[FlamingChick]

Does anyone remember when JB first tried out his tailgating idea? It was basically him and his wife on the corner with a small grill, and that was it. But, now, 3 years later, look how many people tailgate for our home games!

It just takes time to build. And if a bus trip to NYC to see our playoff hopeful team win their last game of the season doesn't get people excited, I don't know what would.

Maybe start small with a rented 12- or 15-passenger van?

I say go with the van. You don't want to get stuck with a huge bill for a half-full bus if you cant find enough people by next weekend. I'm hoping to see a lot of Flame fans!!

[thepostman]

just "borrow" a couple vans from the visitor's center...they don't need them on the weekend's anyway...haha

[olldflame]

15 passenger van = safety and insurance nightmare. Who is going to drive? To do this as a day trip you need a minimum of 2 drivers, and while they don't need a chauffer's liscense, you don't want to put just anyone behind the wheel with that responsibility. Bad idea IMHO. Probably too late to set up a bus trip now, but that would be the way to go.

[ToTheLeft]

Carpool and split driving duties and gas costs.

[SumItUp]

Is anyone actually checking into availability and cost of a bus?

[LCA&LU Mom]

Okay, if we can get 35 people to commit, I know a guy at my Church who has a bus company out of roanoke. I can see how much they would charge us.

I'm one. We need at least 34 more.

I'd be interested in riding the bus. NOT interested in driving up there.

[Cider Jim]

I'd be #3 (only 32 more needed).

[Rocketfan]

You don't plan a 22 hour trip with 50 people in a week by word of mouth and no way of getting a deposit for the whole thing.

Hate to burst your bubble but that trip is no where near 22 hours, nor is it 1025 miles....i just did a quick set of directions on the web and got 464 miles and 8 hours flat one way.

[SumItUp]

Is anyone actually checking into availability and cost of a bus?

Bump

[SuperJon]

You don't plan a 22 hour trip with 50 people in a week by word of mouth and no way of getting a deposit for the whole thing.

Hate to burst your bubble but that trip is no where near 22 hours, nor is it 1025 miles....i just did a quick set of directions on the web and got 464 miles and 8 hours flat one way.

Eight hours on the way up there. That would include at least one stop at a rest area for 30 minutes and likely a stop for food for 30 minutes (at minimum). That puts you at nine hours.

Multiply that by two and you're at 18 hours for the trip.

Add in the game (three hours) and the amount of time it takes to get into the stadium and then get everyone out of the stadium and onto the bus and you're right at 22 hours, and that's without people celebrating if we win and all of that.

Google Maps says that the trip is 508 miles one way from Lynchburg, VA to Stony Brook, NY. I didn't put exact directions in and just rounded up to an easier number.

[Rocketfan]

You don't plan a 22 hour trip with 50 people in a week by word of mouth and no way of getting a deposit for the whole thing.

Hate to burst your bubble but that trip is no where near 22 hours, nor is it 1025 miles....i just did a quick set of directions on the web and got 464 miles and 8 hours flat one way.

Eight hours on the way up there. That would include at least one stop at a rest area for 30 minutes and likely a stop for food for 30 minutes (at minimum). That puts you at nine hours.

Multiply that by two and you're at 18 hours for the trip.

Add in the game (three hours) and the amount of time it takes to get into the stadium and then get everyone out of the stadium and onto the bus and you're right at 22 hours, and that's without people celebrating if we win and all of that.

Google Maps says that the trip is 508 miles one way from Lynchburg, VA to Stony Brook, NY. I didn't put exact directions in and just rounded up to an easier number.

I guess you have never traveled North, because the google maps route would be moronic to take on a Saturday when its 50 miles further each way. You also forgot another key cost.....tolls. You will pass through quite a few going to Stony Brook NY.

[SuperJon]

Even with the tolls, it would be cheaper per person to drive together than to get a bus.

[bozlady]

I would still rather go on a bus.

[coolhandluke]

I recall the bus trip to Asheville for the big south basketball tourney being a good success. And a ton of people went. 3 buses full. It was a very last minute thing as well.

I think we can swing something here. But maybe you are right Jon. But I just think its kind of messed up that you are getting joy out of hoping this doesn't go through. That's just dumb and someone who works for athletics shouldn't have that kind of attitude towards fans attempts to have a strong fan support at a game that could get us into the playoffs for the first time in program history. You can say its not going to work. That's fine. But to try to sit here and argue the point and discourage us from even trying is just absolutely ridiculous.

[Schfourteenteen]

Ohhh the tolls. So bad in NYC. Still not the worst. Down near the Chesapeake Bay (Rt 13?) the toll there is $12!

Either way I think the only way for this bus gig to happen is if a higher upper sponsors a good portion of the cost. Remember the Asheville game? I thought Jr. covered some of it(not sure though) and made it more affordable to get in on that.

[SuperJon]

That's what happened. Jr covered about $10-15 per person and athletics did the same. I think it was something like $20-30 off and we still had to pay $20-25 for a much shorter trip. It's the only one that's even been remotely successful.

[SumItUp]

There is no reason that a bus trip can't be put together before the Stony Brook game. Assuming that Liberty beats GW this weekend, I am sure there are enough people that would prefer to take a bus and be willing to pay the transportation, ticket and food cost that would be associated.

Who will take responsibility for getting 3 bus quotes?

Who could be available next week (preferably from an office location at or near LU) to collect trip money?

[Flame Convert]

I have three that would be interested...This is my first post.We moved from Charlottesville to Lynchburg in August.We purchased season tickets and I went to the Wva game and will be at Gardner Webb this weekend I really like what is going on here with the atheletic program.After years of watching UVA .I can say without a doubt that I would pull for LU over Uva

[SumItUp]

Welcome aboard Flame Convert! Season tickets + two away games so far? I'm curious, are you a Liberty grad or do you have a previous association with Liberty?

I am sure that something will get put together for a bus trip. If there are 15,000 people that go to the home games there are certainly 50+ that will take a bus.

[Cider Jim]

Over 500 views of this thread is encouraging. If a 1/10 of them took the bus, we'd be full.

[Hold My Own]

I just had a FF lurker call me and say that all the tickets for everyone on the bus will be paid for by him. So that just knocked the price down some! Someone trying to head this thing up PM or email me so we can figure out a way for people to pay that way first 50 get to go. If our office needs to promote it some we may.

If this doesnt happen you cant say we didnt try!

[Keenan]

I just had a FF lurker call me and say that all the tickets for everyone on the bus will be paid for by him. So that just knocked the price down some! Someone trying to head this thing up PM or email me so we can figure out a way for people to pay that way first 50 get to go. If our office needs to promote it some we may.

If this doesnt happen you cant say we didnt try!

[SuperJon]

Does this mean the alumni office is doing all the legwork or does someone else still have to get the quotes, pay the deposit, and collect all of the money?

[Hold My Own]

Jon you worry about the video board and I'll worry about the alumni office. Thanks.

[SuperJon]

I'm asking legitimately. People are trying to set up a bus trip, I'm saying they're not gonna be able to get it done, and you come along say you have someone that'll help offset the cost. Does that mean that you know how much it's going to cost? Are people going to pay you guys for it? Does someone else still need to come up with the reservation and all of that? The people need to know what they need to do. Are other lurkers calling you offering to pay for things? What needs to be done to get this bus trip going?