Some students at the University of Georgia lucky enough to get tickets to the game are finding ways to save money on travel and lodging expenses ahead of Monday’s big game.

“We booked [our tickets] the morning of the semi-final game because we knew the prices would increase,” UGA student Maddie Hoffmann told WSB’s Jonathan O’Brien she and a friend will save money on the return trip too. “We’re flying out at midnight from LA to Atlanta on United, so we only have one night in LA.”

With airline ticket prices reaching thousands of dollars, University of Georgia Senior Carter White and her roommate bought companion tickets.

“We ended up each only paying $466, so we got really lucky,” White explained.

Senior accounting major Emma Bradvica is originally from San Diego but attends college in Athens. Her home will now be the home base for quite a few of her friends. “Seven people are staying at my house; we’re having to put out a lot of air mattresses,” she said.

Weeks before the game, students entered into lotteries for discounted and, for some, free tickets to the championship game.

Isabelle Bowman, a student staying with Bradvica, said she had a lucky drawing in the lottery. “It was a free ticket which I’m very grateful for,” Bowman said.

Bradvica told WSB several of her friends coming in took a flight to Las Vegas and are driving to San Diego to save some money. “It just shows how die-hard these fans are, which is pretty cool.”

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