|
The GATOR NATION Source
|
|
for University of Florida News, Sports & Everything Gator Shopping
|
|
Disclaimer: This site is in no way affiliated with the University of Florida, the University
of Florida Athletic Association, or any sponsor or organization associated with UAA. |
|
copyright 2002-2007 OasisEarth Internet Group All Rights Reserved
|
|
The GATOR NATION Source
gatorsUF.com
110 Coliseum Crossing #316
Hampton, VA 23666
(757)-788-8791
|
|
Gator
Shopping
|
|
Credited News Sources: gainesvillesun.com, ufl.edu, alligator.org, gatorsports.com,
jacksonville.com, tbo.com, orlandosentinel.com, miami.com, alligatorsports.org |
|
UF
News
|
|
Quick Links
|
|
The GATOR NATION Source
|
|
The GATOR NATION Source
|
|
[continued below]
|
|
The GATOR NATION Source
|
|
[continued below]
|
|
Quick Links
|
|
The GATOR NATION Source
|
|
The GATOR NATION Source
|
|
Florida Gators
Orange Script T-Shirt
100% cotton
|
|
Price: $12.95
|
|
Perfect for UF fans who want
a classic look! Screen print graphics. 100% Cotton |
|
Features quality embroidery,
solid body construction, orange Nike swoosh on left side and "GATORS" on back.
97% Cotton & 3% Spandex
|
|
Price: $20.00
|
|
The GATOR NATION Source
|
|
Price: $49.99
|
|
Show your co-workers, friends and
family where your allegiance lies.
Smooth optical precision, five
button programmability and quality construction. |
|
Florida Gators
Optical Computer
Mouse
|
|
Your all in one source for everything Gator! - The GATOR NATION Source
|
|
Oh, they're thrilled their teams are here. They just wish they could join them
inside University of Phoenix Stadium for the game.
"This is without a doubt the most in-demand ticket we've had in my 25
years," Florida ticket manager Bill Holloway said.
What would make a person drive across the United States and pay two
months' rent to see a football game? Whatever it is, the virus cannot be contained to Gainesville or Columbus, Ohio.
The stadium seats 73,000, and 37,000 tickets went to the Arizona Cardinals
-- the stadium's primary tenant -- and Fiesta Bowl ticket-holders. That has fueled a bull market for scalping, which is legal in Arizona.
Ohio State and Florida were allotted 16,000 tickets each.
Merit systems set up
Demand was so heavy that the schools devised merit systems based on
contributions and longevity. Florida had 8,000 more applications than tickets before word even got out that buying chances could be bleak.
"We could have sold 25,000 tickets, easy," Holloway said.
|
|
Same for Ohio State, which had the advantage of knowing it had qualified
for the game when its regular season ended Nov. 18. The Gators were long shots until they won the Southeastern Conference title Dec. 2.
"No one was prepared for it," Farfante said, "and everyone went into a wild
scramble."
He was in a better position than most. Farfante had been president of
Insight Enterprises, which sponsors the Insight Bowl in Phoenix. The Fiesta Bowl folks oversee the Insight game, putting Farfante in prime position for title-game tickets.
Farfante now is the head of Motion Lingo, a Global Positioning System-
based fitness-training device.
More important to desperate Gators fans around Phoenix, he's a 1986
Florida graduate.
He'll drive to the game in confidence. Many others are flying in armed only
with blind faith.
"Every single person I've talked to that's going, nobody has a ticket," Kelly
Fetto said. |
|
UF News 1/5/07
Title game a tough ticket for Gator fans
Dino Farfante holds the key to happiness.
Twenty of them, to be precise.
That's how many tickets he has to the BCS National Championship Game.
Thousands of Florida fans would tightrope-walk across the Grand Canyon to merely gaze at one. Showing his orange-and-blue blood, Farfante is almost giving them away.
"I'm not trying to make money from this," he said.
If he were, Farfante could buy Botox treatments for every sun-worshipper in
Phoenix. Tickets ranging from $175 to $325 are going for 10 times that on the street. Farfante is selling them for face value.
"I just want as many local Gators to get in as possible," he said.
If somehow he could take care of all the other Gators, they might rename
the school the University of Farfante. As it is, the University of Florida will play Ohio State on Monday, and not all Buckeyes and Gators fans are happy about it. |
|
Fetto, a 1982 UF graduate, lives in Jupiter and is going to Phoenix with her husband, son and a friend. Another son is
driving to Arizona with three fraternity brothers from Gainesville. Between the eight of them, they have one ticket.
Under Florida's distribution plan, fans got one point for every $100 they donate to Gator Boosters and a half-point for every
season they have held season tickets. Fetto has had tickets for 28 years. That wasn't enough.
"You'd think being almost a 30-year season-ticket-holder would carry a little bit of clout," she said.
Cash beats clout
Clout is nice. But cash is king.
Bull Gators, who give a minimum of $12,000 a year, could purchase as many as eight tickets. Fetto's only hope is to go to
the stadium Monday night and get lucky.
"I have a top price I'm willing to pay," she said. "If they're more expensive than that, they can have it."
Her price is $400. Maybe she should stay in Jupiter. Tickets are going for $1,100 to $1,600 on broker Web sites. Seats
close to the field were going for $1,000 more.
What if a fan travels all this way, and doesn't get in?
"Oh, God," Fetto said. "It would be terrible."
Sometimes it's not great to be a Florida Gator. Win or lose, though, Fetto has a backup plan for the next day.
"We're going to the Grand Canyon," Fetto said. "That'll be nice."
Especially since you don't need a $1,000 ticket to get in.
|
|
Credited Source: orlandosentinel.com 1/5/07
|
|
[continued below]
|