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Hokies Basketball: 2 Virginia at Virginia Tech is a Sellout

By Tim Thomas

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Jan 18, 2015; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Buzz Williams reacts in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Hokies 68-53 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Last week, the Virginia Tech Hokies announced that their game against the Duke Blue Devils on February 25th would be a sellout. Also, Virginia Tech announced that less than 100 tickets were left for the rivalry game between Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Today, the Hokies updated that situation.

Virginia Tech has announced that the game between the Hokies and the second-ranked Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday, January 25th is a sellout. This is big for a program that didn’t have a single game above 7,000 fans last season, and will likely finish around the bottom of the ACC once again.

The fact that Virginia is undefeated and the number 2 team in the nation may be helping with ticket sales, but a lot of credit once again has to go to the whole athletic department and Buzz Williams. Williams immediately gave the program a new buzz among fans, and that has helped the Hokies selling tickets.

A great example was how the Hokies had 6,838 fans for their game against Syracuse in early January after having 4,367 fans against Syracuse during the same time period last season. Syracuse was unranked in that game this season while they were ranked number 2 when they played them last season.

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The Hokies also have a great young team that has played fairly well at home headlined by their near-comeback victory against Syracuse. Justin Bibbs will likely be healthy in time for this game while some of the other younger players are making progress.

A lot of credit also has to be given to Whit Babcock and the whole athletic department. Babcock has brought a whole lot of energy to Virginia Tech athletics while many fans also trust Babcock to hold people accountable if they fail to perform.

Hokie Nation has tons of confidence in Babcock and are excited the direction of Virginia Tech athletics as a whole. Some ticket prices decreased while the rest stayed the same and that always helps with selling tickets.

The athletic department also has been much more active under Babcock in engaging alumni and the fan base as a whole which has helped not only in fundraising but also in ticket sales.

Also, this is a big time rivalry and while the Hokies are major underdogs heading into this matchup, there is a belief that an upset is possible. If an upset does happen, fans want to be there to see their arch rival lose their first game.

This is exciting that the Hokies now have two sold out games in a season that will almost certainly see Virginia Tech finish around the bottom of the ACC.

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