As the Nittany Lions begin to prepare for the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day in Orlando, Fla., many local travel agencies have been working feverishly to book reservations for the students, alumni and fans who wish to go to the game.
Centre For Travel, 114 Hiester St., the Penn State Alumni Association's Official Penn State Bowl Tour travel agency, has already made 1,500 reservations for Penn State alumni and students to go to the Capital One Bowl, said Sandy Berardis, Centre For Travel group travel specialist. Although the Penn State Bowl Tour is specifically for Penn State alumni, students have been taking advantage of the student packages, Berardis said.
Centre For Travel offers a variety of student packages. Prices for these packages range from $426 to $1,235 depending on the type and number of people in a hotel room.
With the Nittany Lions going to their first bowl game in three years, the demand has been high for packages to see them play in the Capital One Bowl, Berardis said.
"It's like a mini Rose Bowl this year," she added.
The morning after it was announced that the Lions will play in the Capital One Bowl, Centre For Travel employees had 185 voice mails waiting for them from people interested in going to the game, Berardis said.
Also, she said, prior to last Tuesday's announcement, Centre For Travel had 1,000 deposits to go to the game.
And of those early deposits, almost no one has cancelled, Berardis added.
The Capital One Bowl fever that has increased in the past week is not limited to the State College area, but spread nationwide and worldwide, Berardis said.
"We received a call from a man that lives in Germany that wants to go to the game," she said.
Also, another man confirmed his reservation to the game on his cell phone just prior to being prepped for surgery, Berardis said.
Centre For Travel is not the only agency offering bowl game packages. Other local travel agencies are offering bowl game packages also.
Campbell Travel, 137 S. Pugh St., has a charter bowl package departing from State College that includes hotel and a ticket to the game. Also, it is offering a flight-only deal from State College for travelers who are just looking for transportation to Orlando.
With the prices of these packages ranging from $400 to $1,200, many students said they do not have the money to travel to the Capital One Bowl.
"I'm a football fan, but I just don't have the money," E.J. Becker (senior-marketing) said.
A less expensive travel option is available to students through STA Travel in the HUB-Robeson Center, which is offering a motor coach and hotel package for $269. Web sites offering travel tips suggest calling various local and national agencies to comaparison shop.
Those who do not travel to Orlando can watch the game on ABC at 1 p.m.
