College Football Fans Pack DFW Airports
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GRAPEVINE (CBSDFW.COM) - More than 85,000 fans packed into AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Monday night for the first-ever College Football Playoff national championship game, where the Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Oregon Ducks by a score of 42-20 to take home the title.
An even greater number of fans came to North Texas just to be in the area when their team won the championship.
According to the Arlington Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the game ranked among the best for the city because fans arrived several days ahead of time, compared to other events.
But now, many of those fans are returning home.
Several thousand people traveled to North Texas from Ohio and Oregon to see the big game in person. And all of those fans are getting ready to now leave the area. That is expected to create some major headaches for anyone traveling out of DFW International Airport or Dallas Love Field on Tuesday.
Even before sunrise on Tuesday morning, the terminals at DFW International Airport were filled with happy Ohio State fans -- and some upset Oregon backers -- now looking to return home. Travelers are encouraged to leave for the airport at least three hours before a flight's scheduled departure. And that goes for anyone, not just those heading to Oregon or Ohio.
According to a DFW International Airport spokesman, the rush of traveling fans is expected to slow down later Tuesday morning. Still, anyone leaving from the airport on Tuesday is asked to arrive very early and check on their flight's status before heading out.
Additional police officers and parking personnel will be on hand to assist traffic and guide visitors.
Also, travelers leaving from Dallas Love Field have been asked to pack the game program in a carry-on bag. Something in the books set off their machines which scan checked luggage, and the Transportation Security Administration is then required to do a manual inspection. The process moves faster if the programs are in carry-on bags.
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