LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) - We're still a few weeks away from that New Year's Day game, but Cats fans are making their plans for the Citrus Bowl now. Whether you're making the trek down to Florida or staying here to celebrate, there will be no shortage of ways to cheer on UK.
This season is typically busy for JD Becker, but Big Blue Nation being bowl bound takes business to a whole new level.
"Oh, it will be booming,” JD Becker Assistant Manager Lindsey Goodman said.
Orders for Citrus Bowl gear are already in and on their way to the store.
"I know we're getting a short-sleeved shirt and a long-sleeved shirt,” Goodman said.
They are items JD Becker predicts will fly off the shelves.
"I think it's just very exciting and refreshing for everyone,” Goodman said.
From Louisville to Lexington, Cats pride is coming in from all corners of the Commonwealth.
"This team deserves a good bowl game. The Citrus Bowl is one of the best,” Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement & Executive Director of the UK Alumni Association Tim Walsh said.
"Campus is very, very excited. The ticket office has been getting a lot of calls,” UK Assistant Athletic Director Tony Neely said.
The alumni association has two different travel packages up for grabs.
"We're playing a blue blood program in Penn State. It's SEC & Big Ten. It's kind of everything you want in a Bowl Game,” Walsh said.
Both cover a three-night hotel stay, game tickets, and more. The first one is $1645 and includes airfare out of Lexington. You'd leave on Dec. 30 and come back Jan. 2. The land only option is a bit cheaper and will cost you $995. The travel packages will also get you into a New Year's Eve party in Orlando. If you already have your own plans to get down to the Sunshine State and just need tickets, the university is encouraging you to buy them for the official UK allotment.
"It definitely gets you sitting in the UK fan zone, and it's a help for the school in terms of future bowl invitations. That's something that bowl committees look at it is pretty closely is what kind of ticket sales the teams have. The more team sales from its official allotment, obviously the better it makes it look for you in future years,” Neely said.
UK said having a bowl game the last two years has helped them plan, but added this time around just feels that much bigger and better.
"We hope that everybody in the Big Blue Nation will go to Orlando for New Year's and ring it in with the Cats,” Walsh said.