Odd but true: N.C. State draws well in Charlotte. The Wolfpack has twice previously — 2005 and 2011 — played in the bowl game of ever changing name that’s played in Charlotte each December. Those games rank second and third in Charlotte bowl attendance over the past decade with crowds of 57,937 (vs. South Florida) in 2005 and 58,427 (vs. Louisville) in 2011. By comparison, the Belk Bowl drew only 45,671 fans last year when Georgia beat Louisville in a game in which both teams came in nationally ranked.
There’s no reason to expect this year’s game to sell out, but I’m sure Belk Bowl officials and Charlotte economic development types would be elated if the game drew 58,000 fans, like when N.C. State previously played here, especially after last year’s disappointing crowd.
