College Football in Rio: 24K Tickets for University Fans

The first College Football game to be held this year at the Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, will have a different configuration than the standard of major sporting events in Brazil. Of the total number of tickets available, 24 thousand tickets, 12 thousand for each participating university, are reserved exclusively for colleges, respecting a historic tradition of college football.

On August 29, the Virginia Cavaliers and NC State Wolfpack open the regular season with a game in Brazil. It will be the second clash in the history of the sport outside the United States, and the first in South America. The organization estimates that 20,000 North American tourists will come to Brazil to watch the duel, which should provide an impact of R$400 million for the city of Rio de Janeiro.

The practice is part of the culture of College Football in the United States, in which fans follow their universities in away games, including international events. This behavior directly influences event planning in Brazil and explains why only part of the stadium’s capacity was made available to the general public.

“College Football is much more than a game, it is a cultural experience. In the United States, fans follow their universities wherever they go, and this is part of the sport’s DNA. Booking tickets for these fans is respecting the essence of the sport and delivering an authentic experience in Brazil as well”, says Bruno Guilherme, CEO of Brasil Sports Business, the company responsible for holding the event in the country.

According to the executive, the division of the ticket load is strategic to maintain the standard of the show. “Each university is entitled to 12,000 tickets to serve its fans, alumni and communities who travel to follow the team. This impacts the number of tickets available to the local public, but increases the atmosphere and experience inside the stadium”, he explains.