Belk Bowl to provide much needed economic boost for Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thousands of football fans are arriving in Charlotte for the annual Belk Bowl.

"We flew from Newark," Kelly Matika said.

She and her two sons arrived in Charlotte from New Jersey on Wednesday ahead of the game.

Whether coming to watch Virginia Tech or Arkansas, fans are spending plenty of money to be here.

"On hotel and tickets, probably $1,000," estimated Lou Lobosco, who drove his family from Richmond, Virginia.

With tens of thousands of people flooding uptown to see the ACC and the SEC teams battle it out, hotels, restaurants and shops are banking on a boost.

Last year, the Belk Bowl brought $16.3 million to the Queen City, when nearly 41,000 people went to the game.

About 26,000 fans traveled to be here.

LINK: Belk Bowl FanFest

The game provides an economic boost to Charlotte every year; but perhaps more so this year after the city lost an estimated $500 million when business opportunities and other major sporting events pulled out of Charlotte because of the state's controversial law known as HB2.

Razorbacks fan Robert Peterson lives in Gaston County and told Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster he's glad the Belk Bowl didn't leave, too.

"I was a little worried about that, that it may happen," Peterson said.

Big fans of the two teams playing Thursday told Channel 9 the state's battle over bathroom rights was not going to keep them from visiting Charlotte.

"I know there's some stuff going on in North Carolina, but that didn't really dissuade us from coming," Lobosco said.

The Belk Bowl kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

City leaders have declared both the game and the Fanfest concert before it extraordinary events.

Events designated as extraordinary mean extra security. See a list of prohibited items here.

No. 18 Virginia Tech (9-4, 6-2 ACC) vs. Arkansas (7-5, 3-5 SEC), 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: Virginia Tech by 5.

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The Hokies are looking for their fourth bowl victory in the last five seasons. A win would give them their first 10-win season since 2011 and make Justin Fuente the first Virginia Tech coach to win 10 games in his first season. Arkansas is looking to become the only SEC West program to win a bowl game in each of the last three straight seasons. The Razorbacks looking for their fourth win against a ranked opponent this season.

KEY MATCHUP

Virginia Tech QB Jerod Evans vs. Arkansas LB Brooks Ellis: The dynamic Evans has already established school single-season records for yards passing, TD passes and total yards from scrimmage. But he can also run the ball, ranking 10th in the ACC at 58.4 yards per game along with 10 TDs. Ellis, a senior, is the rock of the Arkansas defense and is 15 tackles shy of 300 for his career.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Virginia Tech: WR Isaiah Ford had 12 catches for 227 yards and a TD in the Independence Bowl win vs. Tulsa last season. He is the only ACC player to hold sole possession of his school's record for receptions (204), yards receiving (2,911) and TD catches (24).

Arkansas: RB Rawleigh Williams III has reached the 100-yard rushing plateau in a league-best seven games this season while his 1,326 yards rushing are the fifth-best single-season total in school history. Williams rushed for 205 yards and four TDs on 15 carries earlier this season against Mississippi State.

FACTS & FIGURES

Virginia Tech has played well in the state of North Carolina this year, beating the North Carolina Tar Heels 34-3 and the Duke Blue Devils 24-21. ... Arkansas QB Austin Allen has thrown multiple TD passes in eight of 12 games. .. Arkansas and Boise State are the only two FBS teams to have a 300-yard passer and a 1,300-yard rusher in each of the last two seasons. ... Arkansas is averaged 32.9 points per game over the last three seasons, fourth-best in the SEC. ... Arkansas WR Drew Morgan looks to lead the team in yards receiving in back-to-back seasons since Marcus Monk.

Cox Media Group