Boston College v Georgia Tech @ Aviva Stadium 2016

paulie21

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/confirmed-american-football-is-returning-to-ireland-31277862.html

Well the game is going ahead after all on September 3rd next year. Tickets for the other games went on sale quickly, wouldn't expect this to be any different

stereomatic

Hope to go to it, bit miffed missing the last one.

Clear the diary :pac:

Shedite27

Looking forward to this. No news about tickets yet is there? Here's a high level map on the site.

BoJack Horseman

I know little about college football.
How big a matchup is this game?
Where do these teams lie in the pantheon of college football?

Shedite27

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

I know little about college football.
How big a matchup is this game?
Where do these teams lie in the pantheon of college football?

They'd be two fairly famous colleges, with big followings (play at 45k-55k stadiums). There'll be a lot of yanks travelling for this (last 2 had only one "real football" college).

In terms of competitiveness, impossible to say, last year Georgia Tech would have likely won comfortably (they were 8th best team, Boston College were a good bit behind), but with graduations etc it could easily swing around in the next 17 months.

jack presley

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Where do these teams lie in the pantheon of college football?

Power rankings can be annoying at times but if you believe in them, CBS had BC at 58 in the country and VT at 59 out of the 128 FBS colleges after last season and Bleacherreport (a site I hate with a passion) has BC at 52 and VT 54.

So they're about mid table in the overall scheme of things so to use an English Football analogy, they'd probably be towards the bottom of the Championship.

Of course a new year means Seniors graduate and move on and a new batch of freshmen come in so their strengths will change and there'll be another year of change next season too so God only knows what'll they'll be like in September 2016.

But I think it's safe to say we aren't getting teams that will be challenging in the major bowls although we probably thought that in 2012 and ND made it to the National Title game.

JaMarcusHustle

jack presley wrote: »

Power rankings can be annoying at times but if you believe in them, CBS had BC at 58 in the country and VT at 59 out of the 128 FBS colleges after last season and Bleacherreport (a site I hate with a passion) has BC at 52 and VT 54.

So they're about mid table in the overall scheme of things so to use an English Football analogy, they'd probably be towards the bottom of the Championship.

Of course a new year means Seniors graduate and move on and a new batch of freshmen come in so their strengths will change and there'll be another year of change next season too so God only knows what'll they'll be like in September 2016.

But I think it's safe to say we aren't getting teams that will be challenging in the major bowls although we probably thought that in 2012 and ND made it to the National Title game.

You're confusing Georgia Tech with Virginia Tech.

Georgia Tech were a top 10 team on almost all rankings last year.

As for this game, I'm not sure how attractive it will be for casual or new fans. Both teams are run heavy offences (bit of an understatement for Georgia Tech). Both only averaged around 130 passing yards a game last year. They were both in the bottom 5 teams in the country in terms of passing (out of 128 teams). I'm not sure how appreciative casual fans and newcomers will be of a predominantly ground based game.

jack presley

JaMarcusHustle wrote: »

You're confusing Georgia Tech with Virginia Tech.

Georgia Tech were a top 10 team on almost all rankings last year.

As for this game, I'm not sure how attractive it will be for casual or new fans. Both teams are run heavy offences (bit of an understatement for Georgia Tech). Both only averaged around 130 passing yards a game last year. They were both in the bottom 5 teams in the country in terms of passing (out of 128 teams). I'm not sure how appreciative casual fans and newcomers will be of a predominantly ground based game.

You're right. I don't know why I had VT in my head. Brain not working well today.

GoldFour4

Will definitely be attending unless something drastic occurs between now and then!

mickysquint

I really hope the teams have a bit of merchandise for sale near or around the stadium this time, even a small selection of t-shirts and Jerseys.

thomond2006

Is this a competitive fixture or just a friendly/pre-season game?

JaMarcusHustle

Competitive

FrontalNumber

Any idea when tickets for this will go on sale? I heard the last two games sold out fairly early on so I might try and get mine asap.

That_Guy

FrontalNumber wrote: »

Any idea when tickets for this will go on sale? I heard the last two games sold out fairly early on so I might try and get mine asap.

Croker didn't sell out. Still people buying tickets on the day. Hard to know when they'll be on sale though. If I was to hazard a guess I'd say around October/November to try tie in with Christmas presents perhaps.

FrontalNumber

That_Guy wrote: »

Croker didn't sell out. Still people buying tickets on the day. Hard to know when they'll be on sale though. If I was to hazard a guess I'd say around October/November to try tie in with Christmas presents perhaps.

Ah I should be grand so. I'll still try and get it sorted early enough though, just to be safe. If they are out before Christmas I might as well chance my arm and drop a few hints to the family too, seeing as they never know what to get me, haha. Thanks man.

Dodge

Croke Park didn't sell out but they announced a crowd of over 55,000 at it which would be a sell out in the Aviva

I bought tickets on the day (missed first quarter)

FrontalNumber

Dodge wrote: »

Croke Park didn't sell out but they announced a crowd of over 55,000 at it which would be a sell out in the Aviva

I bought tickets on the day (missed first quarter)

I think they're expecting a sell out at the Aviva this time around, with a good share of those numbers coming from the States. Might be best to get in early like.

Shedite27

FrontalNumber wrote: »

Any idea when tickets for this will go on sale?

They're plugging the all-inclusive packages for the Yanks at the moment. Think they'll give them a few more months...
http://collegefootballireland.com/travel-packages/

mooreman09

I almost feel sorry for the Americans, looking at the prices being offered.

$1,500 for three nights in a 3* hotel and a match ticket. ****ing hell! You'd get that for €250 if you did it online. Disgraceful.

On the game, I'm delighted its happening, GT are a very good side and a team that I think will win/compete for ACC honours and Playoff contention. They have a quality QB and offensive system. I like the option they run.

Decent matchup.

FrontalNumber

mooreman09 wrote: »

I almost feel sorry for the Americans, looking at the prices being offered.

$1,500 for three nights in a 3* hotel and a match ticket. ****ing hell! You'd get that for €250 if you did it online. Disgraceful.

Does that include flights though? It's not as bad if they are like. If airfare isn't included in that it IS ridiculous. Either way, we have it fairly handy here :L I'm trying to see how much it would cost for myself and between the train up from Cork, a few nights in a hostel and the ticket to the game it could easily be done for well under €200. Quite a bit better than the poor Yanks to say the least.

mooreman09

Nope - it states there is no Travel included!! Madness.....

http://bc.collegefootballireland.com/travel-packages/

Yeah its grand for us, but its embarrassing the way we try grab a quick steal any chance that we can.

jack presley

Those packages are aimed at rich alumni who would have no problem forking out those prices.

FrontalNumber

mooreman09 wrote: »

Nope - it states there is no Travel included!! Madness...

Yeah its grand for us, but its embarrassing the way we try grab a quick steal any chance that we can.

Yeah I read it afterwards... It's crazy alright...
although it is nice to see them do it for a change. Any time someone from this side of the pond wants to go to a big event in the states (big NFL games, Wrestlemania, etc) we're paying the same prices like.

I think we'd be forgiven for wanting a quick steal in cases like this though... If this game was on in Boston and one of us was going over then the reverse could be true like. Also, how often does something like this come around here in Ireland? Wouldn't blame us for jumping at the chance.

FrontalNumber

jack presley wrote: »

Those packages are aimed at rich alumni who would have no problem forking out those prices.

And of course those borderline crazy die hards whose life revolves around their college ball team.

Shedite27

FrontalNumber wrote: »

I think we'd be forgiven for wanting a quick steal in cases like this though... If this game was on in Boston and one of us was going over then the reverse could be true like. Also, how often does something like this come around here in Ireland? Wouldn't blame us for jumping at the chance.

I wouldn't be so sure those are Irish people making those bobs, more likely american tour companies that will charter the plane, hotel, tickets, busses etc.

Bit like Irish people booking a package holiday to spain, a good chunk of the cash goes to Irish Travel Agent.

FrontalNumber

Shedite27 wrote: »

I wouldn't be so sure those are Irish people making those bobs, more likely american tour companies that will charter the plane, hotel, tickets, busses etc.

Bit like Irish people booking a package holiday to spain, a good chunk of the cash goes to Irish Travel Agent.

Ah, yeah I probably read that in the wrong context... That does make a lot of sense alright, tour companies over are pretty good at explointing these things... They make a killing off of those travel packages. They don't include flights in a lot of them either, probably so they don't have to fork over a chunk of it to the airlines.
There probably is some few pound coming here from it though, the Irish organisers are partnered with the main tour operator I think.

Dodge

jack presley wrote: »

Those packages are aimed at rich alumni who would have no problem forking out those prices.

This is the key. This is an American company charging wealthy Americans for a package they're happy to spend money on. They don't feel like they're getting ripped off and everyone is happy

whiteshorts

Just wondering will Boston v Georgia Tech be a sell out in Aviva September next year?
Went to the last one and was good crack but not sure booking tickets 10 months in advance will be required.
Aviva will hold 50k but assume it's reduced for an event like this.
Pre sale starts tomorrow and just wondering what people thoughts were?

Fr Tod Umptious

BC is about as big an "Irish" college as you will find, its hinterland has a huge Irish American population.

So I'd imagine they will bring just as many if not more than ND did a few years back.

Demand will be pretty strong externally.

I am hoping to go also and will not hesitate to buy tickets once they are available.

What exactly is "pre sale" by the way

jack presley

Is ticket master acting the boll0x for anyone else or is it just me?

charkee

pre sale tickets just seem to be in the corners?

may wait til general sale

jack presley

I don't mind the corners. But after I select my ticket I get the message "we're unable to process your request. Please try again".

Craptacular

jack presley wrote: »

I don't mind the corners. But after I select my ticket I get the message "we're unable to process your request. Please try again".

I'm getting the same thing.

SantryRed

When are the tickets on sale?

charkee

there is a pre sale today,not the full sale.

the tickets seem to be for the corner blocks.I am going to hang on until
the main sale.

Huawei Gallagher

charkee wrote: »

there is a pre sale today,not the full sale.

the tickets seem to be for the corner blocks.I am going to hang on until
the main sale.

I am doing the same, I think I may leave it until nearer the game. i am starting to learn that ticketmaster seem to shove out tickets for the poor quality seats early on, the "pre-sale" is a joke, cant get anything except endzone/corner.There is no way they have sold out the seats within the goal lines upper and lower.

whiteshorts

I went on and got offered tickets everywhere apart from Mid Lower & Upper East & West.
A lot of different prices .
€25 up to €110.

jack presley

Stanley Blade wrote: »

There is no way they have sold out the seats within the goal lines upper and lower.

Yeah, there'll be some of them on sale alright although I'd imagine they've kept a big chunk of them for the two teams' supporters.

JaMarcusHustle

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

BC is about as big an "Irish" college as you will find, its hinterland has a huge Irish American population.

So I'd imagine they will bring just as many if not more than ND did a few years back.

Demand will be pretty strong externally.

I am hoping to go also and will not hesitate to buy tickets once they are available.

What exactly is "pre sale" by the way

BC attendances are horrendous. Fans aren't even showing up to their home games, I'm not sure how well they'll travel to this one.

They also don't have the same wealthy, older alumni that Notre Dame. I'm sure there'll be plenty who'll use this game as an excuse to finally visit Ireland, but I don't think there's a chance they travel anywhere near as well as the Notre Dame contingent did.

Shedite27

Tickets on sale for this today. Special pre-sale for Thanksgiving.

Only available until Sunday and to Irish addresses.

jack presley

Shedite27 wrote: »

Tickets on sale for this today. Special pre-sale for Thanksgiving.

Only available until Sunday and to Irish addresses.

Kind of strange calling it a thanksgiving pre sale but then preventing people from the only country that celebrates thanksgiving from buying tickets.

so at the last game penn state had pretty much a full stand while ucf where sparse enough relative to them. i assume neither of these colleges would be expected to be at penn states level of attendance?

BoJack Horseman

Not great seats.
I assume the middle blocks are reserved for visitors.

Dodge

jack presley wrote: »

Kind of strange calling it a thanksgiving pre sale but then preventing people from the only country that celebrates thanksgiving from buying tickets.

Only people living in the EU can buy tickets for this game from ticketmaster. US citizens must book through the travel agent official "packages"

There was also a pre-sale last week. FAI season ticket holders were sent a code

Fr Tod Umptious

Jolie Echoing Schoolroom wrote: »

so at the last game penn state had pretty much a full stand while ucf where sparse enough relative to them. i assume neither of these colleges would be expected to be at penn states level of attendance?

I'd imagine BC would bring more to Ireland than Penn State.

BaronVon

Not advertising it great, are they? I follow them on twitter, and this is the first I heard about it.....

jasonb

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Not great seats.
I assume the middle blocks are reserved for visitors.

Yeah, it only seems to be the corner and end-zone seats that are for sale at the moment. Does anyone know if anything a bit more central (i.e. better than the 5 yard line) will go for sale in the future, or will they all be kept/sold to the US market?

Also, anyone got any advice, is it better to go with the lower sections and be closer to the action or the upper sections to get the big picture view?

J.

Shedite27

jasonb wrote: »

Also, anyone got any advice, is it better to go with the lower sections and be closer to the action or the upper sections to get the big picture view?

Stay away from the first 12/15 rows anyway. American football stadiums aren't meant to go down to pitch level, whereas football stadiums do.

Doubt anything more central will go to the Irish fans, probably sold through the packages in UK

jasonb

Ha! Row P is available in some sections, that's 16 rows, so does that make it ok? Seriously, if I'm going to the lower sections, so I aim for nearer the back of them?

J.

Realt Dearg Sec

jasonb wrote: »

Ha! Row P is available in some sections, that's 16 rows, so does that make it ok? Seriously, if I'm going to the lower sections, so I aim for nearer the back of them?

J.

They'll probably close off the lowest seats, they usually do for these, because all you'd see is the players on the sidelines' gigantic asses for three hours. My preference would be to get high up, you can watch the play developing properly from there.

sportzstar

Does anyone know when these are going on sale to the general public again?