The Mountaineers invade the world of UT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The mountaineers are coming. The Mountaineers are coming.

Downtown Austin is bracing for a profitable invasion of West Virginia fans for Saturday's big game against The University of Texas Longhorns. As many as 10,000 or more out-of-towners are expected.

Ticket City is doing great business.

"With both teams 4-0 the excitement is electric," said owner Randy Cohen. "We've been selling tickets all year. Our inventory is starting to get down a little bit but as you know, it's not sold out until we say it's sold out, so we still have some great seats."

Two fans coming to Austin from West Virginia, Julia Abbott and Greg Comer, intend to be married Saturday outside the stadium.

"Why not? We are huge football fans and so are our friends. We wanted to do something fun," Abbott said.

According to the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, each UT home game generates an economic impact in the Capital City of $18 million. The season total runs to $100 million.

Football is not the only cash cow.

The Austin City Limits Music Festival will generate $106 million for the local economy.

In 2011, all Austin events combined generated $4.3 billion.

Saturday's match-up is only the second meeting between West Virginia and Texas. They first tangled on Oct. 6, 1956 before 30,000 fans at Memorial Stadium. The Mountaineers won 7-6.

After that disappointing season UT fired head coach Ed Price and hired the coach from The University of Washington.

His name? Darrell Royal.