NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion football team took nearly 5,000 fans to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina two years ago when the Monarchs last played in a bowl game.
Myrtle Beach Bowl officials were ecstatic over the turnout, because a lot of those fans stayed overnight and ate in restaurants and shopped in stores.
And that turnout is surely one reason why ODU was selected to take on Western Kentucky on Monday, Dec. 18, in the Famous Toastery Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Myrtle Beach was 5 ½ hours from Norfolk. The campus of UNC Charlotte, which is hosting this game, is four hours and 55 minutes away.
Dr. Wood Selig, ODU's director of athletics, is anticipating a similar turnout in Charlotte.
"I'm extremely happy for our fans," Selig said. "It's five hours, a relatively easy trip. The game time and date are perfect. With a 2:30 game, you can get home that night. Theoretically, if you wanted to, you could drive up and back the same day.
"Or you can go to Charlotte and spend a night or two. I'm really happy for our families (of football players) because this site is perfect for them."
If you're planning to go, or thinking about it, here are some tips to make the trip to Charlotte easier on your wallet and a more enjoyable experience.
First, purchase tickets from the links below. By doing so, you are guaranteeing that you will be sitting in the ODU section. ODU will also receive credit for the tickets you purchase. How many tickets ODU sells could affect the University's bowl hopes down the road.
You have two options:
Purchase tickets directly from the bowl game for $30 or $40.
Click here for ODU bowl tickets
Or reserve premium, chairback seats for $60. You must be a season ticket holder or donate to the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation to take advantage of this option. ODU has set aside 700 premium seats, which must be purchased by Dec. 11.
Click here for premium seating
ODU is the home team and if you purchase tickets from anywhere but ODU, make sure you get tickets on the West Side of the stadium, which is the ODU side.
Charlotte doesn't have a beach, but is a major city, with 2.7 million people in the metro area. I've spent a lot of time in Charlotte and there are a ton of entertainment options.
Charlotte calls its downtown area "Uptown," and there are dozens of great restaurants, clubs and other cool places to visit.
The bowl game will be played at Jerry Richardson Stadium, a 15,314-seat stadium used by the Charlotte 49ers, about 15 or 20 minutes east of Uptown.
ODU has provided two hotel options for its fans.
First, you can stay at the Hilton Charlotte University Place, located less than a mile from the Charlotte campus, for $159 per night. The campus is surrounded by office and residential developments and it's just a few miles from the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is open for tours.
Or you can stay at the Marriott City Centre in Uptown Charlotte for $179 a night, which is a fantastic price. You will be amongst ODU fans at either hotel. The team is staying at the Hilton University Place.
Don't' get confused and stay at the Marriott near UNC Charlotte, or you'll run into a sea of red. That's where WKU and its fans are staying.
Link for ODU hotels.
Charlotte also has a comprehensive light rail system that will carry you from UNC Charlotte to Uptown. The trip takes about 50 minutes.
Charlotte Light Rail Web Site
If you're looking for places to eat or drink, the Charlotte metro area has one web site to send you to the best places from Uptown to the suburbs. And if you don't trust the web site, ask for advice from your hotel front desk. People at the front desk almost always know the best local places.
Charlotte Visitors Guide
If you're into sports, there are both NBA and NFL games you can catch over the weekend.
The Charlotte Hornets NBA team hosts New Orleans on Friday and the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday and tickets are available, starting at $17.50 a piece.
Charlotte Hornets tickets
But an even better pro sports option occurs on Sunday when the Carolina Panthers host the Atlanta Falcons, for whom former ODU quarterback Taylor Heinicke plays.
Tickets remain, starting at $56 apiece.
Carolina Panthers-Atlanta Falcons tickets
We will have more news in the coming days about ODU events in the Queen City, as Charlotte is known. We're working on a pre-game tailgate and a get-together of some sort for fans and alumni on Sunday evening. We will push those events out to you as soon as we know more about them.
ODU officials hope to bring several busloads of students to the game and details should be worked out soon. Meanwhile, to donate to help pay for student tickets and transportation, click below.
Click here to help pay for student tickets
Meantime, ODU's Bowl Game Central website will be updated with details on other events as news becomes available. ODU and Venture Tours have worked together to provide an ODU fan bus. Click the link below for more information.
Fan Bus to the Famous Toastery Bowl
Other helpful hints:
- UNC Charlotte has a clear-bag policy, and the bags can be no longer than 12 inches by 6 by 12. No animals allowed other than service animals. You can't bring in video cameras, alcohol or food or drink. Small cameras are allowed.
- You must purchase a parking pass in order to come on campus. For more information on parking policies, and to purchase a pass, click here. Prices start at $15.
- Tailgating is permitted three hours before game time, or 11:30 a.m.
- A link to a Map of Jerry Richardson Stadium including a list of all stadium regulations and services available.