Economy has Va. Tech fans deciding which big game to attend

By Mark Berman

There could be plenty of empty seats at Raymond James Stadium when Virginia Tech and Boston College square off for the ACC title Saturday.

Tech was obligated to pay the Tampa Bay Sports Commission for 10,000 tickets but had only sold about 3,000 as of Tuesday. Virginia Tech assistant athletic director Sandy Smith said ticket sales have been slower than last year, when the game was held in Jacksonville, Fla.

Sales "are not as good as we would like," Smith said. "All the ticket people throughout the conference looked at it - even the ones (at schools) in Florida - as being, because of the economy, a tough sell."

Some Tech fans at Saturday's win over Virginia said they were choosing to skip the title game in Tampa and would instead save their money for the upcoming bowl game.

"The economy's too bad," Bob Rue of Richmond said. "Bowl games are more fun - a lot more stuff to do."

Tech will likely take an even bigger financial bath on ticket sales than it did last year. Tech sold most of its 10,000-ticket allotment last year but still finished $203,000 in the red, according to school officials.

Some Tech fans pointed out Tampa is a bit too far in a car and booking a flight inside a week in advance made airfare too costly. Tech didn't clinch the Coastal Division berth in the title game until beating U.Va. Saturday.

Ticket prices for non-Tech students range from $45 to $120. ACC associate commissioner Michael Kelly said ticket prices are lower than last year.

Bryan and Sarah Garbett of Richmond have driven to Jacksonville for Tech's two previous title games but won't be going to Tampa. It's too far to drive, they said, and they can only afford to fly to one game. So they're choosing to fly to a bowl.

"You've got the holidays coming up, too, so you've got to think about that," Bryan Garbett said.

If Tech wins Saturday, it will play in the Orange Bowl in Miami. A loss might send Tech to the Champ Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

John Fuka of Clifton said if he does fly to a game this year, it will be to the title game, not a bowl. And it has more to do about on-field success than cost. Tech has lost four of its last five bowl games.

"I went to the Orange Bowl last year and I was very disappointed. The effort (by the team) was not there," he said. "I wanted to go down there and watch them win a game.

"I've got two kids in college... and you've got to make tougher choices this year. A title game, I know the effort's going to be there."

Some fans said they'll go to both.

"We're supporting the Hokies all the way," Suffolk's Jay Alspaugh said. "You scratch and you scrimp and you do what it takes to see the Hokies."

For the title game, after the 20,000 tickets the two schools consume, the ACC office pays for another 2,000, which it gives to the league's sponsors. The rest are for sale in the host city.

About 30,000 tickets have been sold in Tampa for the game in the 65,837-seat stadium.

A total of 53,312 tickets were sold to last year's game at 77,497-seat Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, including the 22,000 sold to Tech, BC and the ACC office. The stadium was only about half full for Tech's win.

One reason the ACC decided to move the title game around was the desire for better attendance. It's being held in Tampa this year and next. The 2010 and 2011 games will be in Charlotte, N.C.

Bowl tickets also might be a tough sell this year. In addition to the economy, fans might not be enthused by a potential Orange Bowl duel with Cincinnati.

Flight costs could also be a hindrance, with airlines cutting back on service to many cities.

Dean Bandy of Roanoke won't be going to Tampa or a bowl because of travel costs.

"Everything's expensive," he said. "It's Christmas time. Everybody's cutting back; I'm one of those people."