Dec. 8, 2007
SAN ANTONIO; - The 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl, featuring Penn State and Texas A&M, is a sellout as a crowd in excess of the Alamodome's 65,000-seat capacity will attend the Dec. 29 contest.
Penn State's remaining tickets can be ordered via www.GoPSUsports.com, the official website of Penn State Athletics. Fans also can purchase tickets by calling (814) 865-5555 or (800) 863-3336.
The contest will kick at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET and air on ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com.
"The 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl match-up between Penn State and Texas A&M equaled the demand we had for last year's Texas vs. Iowa match-up that ended up as the largest sports attendance in Alamodome history," said John Yantis, 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl Chairman. "Our thanks go to these two universities and their tremendous fan bases. We're looking forward to welcoming these loyal fans to the Riverwalk later this month to enjoy our world-renowned San Antonio hospitality as we celebrate the game's 15th anniversary."
This is the Valero Alamo Bowl's fourth sellout in the last six years and the sixth in the 15-year history of the game. The 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl is also the quickest sellout in the game's history surpassing the December 9 sellout last year and the December 11 sellout of the 1999 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl that featured the two teams in this year's game.
With the addition of temporary seating and standing room only sales, the 2006 game reached a final attendance of 65,875 in the 65,000-seat Alamodome ranking it as the most attended game in Alamo Bowl history. The 1999 game had a final attendance of 65,380 that ranks No. 2 all-time.
"Last year, Alamo Bowl attendees were treated to a down-to-the-wire thriller between two of the nation's most storied programs in Texas and Iowa that ended the evening as the most-watched college football game in ESPN history," said Derrick Fox, Valero Alamo Bowl President/CEO. "This year, fans will see two more of the nation's top football programs in Penn State and Texas A&M while again being a part of one of the most-attended events in San Antonio sports history."
All Alamodome parking passes to this event have also been sold. Fans without parking passes are encouraged to arrive early and use downtown lots north of the stadium or take advantage of VIA Park-n-Ride. The roundtrip service will be offered for $6 from Crossroads Mall, Randolph Boulevard Park and Ride, South San Stadium and Blossom Athletic Center.
An estimated 34,000 fans from outside of San Antonio will attend this year's Valero Alamo Bowl resulting in a direct economic impact of $15 million.
Penn State will be making its 40th bowl appearance all-time. The Nittany Lions are No. 3 in the nation with 25 post-season victories and first nationally in bowl winning percentage (66.7, 25-12-2) among schools with at least 10 bowl wins. Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno is the all-time leader in bowl appearances (34th) and bowl victories (22-10-1 record).
Penn State will be making its second appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl, defeating Texas A&M, 24-0, in the 1999 contest to finish 10-3. The game drew a standing room only crowd of 65,380, which remains second-largest in Alamo Bowl history. The Nittany Lions will be making their 34th post-season trip under Paterno, who is the all-time leader in bowl wins (22-10-1) and appearances.
The Nittany Lions and Aggies will be meeting for the fourth time, with Penn State leading the series, 2-1. Penn State and Texas A&M also played a home and home series in 1979 and '80. The Aggies won, 27-14, in Beaver Stadium on Sept. 22, 1979. The Nittany Lions captured a 25-9 victory at Kyle Field on Sept. 20, 1980.
For more information on the Valero Alamo Bowl and this year's events, please visit the Valero Alamo Bowl's award-winning web site at www.alamobowl.com.
Top 5 Alamo Bowl Football Attendances
- 65,875, Alamo Bowl, Dec. 30, 2006 (Texas vs. Iowa)
- 65,380 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl, Dec. 28, 1999 (Penn State vs. Texas A&M)
- 65,265 MasterCard Alamo Bowl, Dec. 29, 2004 (Ohio State vs. Oklahoma State)
- 65,232 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl, Dec. 29, 2001 (Texas Tech vs. Iowa)
- 65,000 (as of 12/8), Valero Alamo Bowl, Dec. 29, 2007 (Texas A&M vs. Penn State)