sight.
9. So all of that creates a negative atmosphere for selling tickets. Any surprise?
I’m definitely making the trip to NOLA for the game and will support the Hokies all the way! My decision to attend the game isn’t based on whether we’ve won or lost previous games. I’m looking forward to being with family and friends, visiting a city I’ve never been to before, and contributing to NOLA’s economy which was devastated not too long ago by Hurricane Katrina. Our group (9+) purchased tickets through VT and I’m fine with that. I’m currently buying a house and finances are tight, but this is an opportunity I may not have again for a long time.
Bowl games aren’t for everyone and it’s a tough time of year; not to mention a mid-week game. On the other hand, I’m able to fly out of Charlotte for a good deal and am sharing a hotel room with another friend for a good rate as well. There are ways to save and still have fun! Go VT!
As far as the price goes, there is no way I will pay twice as much for a ticket and get a bad seat for the extra money. However I do think I can come up with a way to improve ticket sales to the bowl games that Tech are in. How about trying to be competetive and not get blown out by a team with less talent. I will not go to a bowl game even as close as Charlotte until VT finds a way to make the offense work. Beamer undoubtably loves Stinspring enough to put him in front of the success of Tech. God love you Bud Foster, you have more patients than I do.
The introduction of 37-60″ High Definition Flat screens with stereo coupled with the down turn in the economy is probably one reason for low ticket sales. Additionally, as others have stated, we have a poor track record in big games. So, staying home allows me to “bail out” to bed and read about it in the morning. Here’s hoping our Hokies turn the tables on Michigan in New Orleans!
I bought a $39 SRO ticket to the Vikings-Redskins 12/24 game with all the anemitites to the Joe Gibbs Club Level.
I’d love to go to a bowl game, I haven’t ever been to one. But, it comes down to cost and timing. If the total cost for attending were less, it would be manageable. As it were, cost to drive down there, get a room for a couple nights, meals, plus tickets would run me way more than my budget allows for. Then, having to take off so many days from work, that doesn’t work. Weekend or Friday bowl games would be much more feasible…not mid-week. The only reason they have these mid-week games is for ESPN, and it’s difficult on the fans to actually make it to the games when they’re scheduled that way.
Frannkly, I am sickened that every time I got to roanoke.com all I see is Hokie football and lagging ticket sales. Give it a rest already! Life does exist outside of Va Poly football!
Cost of travel is one reason and the other great reason is due to VT sorry playing in big games. Folks expects them to lose due to the past scores.
Virginia Tech must not be TOO concerned with not selling their allotment due to the secondary ticket market…they have a link to buy VT tickets on StubHub right on the page to buy through the school!!! Doh!
There are three simple reasons: 1) Michigan fans didn’t just travel and spend tons of money on the Big 10 Championship because, well, they weren’t in it. VT fans did. 2) Getting time off work is not easy for most folks this time of year. 3) It is very expensive. All that said, in the end VT tickets will be sold because New Orleans rocks. Watch it happen.
Bought my tickets thru the Tech ticket office. Same comparable seats were $20-30 more on several online third party sites. Driving in from Florida. Going to support the team even though NOLA is an expensive place especially for food and lodging. The room rates are more than doubled over normal rates for special events such as this. Then you have $20-30 per day for parking on top of the room rate. Hoping the Hokies redeem themselves in this game. Go Hokies.
I believe Shane Beamer is the professor for Propaganda 101 and he appears to be doing a great job. The elephant in the room is that VT has not recently sold HALF of their allotments to BCS bowls, causing the rest of the ACC having to subsidize their butt whoopings.
It’s not about tickets for the Hokies,its about winning. Tech has not won a major bowl in recent history, regardless of tickets sold. They will lose again becaue Tech coaches cannot plan well for an unfamiliar opponent.
I would love to go, but must say that the price of the ticket of $120.00 for a not-so-great seat for a midweek after New Year’s Bowl is steep. If I was heading down I would buy a ticket through Stub Hub. I went to the Sugar Bowl in 2004 and paid full price. Got down there and could have bought an amazing seat for $20.00. Sugar Bowl needs to face financial realities and deserve a not so full house!
Frank Beamer should buy the remaining tickets and give them away to the Katrina victims. It would be less than half a year’s salary.
I think the whole bowl system stinks. The bowl executives are successfully sabotaging a college fb play off system through their innfluence with coaches and administrators. So, to enrich a few entrenched fat cats, footbal fans are being denied the play offs virtaually everyone wants. The play offs should be going on right now, insteqad of 3 dead weeks. Until there is a play-off,I say boycott the bowls.
Mike Boyer
Tech’s losing is not Bud Foster’s fault. Ever. So when they get blown out, please just remember is Stinespring’s faulth. And boosters will pick up the slack of tickets so Tech can get creamed in next year’s bowl game.
Here are the problems/issues with Sugar Bowl ticket sales not necessarily in order.
Mid week game after New Years makes it difficult due to coming off Holidays and school.
Total expense for trip. Airfair, hotel, tickets, entertainment & food to the Big Easy on a Tuesday isn’t cheap also missing work for a minimum of 3 days runs up quite a tab.
OB Bowl fatigue. Folks were not budgeting themselves for a trip. Everyone knew if we won we would be going to the OB to play a crappy Bigeast team(again) and didn’t plan on going. If VT lost, you could go to the Chicken Bowl over the weekend for a lot less $ and zero time from work/ school missed and an easy trip to ATL.
The ACCCG. This adds another expense and people are travelling to this game because it is cheaper and an easier commute. Hokies are spending their time and money in Charlotte like a Bowl game.
Secondary Market tickets. VT has now been to a bowl every year since 1993. Almost 20 years straight. The Tech fans are ticket savvy and know that you get crappy expensive tickets from the school that the Bowls require you to purchase. Folks buy on the secondary market. Trust me. There will be plenty of O&M in N’awlins
Bottom line is this. Move the game to a favorable weekend date and provide good tickets from the Bowls to the schools and you will sell every ticket you can get your hands on. Cheaper airfare would be nice too.
Just like any other VT deal, I don’t care and I doubt many people do.
Finally a VT opinion I can agree with!! Right on dj2020!
Lagging ticket sales would not be such a big issue if Tech had earned its way into the BCS. But their Sugar Bowl bid, in the wake of another Clemson beatdown in Charlotte, made it seem (whether rightly or wrongly, and whether fairly or unfairly) that the bid was based as much on the reputation of Tech’s fan base and marketability as it was on the merits of the team’s play. Even Tech fans admitted as much on this website and around the area. The result is that the weak ticket sales has become a much larger news item than it would otherwise have been.
Hokie fans have figured out from attending bowls over the past 18 years in row that the tickets allotted the schools are terrible seats at a premium price. Bottom line, much better seats are available through the bowl site or 3rd party ticket venders. The Superdome will be full of Hokies, mark my word !!
Not many positives….hum
But dj2020… you cared enough to come to a VT Blog, and you cared enough to leave a comment. What does that say about how much you actually care?
I’m disappointed that Frank and Weaver are pushing to donate tickets to the less forunate in Nola claiming that it a good thing to help the less forunate. Come on, if you want to help Nola send money to there food bank and united way. Makes no since!!
Very self serving>:
Hater? I stated FACTS! Why is it anytime someone calls Virginia Tech out they are hating? Can’t stand the harsh reality that your fan base isn’t what it is made up to be? Let’s talk ticket sales to the Orange Bowl last year, shall we?
…”The result is that the weak ticket sales has become a much larger news item than it would otherwise have been.”
The actual problem is that even though EVERYONE knows that the best and cheapest seats are available outside of any school’s ticket office because the bowl committees give the best tickets to sponsors and not to participating school ticket offices… people still want to pretend that you can accurately measure a fan bases’ attendance ONLY by tickets sold through the school’s ticket office.
You wouldn’t judge the sales figures of all iPhones in the US solely on how one mall kiosk’s sales figures look… would you?
The excuses here are laughable. Not only will tech be exposed for not being the traveling fan base they claimed, they will get beat bad by Michigan.
We did not put in for the Orange Bowl this year. We had had enough of Miami and being mid-week, we weren’t going to do it. But we had to change our minds when it became New Orleans. We plan to eat, drink, shop and gamble our way through New Orleans. The Sugar Bowl has been the best bowl game we have ever been to and wouldn’t miss it for the world. The trip is now our Christmas present to each other this year. Yes, we got our tickets through Tech and we always do. I understand that some want “better” seats but I believe in supporting the school and ticket sales are just as important as anything else we do as fans.
I do feel the bowl committees need to rethink the dates of the games and the seating situation for fans. Put your sponsors in luxury boxes or set up special VIP Club situations for them but put the fans in the good seats. You want our tourist dollars, you want our butts in the seats… then cater to us.
Also I feel Tech should give more incentives to buy from them as well. Higher Donor Points for this year, especially with stadium re-seating next year. Tech doesn’t give anyone a reason to buy from them other than loyalty to the school. With technology today, we have many options so Tech needs to get with it and offer things you can’t get on the secondary market. Also it would have helped if we could have picked our seats… other schools are doing it this year.
Virginia Tech Ticket Office does not set the price of the tickets. Look at the Sugar Bowl’s website and you will see the listed face value of the tickets. So, anyone selling for less than $120 are either taking a loss, or selling tickets that were given to them by bowl sponsors.
“The excuses here are laughable. Not only will tech be exposed for not being the traveling fan base they claimed, they will get beat bad by Michigan.”
Do you really think that VT got chosen for the Sugar Bowl simply because they “claimed” to be a traveling fan base? You don’t think that past ticket sales over time have already proven VT to be a well-traveled fan base? You don’t really think that any bowl committee made a decision only off of perception and not actual dollars and cents data, do you? Come on now…
Rolltide (I mean bandwagon fan),
How many bowl games do you travel to?
James…I just don’t get you UVA fans and your hatred towards VT. Why do you worry so much about VT’s fan base? Be happy (thanks to VT) you made it to a bowl game this year. Now, go get a goofy tie on and a spritzer…you may still be able to fit in with the frat guys on the “hill” yet.
I am going to the Sugar Bowl (have been to all of them) and bought the tickets thru VT.
To be honest, this early to mid-week scheduling of the BCS bowls is not a new phenomenom.
The 2000 NC Sugar Bowl was held on Tues, Jan 4, 2000 and the Sugar Bowl in 2005 was Mon, Jan 3. These SB’s had tons of Hokie fans there.
Except for the 95 Sugar Bowl, which was held on New Year’s Eve, I have always had to burn vacation days right at the start of the year (don’t like it, but you gotta do what you gotta do).
Wow, I cannot believe some of the “entitlement” comments I am seeing. VT have not done anything for you except to entertain while they take your money to fund Beamer and his yes-men salaries. The Sugar Bowl is never, I repeat, never going to ever cater to fans who are gullible enough to follow the fume from the Hokies’ buses to New Orleans. The football players and coaches are the one that get everything for free. The Sugar Bowl will be gleefully counting the greens they are earning from fans like you.
The only things fans will get out of this bowl game is a ragging headache and hangover from consumption of alcohol. Meanwhile, intelligent Hokies fans who stayed home will be able to go to work and earn their living while the rest nurse their hangover.
All hail the VPI excuse train as it departs the station. Bottom line is the Gobbler fan base isn’t living up to the hype and the Sugar Bowl has egg on its face. Too bad for those teams more deserving of this slot.
I have no desire to burn a weeks vacation at the beginning of the year. Many people can’t carry over and accumulate vacation days year to year. In order to make the Sugar Bowl, one would have to take off nearly a full week because the game falls mid-week. Not to mention the cost of the trip immediately following Christmas. Staying home and watching it live is an easy decision for me.
And there you have it. Trevor a true fan! Likes VT but dislikes the coaching staff that created the success. He never caved either…he owns no memorabilia whatsoever…no shirts, flags, cups, nothing! A true fan!
Pleepleus…I agree with you 100%. VT should not have been in this bowl and UVA shouldn’t have been in one at all. Now go back to your “Drinking Made Easy” and godspeed your success as a wannabee drunk.
What’s really funny is that the Sugar Bowl stiffed Kansas State for VT based on the thinking that VT fans would travel better. K State sold out in one day while the Hokie fans can’t sell better than half their allotment. LOL
While ticket prices and a disappointing performance in the ACC Championship game are contributing factor, the main reason I won’t be going to the Sugar Bowl is timing. I live in Mississippi so travel costs are not an issue for me but I can’t justify attending a mid-week game after a week of vacation – especially with a birthday NOLA trip already in the planning for late January.
“Hater?, I stated FACTS!”– If you werent a hater you would not have responded like this, despite the TRUE facts. IF you didn’t care you would not have responded at all.
“that your fan base isn’t what it is made up to be? Let’s talk ticket sales to the Orange Bowl last year, shall we?” OK< you have me on the OB despite VTs above average travelling in previous years, but 90+ straight sellouts, I believe that is a pretty good fanbase.
http://thedailyrecord.com/2011/10/30/acc-football-attendance-down-from-2010/
“James…I just don’t get you UVA fans and your hatred towards VT. Why do you worry so much about VT’s fan base? Be happy (thanks to VT) you made it to a bowl game this year. Now, go get a goofy tie on and a spritzer…you may still be able to fit in with the frat guys on the “hill” yet.”
Because UVA wouldn’t be bowl elgible without Virginia Tech? You are an idiot! It was Music City Bowl, or Chick-Fil-A bowl.
Go load up on feed and spend all your money at the tractor supply store instead of fixing your jacked up teeth.
“…Bottom line is the Gobbler fan base isn’t living up to the hype and the Sugar Bowl has egg on its face…”
Again, anyone who is basing a fan bases’ total ticket sales on only what is being sold through the school is basically being ignorant of the real world around them. Better tickets are immediately available for cheaper prices. If you’ve been traveling to bowls every year and want to get the most bang for your buck… where would you buy your tickets from?
If the bowl committees would smarten up, they would give the premium seats to the schools to sell instead of giving them to sponsors as freebies, and they’d have a lot easier time fetching the inflated prices that they are forcing the schools to charge now.
“NC State has sold out of their allotment”–3-4 hours away..easy sellout ”
“Maybe the media will stop overhyping the fans of vt as well.”–SEE my above comments on 90+ straight sellouts..
When Boise State wins the Big East we will show you how far fans will go to see their team play. No Excuses..you are either in or out!!!
As a UVA fan, I agree with the Tech fans on here who aren’t going simply because of the money. That’s a lot of dough to come up with right after Christmas. A lot of people just don’t make enough money to justify throwing it away for a football game. I’m a big time UVA fan but if I have to choose between making my house payment or going to the Peach Bowl, I’m gonna go with house payment. Unless you are making $50,000+ a year, by the time you pay for everything else besides the game ticket at $120.00 is it really worth it?
Pat Child – we’ll see how you do after you’ve been to 4 Sugar Bowls and 4 Orange Bowls, during a 19 year run, with another 11 bowls in there, none of which are insignificant, and 5 conference championship games to boot.
Come back in about two decades and compare and contrast, okay?
Who really cares if VT sells their allotment of 17,500 tickets? You would have to be out of your mind to go through the University or tickets when they are available for half the price in secondary markets. A trip for 2 to NOLA with hotel and tickets plus expenses when you get there is easily upwards of $2,500. That in it’s self cuts a lot of folks in tight financial spots out. This will be my 4th Sugar Bowl while following VT. I can tell you that you won’t be able to swing a turkey around in the French Quarter without hitting a VT fan.
The ticket allotment issue is much to do about nothing. 20,000 plus Hokies will be in NOLA regardless of WHERE they bought their tickets! Mark my words on that one. Go Hokies!
As someone who does give plenty of money to the University, and who will be attending the Sugar Bowl, lots of things have changed in the last decade to make it harder to attend the game (not hard enough to prevent it entirely for me). Honestly, the Kansas loss was pretty pathetic and started my slide toward apathy. I’m a lot less interested in neutral-site games after seeing poor preparation for that game. New Orleans is a special place and I’ll attend every time.
Ticket prices and ticket locations for the University allotment really needs to be examined in the long run. I buy through the University but its hard to imagine continuing to do so in the face of tens of thousands of unsold tickets going for $20-50 in front of the venue. I just hope we can go win a football game so my trip doesn’t end with yet another bad taste in my mouth.
VT is going to lose another Bowl game so who cares?
I am a Golden Hokie for many years increasing donations a number of years, but in the last few years I have seen my priority fall from 905 to 1870 – New Money getting on the Bandwagon – Have seen a lot bad games since the late 60′s – Still with my priority if I buy through Tech I get relatively poor tickets so I don’t and I won’t!
People, the game is Tuesday night…since Jan 1 is a Sunday, everyone already has Monday off….if you truly wanted to go, it would require Tuesday off, and maybe Wednesday morning. The game WOULD be mid-week if everyone were at work Monday….granted i understand that’s still too much for some people, but it’s way more doable because of when Jan 1 is positioned.
I just want to see 30K Hokie fans there, i don’t care where they get their tickets. It’s unreasonable to charge the same price for every seat, and not know where you’ll be seated. If they tier the ticket prices, and allow you to pick your seats that’d be a start.
Oh yeah, and screw Jim Weaver and his whiny %&$#! He gets no quarter…
If they want to generate ticket sales, they should give Hokie Club members an incentive to avoid the secondary ticket market. Given the stadium is being reseated next year, they could increase the amount of bonus Hokie Club points awarded for post season ticket purchases. It may not impact many people, but those extra points could mean the difference between sitting on the 45 yard line versus the 35 yard line.
There are two kinds of VT fans: the fanatics who would sell their own mothers to cough up enough dough to travel to NO and the true fans who have enough sense to know VT does NOT deserve this bowl. Why bother? VT never wins a bowl (or against ANY highly ranked teams they play) anyway. To put it simply for you brain-washed Beamer/Foster fans, VT is overrated, over-hyped, (just look at their pathetic schedules year after year) and this so called true fan base who will travel the ends of the earth to attend this game must be the same ones who can’t do w/o getting so drunk at the tailgate parties at VT they have to record the game to remember it. Keep on dolling out the bucks for this non-competitive team, you deserve it!
Cost is not the only issue with the bowl tickets. The schools typically get the bad seats and the better seats are sold to others, in addition and more important to me when buying through the school you don’t know where the seats are, buying online you know exactly what you’re getting for your money.
The system needs to be fixed not the fans.
This game is setting up to be one of the greatest peices of Virginia Tech football history in recent years. I went to the ’95, ’99, and ’04 Sugar Bowls and loved every bit of my time in the Big Easy. The Sugar Bowl is the best bowl event in the country for a total football and travel experience and I would not miss it. I was fortunate enough to skip some of the lame Orange Bowls vs the Big East but would never miss a bowl like this versus an opponent like this. The French Quarter is the perfect mixing bowl of football crazies for both Virginia Tech and Michigan and I hope to be telling stories of this trip to my children and grandchildren for many years. While nothing will duplicate the intial excitement of the Texas and Florida State Sugar bowls, this is going to be a good one.
I understand economic reasons, and airfare did triple in the first three hours after the bowl announcement, but find a way to get there. Scalp a ticket, crash with a friend, make it an epic road trip, find a way to make it happen and you will have the time of your life.
I don’t travel from Atlanta to VT games because of economics and performance. The costs of going to see VT play, whether for season tickets or neutral sites have significantly increased while our performance in big games has remained poor. As a result, following VT has evolved from loyally supporting my alma mater to a business decision on where my family annually enjoys spending thousands of entertainment dollars. Instead of travelling the US to see VT likely lose big games, we simply choose other options. Go Hokies in the Sugar Bowl – we’ll be watching from Deer Valley.
@Mike said… “…Keep on dolling out the bucks for this non-competitive team, you deserve it!”
When you wrote “non-competitive team”, it appears that you misspelled “winningest college football team in Division 1A since 1995.”
As far as not “deserving” the at-large bid… the rules for earning eligibility for an at-large bid are very clearly spelled out by the BCS. Can you show which requirement VT didn’t meet?
Thanks.
Like many others who have posted, I have traveled to watch the Hokies and would dearly love to go to New Orleans again, even though I have been sorely disappointed several times (FSU, Auburn, Alabama, Boise State, etc). I would NEVER have considered going to the Orange Bowl and doubt I ever will. I considered going to NO but there is one main reason I am staying home: work and the Tuesday game day. If I had been able to go, I would have looked for the lowest ticket price I could find and therefore would probably not have gone through VT.
And Andy Bitter: I am sorry you have to wade through the emotion, negativity and name calling just to get to legitimate reasons for not attending the game. “The Excuse Train”? Please!
Just noticed in the news here in West Virginia that WVU has only sold 6,100 tickets for the Orange Bowl. I wonder what their problem is?