BCS title tickets getting pricey

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The economy is playing a role in whether or not some Longhorn fans head to Pasadena in January.

Best friends and life-long Longhorn fans Summer Logan and Brian Henson already know they won't be heading to Pasadena to root on their beloved Longhorns as they battle Alabama in the BCS championship game January 7th.

What's holding them back is the cost of tickets, which are priced anywhere from a couple hundred bucks to a few grand.

"That's just the tickets, you know what I am saying?" said Logan.  "That's not the plane flight, that's not staying at a hotel or motel out there somewhere."

"There's only going to be so many Longhorn fans at the stadium because of the economy or what not, even traveling getting over there," said Henson.  "Everybody will be here though guaranteed."

Both Brian and Summer said they aren't even going to look for tickets.

It's an idea cash-strapped folks also might want to follow.

Just minutes after the BCS announcement came Sunday, the cost of tickets skyrocketed.

The prices on Craigslist, which jumped into the thousands late Sunday, were proof.

Juan Portillo, who is the president of an Austin based travel agency, said the dollar amount is not affecting demand.

He said he already sold more than 50 sports packages to people.

"We've had quite a few phone calls," said Portillo.  "We have had a lot of phone calls, a lot of email requests."

Portillo said his phone keeps ringing, even though the price of his packages jumped from $1600 to $1800 since the Longhorns beat Nebraska Saturday night.

It is exactly those prices that have Summer and Brian unwilling to break the bank.

Both Brian and Summer said they refuse to be sidelined and already know where they'll be when the Longhorns go head-to-head with the Crimson Tide.

"Probably right here at Scholz Garten watching the game, rooting on the Longhorns," Logan explained.:

"I figure I will just be here with everyone else cheering them on," Henson added.

Portillo said he believes that fans who have a will to be at this game will find a way.

He advised people who don't want to dip too far into their pockets to get to Pasadena to drive out instead of fly, stay at hotels outside of the area surrounding the stadium and to plan ahead.