The Game:
Get ready for helmets to bang when the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets take on the University of Utah Utes in the 78th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl. The battle will take place on Saturday, Dec. 31 at noon, MST at Sun Bowl Stadium. This historic classic has seen has seen some great players and some great football moments. Listing some of the great players who have hit the field in this game reads like a mini hall of fame list. They include Ara Parseghian, Jonathan Stewart, Merlin Olsen, Barry Sanders, Priest Holmes, Don Maynard, James Lofton and Carson Palmer, LaDainian Tomlinson, Chase Daniel, Matt Moore and Joey Harrington. I also remember sitting in my grandfather’s living room watching Tony Dorsett run wild in the 1975 Sun Bowl, for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers.
The Stadium:
The Sun Bowl is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso. So get your down coats, blankets and foot-warmers ready. It is home to the UTEP Miners of Conference USA. With a capacity of 51,500, the Sun Bowl is made for a large, roaring crowd. The playing field uses AstroPlay. Do your ears pop in airplanes? If so, bring some gum to chew on. The stadium is at an elevation of 3910 feet.
Tickets:
Here is a ticket map that shows sections and prices. Will call will be available for this event. Fans can also buy tickets from the Sun Bowl itself, or purchase them from Ticketmaster. Prices range from $15 to $150, plus fees. Do you have further questions? Contact the Sun Bowl Association Office at 1-800-915-BOWL or 915-533-4416, ext. 10.
Travel Tips:
The official website offers directions to the bowl. From Interstate 10, from Mesa (coming from the west), and From Mesa (coming from downtown). Parking passes, for lots near the stadium, may be purchased ahead of time. Fans can also use the public transit shuttle service, available from Sun Metro.
Parking:
In such densely populated areas, sometimes parking seems like a greater challenge than the players have on the field. Use this parking guide to make life a bit easier that day, and as an aid to drive and park safely. Several options for towncars, limos and taxis are also available.
Tailgating:
All that fan energy can work up an appetite. You can break out the grills and coolers for pregame tailgating with the appropriate parking pass. So pull up your car, truck or RV and party in the parking lot. Once you’ve had your fill, there is plenty of time to get to your seats and keep them warm. Doors to Sun Bowl Stadium open two hours before kick-off.
Food and Drink Tips:
Please be aware that Sun Bowl Stadium does not allow fans to bring their own food and beverages inside. Keep some change in your pocket to purchase snacks from the vendors. Further, the area around the stadium includes lots of restaurants, hotels, night life, and more. Many fans will also enjoy and added attraction: the Sun Bowl fan Fiesta. This fun, free event will be held on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.at the Downtown Convention Center.
Enjoy the game!
Fan connection: I followed and watched the Georgia Tech Yellow jackets frequently when growing up, with relatives from the south.