Few Nevada followers at Hawai'i Bowl

[Markeymark]

Associated Press

RENO, Nev.  Nevada's rooting section at the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl a week from Saturday better be loud, because it's not going to be very big.

The combination of a game on Christmas Eve and a round-trip air fare of more than $1,000 has most fans content to watch the game on ESPN.

UNR says it has sold about 75 tickets so far.  

"My family really wanted to go, but it's just so expensive for them," said Roderick Stallings, a Wooster High graduate and starting safety for the Wolf Pack. "They'll just have to tune in on TV like a lot of people."

Punter Justin Bergendahl said his mother, father, sister and nephew are making the trip from the Bay Area for the game.

"It's expensive for them, but I am a senior, so this is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of us," Bergendahl said. "This is our Christmas present."

Suraj Zutshi, a local travel agent, said the biggest problems right now are airfare and limited availability of seats to Honolulu during the high tourism season for Hawaii.

There are no nonstop flights from Reno to Honolulu, so those wanting to travel from Reno have to connect to flights full of vacationers out of the Bay Area, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Southern California.

"Anyone who wants to show their support for the Wolf Pack will need to shell out some serious money," Zutshi said.

Package deals that include airfare, hotel and rental car are cheaper than booking each separately, Zutshi said. A seven-night package trip, leaving Reno on Sunday and returning Christmas Day, starts at $1,561 per person. A three-night package, leaving on Dec. 22, starts at $1,296 per person, according to Zutshi.

But with the game starting at 3:30 p.m. Hawai'i time  5:30 p.m. in Reno  fans and family members wouldn't get back to the Mainland until Christmas morning at the earliest.

Scheduling was the biggest reason that Mike Rippee, the father of Wolf Pack freshman defensive back Luke Rippee, and his family aren't making the trip.

"Obviously the cost is something, but for us, it just didn't work out with the scheduling," said Rippee, the football coach at Douglas High School. "We hope we get another chance to go watch a bowl game. We're excited for UNR and hope this is the beginning of a lot of bowl games."

[bulls96go]

nice trip

hope we get a better (closer) bowl each year

[Joe]

I read in the Orlando Sentinel that the average team sends about 500 fans each year to that bowl. UCF packages were $2750 and the record was just about 2000 fans.

[goodknightfl]

It is a $$$ loser... but still is a great trip for the players coaches... ect.  I hate that the UCF fans cant get there... but what a week for the kids...

[USFootball]

OK...I know its Hawaii, but is it really that expensive?? The baseball team went last year and for 7 days it cost like 2200 bucks including all but the rental car (there was a bus for the travel party) is it bc of the Holidays Im guessing??

[Markeymark]

2200 is expensive for most people, I'm thinking.

[bulls96go]

bowl is a bowl

not exactly

[Joe]

It does suck for the fans...a lot.

But If you ask a player which bowl game if any that they could go to on a strict local standard. I'm sure Hawaii comes in number 1, just a tad over Boise and Shreveport.

[goodknightfl]

with higher fuel air fares are up.... its also a peak time for travel there.. rooms are expensive...I would have went to liberty or gmac.. was going to go with 3 other guys taking our own van... would have been an inexpensive 3 or 4 days away... but 4500 plus for the wife n me is a tad bit much..

[DawgPound]

I'm flying back on Christmas and saving a lot of money as a result(like 300 or so).