Meineke Car Care Bowl not close to selling out

Meineke Car Care Bowl

From this very small piece I found on WRAL Fan Kind it talks about the fact that there are plenty of seats still available for the Meineke Car Care Bowl. As we all know the game is between North Carolina (8 and 4) and Pittsburgh (9 and 3), and is just five days away. Last year the game was already sold out by December 10, but the executive director of the bowl is still confident of a good showing, as he says in this small statement:

“We’ve had over 40,000 tickets sold, and we’re hoping for Pitt to bring somewhere from four to six thousand fans,” Meineke Car Care Bowl executive director Will Webb told Wralsportsfan.com Monday. “Sales are still strong and we are hoping to get over 50,000.”

And while all of that is good talk, the reality is that this bowl game has averaged over 60,000 people (in a stadium that holds 74,000). The article talks about the Pitt fans not traveling as well as UNC’s last year’s opponents (West Virginia), or that the Carolina fans tired of going to Charlotte all the time. I think that personally the biggest problem for Tar Heels like myself is that it’s on the day after Christmas, making it almost impossible to be able to enjoy the family and making it to the bowl game without making huge sacrifices. Mr. Webb tries to spin something else off, by saying:

“I think there was a little disappointment [for UNC] after the State loss at first. But you’re playing No. 17 Pitt,” he said. “if they beat Pitt, Caroling will come into next year ranked. It’s a good statement game for UNC.”

Again, it’s a good point he makes, one that makes sense, but it’s not what is going to draw people to the game. For me anyways, I would know if I could go or not go to a bowl game months ahead. Yes, then things happens, trust me I know (and for those of you that don’t, check out this link to find out). But for the majority, we either know if we are going to make it to a bowl game or not. Heck, before my wife got sick I was heading to MSG to see the Men’s Basketball team play and then up to Boston to meet up with some friends for the UNC/BC football game months before (I believe before the football season began). I just have a hard time believing that most of the people make up their mind after the season is over. I could be wrong, and maybe for the fans that live a lot closer than me, I am definitely wrong. However, for the ones that have to travel I think that they decide before the season is over.

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