MU Fans plan travel for Music City Bowl Game

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Excitement swept across Mizzou Arena Saturday as the Tigers defeated the Kansas Jayhawks in basketball for the first time since the rivalry started back up in 2021.

The historic victory energized fans, who chanted and cheered as they left the Mizzou Arena, celebrating a long-awaited triumph in one of college sports biggest rivalries.

Logan Muckey, a University of Missouri student, said the win was monumental.

“That’s a huge deal. I mean, everyone here is like a ride or die supporter of this school, and to come away with a win after that long and just you know, embark on history, it’s great. It’s awesome,” Muckey said.

The excitement extends beyond basketball, as Mizzou fans now set their sights on supporting the Tigers at the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 30.

As of Saturday evening, flights from Columbia to Nashville for the weekend of the game were priced as low as $560. Many fans are considering driving instead.

The drive from Columbia to Nissan Stadium in Nashville takes approximately six hours and 15 minutes, according to Google Maps. AAA estimates that a round trip from St. Louis to Nashville in a 2020 Toyota Camry would cost less than $40 in gas, though actual costs vary by vehicle.

The Mizzou Alumni Association is offering a Bowl Bound Travel Package that includes hotel accommodations, game tickets, and activities for $1,109.

Tickets for the Music City Bowl are ranging from $26 to $218.

As of 7:00p.m., 17 sections of Nissan Stadium had already sold out.

Mizzou athletes credit their fans with providing vital energy during games. Tommy Lock, an MU student and athlete, described the importance of fan support.

“The fans make so much of an impact and you really have no idea until you’re in there and you hear like you feel the vibrations of everybody, like big momentum plays and you can feel the crowd having such an impact on those games. It’s awesome,” Lock said.

Hotels within a mile of Nissan Stadium are priced between $120 and nearly $400 per night, according to Expedia.