Brokers disappointed, but expect decent sales.

But most expect interest for UW at Orange Bowl

Among Badgers fans totally bummed to see the football team fall short in the Big Ten Championship were ticket brokers.

Instead of fielding calls and queries for tickets to the College Football Playoff, they’re now selling seats to the Orange Bowl. A nice bowl in a warm spot over the New Year‘s holiday weekend, to be fair. But it’s not the top four.

“It’s certainly going to be quite anticlimactic,” said James Bryce Jr., partner of Ticket King in Milwaukee.

“But it was still a great year and Wisconsin fans travel. I think there will be some interest but I don’t anticipate anything gangbusters,” Bryce said.

Mike Holzberger, owner of Connections Ticket Services in Milwaukee, also doesn’t anticipate a strong demand, at least not compared to the University of Wisconsin ending up in the top four.

Had UW beaten Ohio State Saturday, the Badgers would have either played in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans or the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Instead, Bucky will face Miami in the Orange Bowl Dec. 30.

“There will be a demand but it’s nothing like the demand for a playoff game because the Badgers have never gone to the playoffs,” said Holzberger. “They just came off a disappointing loss. They had a great season.

“I think most people who travel to the game will combine it with a warmweather vacation,” Holzberger said.

Both Ticket King and Connections only sell tickets, not hotel and transportation packages to the game.

Playing against the Hurricanes in Miami, the Badgers will need their Wisconsin faithful. Here’s how fans can get to the game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Tickets are already online starting around $140 apiece through Ticketmaster. Online sellers like Vivid Seats, Stub Hub, Tickets-Center and others have seats.

It’ll take a 21-hour road trip or a threeand-a-half-hour plane ride to get down to the southern coast of Florida from Milwaukee. Round-trip flights for Orange Bowl weekend are around $300 and up.

Tickets through the UW Department of Athletics go on sale for the general public at noon Tuesday, if there are still

some available. Tickets are $230 each.

Donors and football season ticket holders can request bowl tickets until noon Monday. Tickets can be requested either online or by calling the Wisconsin Athletic Ticket Office.

UW students will be able to buy as many as two tickets Monday evening between 7 and 10 p.m. online at UWBadgers.com. About 2,200 tickets are set aside for Wisconsin students at $230 each. Some 1,000 randomly selected students will receive a $180 refund for the purchase.

The Wisconsin Alumni Association will also host a Badger bowl tour for fans. The tailgate before the game will feature Bucky Badger, the UW Spirit Squad, marching band and other guests.

The three-night hotel package that includes admission to a tailgate before the game, a welcome reception and game-day transportation starts at $1,055 per person. A flight and hotel package starts at $2,025. Fans with the Alumni Association will stay at the Trump National Doral Miami. More information is at uwalumni.com/bowl.

Since the Badgers’ foe is from Miami, it will essentially be a home game for the Hurricanes, noted Holzberger.

“While it might not be a huge game for Badger fans, it will still be a hot ticket,” said Holzberger.

Both Bryce and Holzberger said it’s difficult

It’ll take a 21-hour road trip or a 3 ⁄2-hour 1 plane ride to get down to the southern coast of Florida from Milwaukee.

to predict ticket prices just one day after the Badgers’ loss to the Buckeyes.

With face value for the best seats costing $230, demand could push that up to $300 or $400. But the lowest priced tickets could cost $100 to $120.

For more information about the game, visit uwbowlcentral.com.