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Saturday, November 24, 2007

We Scored Tickets Early at the Swamp

So far our trip to Gainesville has been nearly perfect. The Noles men and women won their basketball games last night. And we landed a nice pair of tickets early.

By the number of "professional" ticket buyers on the streets - it appears that tickets are going to be tight and expensive. So this morning while Lulu enjoyed the Oak Mall from 9 AM to 11AM - I stood along the highway out in front of the mall and held up two fingers. In the 2 hours I shopped for tickets - only 2 cars stopped to talk to me. The first car thought I was selling tickets. The second car had 2 tickets for sale. It was a mixed couple - a Gator and a Nole. They had season tickets for 20 years.

He offered the 2 tickets to me for $100 each. I looked on my map and they were good ones - in the end zone just 6 rows from the field. While I was peeling off some 20s - I asked him how about $80 each. The wife said fine. So we had 2 great tickets - g hours before game time. We could relax for the rest of the day.

We drove into town - and found a great (and legal) free parking spot just 4 blocks from the Swamp. We are parked under a giant live oak tree. To top it all off - there is free wireless here. I am able to update my blog - and Keith is using his computer and our slingbox to watch other games on the TV from home. Lulu is busy scanning the local newspaper - and reading game news.

It is a pretty day here - 75 and sunny with a little breeze. Our tickets are in the south end zone - so the sun with be behind us - staring at the tumor in the other end zone.

The stadium does not open up until 3:30 - so we will sit here and tailgate for another hour or two.

We are spoiled in Tallahassee getting great tickets for $5 and $10. We have not paid this much for tickets since paying $125 for tickets to the Sugar Bowl in 1996. That was the time the Gators slammed us for the National Championship. Let's hope we have different results today.

Gainesville seems to be more of a college town than Tallahassee. Maybe it is just the big game atmosphere - who knows. Here is hoping the Noles get the trifecta today - winning 3 games against the Gators in 1 weekend on the road.

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