Thousands of fans ready for Peach Bowl tonight in downtown Atlanta
Fans ready for Peach Bowl
Thousands of fans from Indiana and Oregon are pouring into downtown Atlanta ahead of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
ATLANTA - Thousands of fans from Indiana and Oregon are pouring into downtown Atlanta ahead of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
What we know:
Hours before kickoff, fans were already walking around the stadium, taking photos and soaking in the atmosphere as crews put final preparations in place. Some fans told FOX 5 they traveled from as far as Indiana, California, and Vancouver to attend the game and expect an electric environment.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti speaks ahead of semi-finals
In an exclusive one-on-one, Curt Cignetti sits down to speak with Lexi Bowden ahead of the historic matchup between Indiana University and the University of Oregon in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Semi-finals in Atlanta, tonight at 7:30. The Hoosiers and the Ducks will face off for a spot against the University of Miami in the College Football National Championship.
A Georgia State University professor said the influx of visitors is expected to generate about $50 million in economic impact, roughly a 15% increase compared to last year’s bowl game. Many fans said they plan to stay through the weekend and explore the city.
Kickoff for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is set for 7:30 p.m. The winner will advance to face the University of Miami Hurricanes in the national championship.
Atlanta braces for massive Peach Bowl college football face-off
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What they're saying:
Fans dressed in crimson and green have been active since early morning, taking photos and soaking in the atmosphere. For some, the journey to the Peach State was a long-distance commitment.
"I went to Indiana. And now I live in Vancouver, Canada, so I flew all day yesterday to be here," said Indiana fan Christa Wagner. "I was also at the Rose Bowl, and I'm just thrilled to be here."
The matchup is expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy. Dr. Kyle Townsend of the Georgia State University Day School of Hospitality Administration estimates the game will have a $50 million economic impact, roughly a 15% increase over last year.
Townsend attributed the growth largely to how far fans traveled.
"This is more of a commitment, right? They're going to be usually staying a couple or three hotel room nights," Townsend said. "And then ultimately, you know, doing a lot of what else Atlanta has to offer... whether they're downtown and hitting the aquarium and the World of Coke or whatever it may be."
While some fans are making their first trip to Atlanta, their goals remain the same.
"I'm just excited that the Ducks made it this far already and see if we can go on to the next one," said Oregon fan Jon Chase. He expressed confidence in his team, adding, "Dan Lanning’s got our ducks lined up, so I think we can do it."
Hoosier fans are equally optimistic. Eric Bond said he is "super pumped" for the game. "Really excited for a big Hoosier win. I think it's going to be a big-time game tonight."
For Jan Bond, the stakes are personal. "It's my birthday today," she said. "And my birthday present is a Hoosier victory."