Notre Dame fans putting faith in ticket lottery

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Christmas list for Notre Dame fans just got a little bit more expensive to the tune of $1,600. That’s the going price of a ticket to the BCS title game in Miami. To avoid the high costs, some fans are putting their faith in the Notre Dame ticket lottery.

The phone was ringing off the hook Monday morning at the Anthony Travel Center inside the student center. Agents received calls from all over the country. Both alumni and fans of the team wanted to enter the school’s ticket lottery.

Notre Dame sophomore Alex Whelan wants one thing from Santa: a ticket to Miami.

She said she knows it's pricey, but it's a gift that can count towards more than just this Christmas.

"Future Christmas presents maybe, birthday presents, anything,” said Whelan.

Whelan will be home in Atlanta for Christmas break, but she said she plans to make the 11-hour drive to Miami for the game.

"I would love to see us play Georgia. It would be so much fun," said Whelan. "I know a lot of my friends would want to go to the game so it would be great just to have that rivalry."

Junior Sarah Fleming already booked her flight, but she's missing one thing - the golden ticket. So now, she's putting her faith in the school's ticket lottery.

"I know that ticket prices are ridiculously high right now and I would have to sell an arm and a leg to pay for it,’ said Fleming.

The cheapest ticket on Stub Hub right now goes for $1,600. That doesn't even include airfare. Because of the steep prices, Notre Dame is offering a package deal for the lucky winners. 

"The package will include a  three-night hotel accommodations Jan. 5-8," said Ann Roepke of Anthony Travel. "It will include the game ticket, and that's two tickets per room reservation so basically the room reservations are based on double occupancy. It will also include ground transportation to the game and back." 

Those booking through Anthony Travel will be entered into a drawing just for a chance to buy the package. The application free to enter the drawing is $100 per person. 

But if you're not picked in the lottery, don't worry. 

"For those that are notified that they did not win the chance to purchase the package, we can refund the $100 deposit minus a $10 service fee,” said Roepke.

How much will the package cost minus airfare?

"It'll probably run $1,700-$2,400 per person,” said Roepke.

If luck is on your side and you do win, notify Anthony Travel within 24 hours if you can no longer go.

If you don't , you're charged for the package.

Click here for more information on the drawing.