Hokies Mailbag: Top Position Groups, Ticket Prices, Overton's Usage And More

34 Comments

1. 

   Turk Malloy October 5, 2026 at 12:42 PM

   The only kids getting in for free should be the ones you have to carry. Otherwise, you will have some unhappy neighbors as the kids invariably squeeze into the bleachers. And yes, I have experienced this and it's not cool.
2. 

   GoneFishin Hokie October 2, 2026 at 3:21 PM

   I've not read all the comments, but one thing I've noticed about Franklin when the camera pans him is that he's counting players on the field an awful lot, especially on switches.
3. 

   DGHOKIE October 2, 2026 at 11:12 AM

   I agree with the year of the Texas bowl victory, but I think the most important game that year was the third game of the year against Miami when Tech was 0-2. That came was the impetus for the entire season. Without that win, we don’t play in that bowl
4. 

   Spartacusjones October 2, 2026 at 10:52 AM

   I'm retired and live in the Richmond area. Going to a game at lane stadium entails a 4 hour drive, $800-1000 for a hotel room, ticket, misc expenses for food and beverages, and uncomfortable seats at a game where many people in front stand for much of the game. In my youth, I could handle and enjoy this adventure, but now, watching games on TV just has to do. Hopefully, they will do something to improve the stadium experience for those hardy souls that make the pilgrimage. If they add a curmudgeon section, I'll be there. Go Hokies!
5. 

   Novahokie`99 October 1, 2026 at 11:09 PM

   Over the last 4 weeks I've been to 4 different college stadiums. I have 3 boys - one is a Junior at Indiana, one is a Freshman at Penn State and the other is a sophomore in high school. We went to Penn State for the Marshall game (Week 1), VT for the ODU game (Week 2), Maryland for the VT game (Week 3 - I live in NOVA) and Indiana for the Northwestern game (Week 4). For comparison those stadiums hold 108K (PSU), 67K (VT), 47K (UMD) and 55K (IU). I have a tailgate spot in lot 2 in Blacksburg so I always go in underneath the East Stands. It was bad during the ODU game but not near as bad as it has been in the past. PSU was actually the longest wait time to get into the stadium and was very similar to VT. It's hilarious there though as they have messages over the loud speakers while you're in line basically saying how nice all of the PSU fans are and that you should treat everyone else really nicely. The easiest stadium to get into was Maryland while IU is also pretty easy. None of them were outside of a standard deviation from each other though. Inside the stadium, VT has by far the best entrance and atmosphere and is also very loud for the capacity. PSU is a little bit louder but that's just because they hold 40K more fans. Maryland is a nice stadium and easy all around. Indiana needs renovations badly and needs to hire a marketing major to figure out how to make things a little more cohesive but the stadium is fine. Very reminiscent of VT in the 90's and early 2000's before they renovated.
   1. 

      George Baylor October 2, 2026 at 8:56 AM

      VT used the IU stadium as the Model for Lane's design
      1. 

         Novahokie`99 October 2, 2026 at 10:02 AM

         Ha! That explains that.
6. 

   VicDrit October 1, 2026 at 9:32 PM

   Gate 2 is a disaster. This problem has been going on for years, and VT is oblivious to it. We have traveled to many away games over the last 10-plus years and never encountered this sort of clogged-up, dangerous mess entering a stadium.
7. 

   TomTurkey October 1, 2026 at 6:24 PM

   So, the official rule is 3- ?
8. 

   DGHOKIE October 1, 2026 at 5:29 PM

   “Free under 3” is misleading. Does the child get a seat, which is usually owned by somebody else? Or does this just mean children sitting in their parents’ laps are free?
   1. 

      HokieDelNorte October 1, 2026 at 6:30 PM

      Laps. Free entry
   2. 

      Barrett October 1, 2026 at 6:43 PM

      Laps. They can’t conjure up new seats for kids out of thin air.
   3. 

      Tailgate Guru October 1, 2026 at 7:37 PM

      It means irresponsible parents sitting next to you will have children ostensibly sitting on their laps but squirming into your space. When the space is confined as it is in Lane Stadium, it’s a bad policy.
      1. 

         Novahokie`99 October 1, 2026 at 10:58 PM

         I've been going to VT games for over 30 years and that has been an issue for me exactly zero times. I took my boys to Lane when they were young and never had any issues. Yes, a kid may squirm over to your seat every now and then but if we're playing well you're way more likely to have me and my buddies in your personal space high fiving and hugging. This is a great policy and a total non-issue.
      2. 

         AFHokie99 October 2, 2026 at 8:54 AM

         When I was a cadet in the mid/late 90's the Corps had the policy where guests could come sit with us during the second half. Guests included, but were not limited to parents, significant others, and siblings--some younger and close in age to the new policy age. There was always room and never an issue finding space. Personally, I think this is an excellent new policy.
      3. 

         Turk Malloy October 5, 2026 at 12:46 PM

         I am with you. Once prices go up next year - the complaints will outweigh the positivity. I understand actual infants, but there are some big under 3 year olds who are not going to sit in mom or dads lap all game.
9. 

   RustyHokie94 October 1, 2026 at 5:18 PM

   I'm a VT grad ('94) from Knoxville. I went to TN vs OU last year at Neyland. It took 20 minutes to get inside the stadium then another 40 to get to my seats. UNREAL. Like Lane, Neyland sells beer inside the stadium now. I'm going 2 hours early next time and gladly pay the $12 beers. I wanna get there an hour before Enter Sandman so that I can here the opening band, Palpable Buzz.
10. 

    KenStuckInJersey October 1, 2026 at 3:32 PM

    Is Palpable Buzz maybe a Metalica cover band?
    1. 

       Andy Bitter October 1, 2026 at 3:41 PM

       It's a Buzz Williams-inspired tribute band, actually. Everybody's dressed like Buzz Williams, ala Bobby Knight Ranger in Parks & Rec. https://x.com/jakemotorsaway/status/1624141617387999241/video/1
       1. 

          delmarva hokie October 1, 2026 at 5:40 PM

          My guess is Palpable Buzz has about a six song setlist.
    2. 

       10yearplan October 1, 2026 at 5:24 PM

       It's got to be a malty beverage
       1. 

          Tim Lewis October 1, 2026 at 5:45 PM

          Palpable Buzz is now available at the local dispensary
11. 

    DADEC52 October 1, 2026 at 3:30 PM

    When it gets to the point where you can buy a 100" TV at $3K and have it for years vs, one season of 3-4 hour drives, hotel rooms at high prices and extended stay requirements, long lines, challenging concessions at the same price as a pair of pretty good tickets, not really good mind you, it starts becoming a tough question. And We're not even talking about comfort. Now nothing is better than Lane rocking but that becomes a question none the less. I'm only a sporadic season ticket guy so I am likely way off base but I will be more sporadic as it rises.
    1. 

       Andy Bitter October 1, 2026 at 3:42 PM

       Yeah, the overall cost of going to a game is well beyond just the tickets. If you're not local, hotels are probably the biggest nuisance, since there just aren't enough of them. My neighbor does an Airbnb for football weekends and makes a killing. There just aren't enough places to stay locally.
       1. 

          jrog21 October 1, 2026 at 4:01 PM

          It's the main reason I can't afford to go to games anymore. Average hotel stays at $300-400 a night (on the low end) and having a two night minimum means that I'm spending $800 alone just to sleep one night prior or after. Day trips are a possibility for me with the noon kickoffs (which I have to admit I HATED them as a student and now love as an alumni), but the price to go to Blacksburg for any afternoon/night game is getting to be $1,000+ for a weekend. Memories aside, it's hard to swallow that cost as a public school teacher.
       2. 

          AFHokie99 October 2, 2026 at 9:08 AM

          The lack of hotel space is one of the biggest reasons I haven't gone to many games since I've graduated. I don't want to stay in Roanoke or a farther distance away; I want to make a trip out of it and enjoy old haunts (RIP Bordeaux's & OG Sharkey's) in & around Blacksburg before and after the game. If I have to stay in Roanoke or farther out, I'm further ahead just making the entire drive down and back from northern VA.
       3. 

          DQ October 4, 2026 at 12:33 PM

          They must have used some AI to look at the tickets, they raised prices last year and nothing changed for us because our base donation covered the rise in cost…but not this coming year, club seats up $810 each. When the season ticket sales closed and the school went to individual sales, if you scan the seats available, there are thousands…so when going to seatgeek, those folks get out of paying the individual seat price…but then it becomes more economical for families going to single games.
    2. 

       VPIGUY October 1, 2026 at 3:57 PM

       Mine went up a LOT more than that. Ticket price plus required contribution takes the tickets to almost $250 per ticket (I have four). Couple that with hotel rooms, gas, etc and it's $2,500 per weekend to take 4 to a game (Minimum). It's getting to the point where I have to consider giving them up after 27 years.
       1. 

          CPVT3 October 1, 2026 at 7:57 PM

          I know nothing and live out of state now so games are a special occasion every few years -- hotels aside, how much is the ticket increase versus what did it cost before? As in, is the hotel the biggest expense or truly the ticket is insane now? Pure curiosity
          1. 

             CPVT3 October 1, 2026 at 7:57 PM

             I recently stayed at Claytor Lake for the ODU game and $80 Uber aside, it was wonderful, especially as I get older
       2. 

          middletennhokie October 2, 2026 at 8:25 AM

          Acknowledged, there are different required contribution rates for different sections. My seats are in the red section, so $260 is the delta from this year to next. The real money issue for us are hotel rooms in the area. Family members reserved a room at the Holiday Inn Express on Prices Fork. Two night minimum stay, $1400.00 !
12. 

    middletennhokie October 1, 2026 at 2:26 PM

    Thanks Andy! Palpable Buzz, live at Lane Stadium! As for ticket prices, I am happy with my seats on the East side, great view of the field and convenient. My 2 season tickets went up a total of $260 all in. I'll gladly pay that for a better product on the field. We can't have high aspirations and low prices in this era of college sports.
13. 

    FCGOBBLER October 1, 2026 at 2:15 PM

    The entry point situation is one of those abysmal issues that just seems to be getting worse, particularly the Lot 1/2 entrance that now services the crowd that once entered through the gate by Stadium Woods, which no longer opens for whatever reason. It seems like every year we hear comments from Athletics about fixing it, but it never happens. The worst I can remember is the near-crush that took place in the concourse below the East side student section before Notre Dame in 2021. Really scary stuff that I know rattled plenty of people at the time, but nothing came of it. Getting through security took almost 45 minutes before VMI, and that was with a substantial amount of lead time that we calculated for. Here's to hoping White can work his magic moving forward.
    1. 

       CPVT3 October 1, 2026 at 7:59 PM

       At ODU, coming in at NW corner, it was SLOW and then magically faster as game time got close. Seemed very poorly organized and inefficient