FRom Greg auman and the St Pete Times

Bulls outselling Ducks; Sun Bowl 'elated'
USF has sold more than 4,000 tickets for the Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve in El Paso, Texas, which puts them ahead of Oregon and has bowl officials excited about ticket sales for their game.

John Folmer, president of the Sun Bowl selection committee, said the Sun Bowl was "elated" to see had already sold more than half its allotment of 8,000 tickets. He expects Oregon to sell between 3,500 and 4,000 tickets, and said overall that this year's bowl has sold 2,600 more tickets than at this point last year. The bowl traditionally has strong sales in the El Paso community, so if ticket sales from the competing schools continue on their current pace, Folmer said the game will be "an overwhelming success."

USF's total sales include 1,000 tickets earmarked to be given to students. Folmer said he talked recently with a friend at Southwest Airlines, who said additional flights set up from Tampa to Dallas and other Texas airports to accommodate bowl attendees have sold well. The No. 21 Bulls and Ducks will play at 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, with a national TV broadcast on CBS.

USF is learning how to travel.

THe numbers are not outstanding, but when you consider the distance and that El Paso is off the beaten path it's a pretty good showing.

To take NOTHING away from USF...

When bowl officials are "excited" about these numbers - there are TOO MANY bowls!

Then again, UTEP puts up to 50,000 in the stands to watch bad football - maybe the locals will fill the rest of the place up?

st932253 Wrote:To take NOTHING away from USF...

When bowl officials are "excited" about these numbers - there are TOO MANY bowls!

Then again, UTEP puts up to 50,000 in the stands to watch bad football - maybe the locals will fill the rest of the place up?

You're wrong, because this is a completely different situation then the average bowl. The Sun Bowl, by and large, is sold out before they even select a team. So if they can get a team to send 1,000 to 2,000 fans there that is a huge win for them. Now, if they can get 4,000 or so fans to go to that bowl, that is like 15,000 to 20,000 for another bowl, because the Sun Bowl is already "pre-sold out".

Considering on how well the other teams have travled to the SUN BOWL, you can see why the SUNBOWL officials are "elated" with these numbers. I see that Texas Tech is not doing much better with the Gator Bowl which shows you how much politics make idiotic decisions. I for one, cant make the SUN BOWL due to work responsibilities. I would have made the Gator Bowl trip as it would have fit my schedule with ease. Too bad the Gator Bowl is so hung up on praying that they will get Notre Dame in the next few years.

st932253 Wrote:To take NOTHING away from USF...

When bowl officials are "excited" about these numbers - there are TOO MANY bowls!

Then again, UTEP puts up to 50,000 in the stands to watch bad football - maybe the locals will fill the rest of the place up?

It's a storied bowl that has been in business since the 1940s....so I think they know what they are doing. Most communities should have the same support El Paso provides the SunBowl. Please realize that USF should have been playing in the Gator Bowl, so the 4000 tickets we have sold for a game two time zones away is pretty for a program in only its 11th season.

BTW....out of all you new marks, I like this one the best:




Long live shield logos!!!

usf not getting the gator bowl was really a kick in the pants to usf fans. i'm really looking forward to seeing the gator bowl trying to justify picking a 6-6 notre dame team in 2009.

st932253 Wrote:To take NOTHING away from USF...

When bowl officials are "excited" about these numbers - there are TOO MANY bowls!

Then again, UTEP puts up to 50,000 in the stands to watch bad football - maybe the locals will fill the rest of the place up?

I disagree.. if USF gets close to 5k at sunbowl.. they did well.. I don't even understand the too many bowl game thing.. the more the better.. as long as they can break even or make a bit of $$$$ who does it hurt. the Sunbowl will have a big crowd they always do.. no way were they expecting a BE team to bring 10 to 15k there.

goodknightfl Wrote:

st932253 Wrote:To take NOTHING away from USF...

When bowl officials are "excited" about these numbers - there are TOO MANY bowls!

Then again, UTEP puts up to 50,000 in the stands to watch bad football - maybe the locals will fill the rest of the place up?

I disagree.. if USF gets close to 5k at sunbowl.. they did well.. I don't even understand the too many bowl game thing.. the more the better.. as long as they can break even or make a bit of $$$$ who does it hurt. the Sunbowl will have a big crowd they always do.. no way were they expecting a BE team to bring 10 to 15k there.

I agree with your disagreement.

SunBowl is always supported well by locals...as that is THE event for that region of TX/New Mexico/Mexico on an annual basis.

Folks that live in that region of the country are VERY isolated from major sporting events other than UTEP sports.

Want to go to a NFL Game in the state of TEXAS if you live in El Paso?

One will have to drive 635 miles to Dallas or 747 miles to Houston.

Heck...the San Diego Chargers are located CLOSER to El Paso than Houston Texas (only 724 mile drive to San Diego).

The closest NFL home is actually located 2 states away in Phoenix! (430 miles away).

One can also spend all day in the car driving to Dallas or Phoenix for NBA, NHL, MLB or NFL Games...as even if locals wanted to see Tim Duncan and the Spurs play...its better to drive to Phoenix to catch them in action vs driving 553 miles to San Antonio.

Texas is BIG...if folks haven't figured it out by now and the Sun Bowl has been a staple in El Paso for almost 75 years...well before most Pro Sports came to Texas.

As long as the TV Networks are making $$$$$ off advertising...and if local area/visiting team support/sponsorship can make the bowl worthwhile...its very advantageous for teams to go bowling...from the extra practices...to 32 Coaches going on their Spring/Alumni/Golf Outing/Speaking Circuit as a BOWL CHAMPION.

No one forces anyone to watch bowl games (heck, most people obviously don't), but there is enough of a targeted audience (skewed toward males overall) to make most of them successful.

KL,

You are correct in that the SUNBOWL/CBS will be happy with the TV ratings coming out of Tampa for this game. I wish I can make the trip, but I cant wait to watch this game on TV. I love bowl games. Every bowl game is fine with me as it is another football game to watch. I say, lets get more bowl games in the future as there were still some bowl eligible teams like South Carolina and Troy that wont get to play in a bowl this year.

This stinks... KL and I are actually having to take up for USF... It just isnt right..

Hey, both UCF and USF have had good seasons, so we all should be happy. Also, it is the hollidays, so we need to be nice during the time of year or Santa will get mad at us.