UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State football team is heading to Jacksonville, Florida, for the first time in nearly 40 years to clash with Georgia in the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. The public ticket and bowl tour package sale for the Nittany Lions' 46th bowl appearance is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
The 71st annual TaxSlayer Bowl will kick at noon (ET) on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016 in EverBank Field.
The Nittany Lions and Bulldogs will be meeting for just the second time, with the other contest resulting in a 27-23 Penn State victory in the 1983 Sugar Bowl to capture the program's first national championship. Penn State, Georgia and Oklahoma are tied for third nationally with 28 bowl victories and the Nittany Lions are No. 2 in bowl winning percentage with a 28-15-2 post-season record (64.4).
TaxSlayer Bowl Tickets on Sale Wednesday at 10 a.m.Starting Wednesday at 10 a.m., Penn State fans can purchase TaxSlayer Bowl tickets and tour packages at GoPSUsports.com/bowlcentral. Fans also can call 1-800-NITTANY (weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office (weekdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) to buy tickets for Penn State's first Florida appearance in five years.
As a benefit of membership, Nittany Lion Club members have had an opportunity to purchase TaxSlayer Bowl tickets through Account Manager since Sunday evening's announcement.
TaxSlayer Bowl Tour Land and Air Packages Available Wednesday at 10 a.m.Also underway Wednesday at 10 a.m., Penn State fans can join the Official Penn State Bowl Tour. Game tickets are included in the official tour packages from Penn State Athletics and Penn State Alumni Association travel partner PrimeSport.
The official tours include three-day air and land packages starting on Dec. 31, and a Game Day package on Jan. 2 in Jacksonville. All of the tour packages include game tickets.
Fans can purchase TaxSlayer Bowl tour packages at GoPSUsports.com/bowlcentral.
Air Package: The official air package includes: game tickets, round-trip charter air service from Harrisburg, three-night deluxe hotel accommodations, transfers between the airport and hotel, an exclusive Penn State welcome gathering, round-trip transportation to Penn State's Jan. 1 pep rally and admission to the official Penn State pre-game Tailgate.
Land Package: The official land package includes: game tickets, three-night deluxe hotel accommodations, exclusive Penn State welcome gathering, round-trip transportation to Penn State's Jan. 1 pep rally and admission to the official Penn State pre-game Tailgate.
Game Day Package: The official Game Day package includes game tickets and admission to the official Penn State pre-game Tailgate on Jan. 2.
As a benefit of membership, Nittany Lion Club and Penn State Alumni Association members have had an opportunity to purchase TaxSlayer Bowl official tour packages since Sunday's announcement.
Student Ticket Sale for TaxSlayer Bowl Set for Dec. 11-12An allotment of TaxSlayer Bowl tickets is being held for Penn State students to purchase. Student tickets will be available via a walk-up sale at the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office beginning Saturday, Dec. 12 at 8 a.m. As a benefit of membership, Student Nittany Lion Club members will have access to an exclusive pre-sale starting Friday, Dec. 11 via Student Account Manager (credit or debit card only). There will be a two (2) ticket limit per student ID and tickets can be purchased at Saturday's sale with cash, credit card or LionCash. Tickets will be issued at the time of purchase.
More details on the student ticket sale will be distributed on Wednesday.
Led by Coach James Franklin, the Nittany Lions will face Georgia for the first time since Jan. 1, 1983. The clash will air on ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State has played in Jacksonville four times previously, with Gator Bowl appearances in 1961, 1962, 1967 and 1976. The Nittany Lions were 1-2-1 in the game, having played Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State and Notre Dame in their post-season contests in Jacksonville.
The Nittany Lions are 12-6-0 vs. SEC teams in bowl games, with the most recent meeting resulting against Florida in the 2011 Outback Bowl. Penn State has faced Alabama (1-2), Auburn (1-1), Florida (0-3), Georgia (1-0), Kentucky (1-0), LSU (2-0), Missouri (1-0), Tennessee (3-0) and Texas A&M (2-0) in post-season contests.
Information on the TaxSlayer Bowl and all related events can be found on the bowl's website: www.taxslayerbowl.com.