The Bobcat Nation

guys, i'm planning on getting myself and dad tickets fot the the broncos-vikes game the last week of the season. i'm a vikes fan, and he was always a broncs fan but i've always tried to convert him. (he's my stepfather) anyway, i have no clue how to go about searching for tickets to the game, flight tickets if we choose not to drive, or hotel rooms. i need some help from the well traveled, and well-interneted. (i made that up.) thanks in advance. GO VIKES!!

PM'd ya trash.

EDIT: I sent you a ticket connection. As far as motels, I always get my rooms via priceline.com. I pick "downtown" and I can get rooms at the Adams Mark, Mariott or (shoot, another 3-4 star downtown motel-can't remember the name) for 1/2 price. Usually $65-$70/night. All within a block of the 16th St Walking Mall.

Things within blocks: Hard Rock Cafe, Chili's, ESPN Zone, Coyote Ugly and numerous micro-brew joints.

whitetrashgriz.... The best thing I've found for flights several months in advance is the Farewatcher on Travelocity. It's free to sign up, you set your parameters for email notifications (i.e. price drops $25, $50, or the price drops below a certain $ amount). Airlines often have 1-day sales for incredible prices. I've purchased $700-$800 tickets from Helena-Toronto for $235 and $300 and a ticket from Helena-Green Bay for $200. At any rate I'd check all the major discount sites and airlines on a daily basis for the same deals. The prices can fluctuate on a daily or weekly basis. And if you don't mind driving an hour or two to catch a flight, I'd check how prices compare from the different Montana cities or even Spokane. You can occasionally get a better deal even after factoring in gas and parking.

If you are flying out of Billings, I have gotten the best deals from Frontier - but I've had to go to their site rather than any of the travel sites. I am flying Memorial weekend and Frontier's site was $70 cheaper than Travelocity/Hotwire. For a hotel I would also get one downtown and specifically one within a block or two of 16th street. You will be able to take the shuttle to the lightrail, the lightrail to the stadium stop, and then walk about 4 blocks right to the tailgate all for $2 per person. Another hotel to check downtown is the Comfort Inn. It is on the east end of 16th street and a couple blocks north. When I traveled here for work, they had the best deals. The Adam's Mark and either Hyatt are nice, but can be expensive. The Holiday Inn is on 14th and isn't too bad. All of these will be close to Coyote Ugly, Hard Rock Cafe, and Lucky Strike - a bowling alley but it is also a busy bar.

I will also be at this game as I am a huge Vikings fan now living in Denver.

For tickets to the game, be on the lookout on Ticketmaster in late June or early July for tickets. They will go quick, but are doable. Also be ready for some of the most obnoxious fans ever. I had the pleasure of sitting through a game with them last year...of course I was sporting my Raiders shirt.

I'm not sure of your location, but there is a direct flight on United out of Bozeman that you can sometime fine for pretty cheap. I found a flight late last year for 200 round trip.

thanks for all the great info guys. i appreciate it. i am beginning my preparations and are using all of your advice.