Pregame Madness In Omaha, As Tennessee And Texas A&M Take Over College World Series

OMAHA - If you were wondering if fans were in the mood for a national championship in Omaha this weekend, look no further than the pregame atmosphere for Tennessee and Texas A&M supporters around the stadium. 

One of the biggest matchups in College World Series history is taking place inside Charles Scwabb Field, but the party is happening outside the stadium and on the downtown streets. Fans clad in orange and maroon were doing all they could to drink the city dry, even though the Jell-O shot record set by LSU will certainly never be topped. 

This didn't stop both fanbases from partaking in the madness, as drinks were flowing and bartenders were already needing a few Red-Bulls to get them through the early evening rush. 

Lost in the shuffle of fans soaking down massive amounts of alcohol were ticket scalpers looking to make a little money off the event, with a lot of them coming up short of their goals. 

"I'm having a hard time getting folks to sell me their tickets," one scalper mentioned to me outside the stadium. "These fans came to town without any leftover tickets, and I can't say I blame them for not giving up their tickets even for a hefty price. I offered one guy in orange $500 for a single ticket for Sunday's game and he turned me down." 

Tennessee and Texas A&M fans takeover Omaha for the College World Series. Photo: Trey Wallace

Yes, tickets are going for that much, along with hotels around the Omaha area. A sea of fans were checking into hotels across the street, while the airports were overrun with fans from both teams. But this is what you get when you attend the College World Series, which is truly a one-of-a-kind event. 

And, it's not just Tennessee and Texas A&M fans that are attending. I witnessed multiple LSU, Ole Miss, Nebraska fans strolling around the bars before first pitch. There was even a guy wearing an Alabama shirt, who was obviously boo'd as he made his way past Rocco's. 

The best part about this whole event is that we at least get two days of madness, so I would encourage everyone to pace themselves, especially if we go three games. 

Either way, this is one of the most fan-centric events in sports, and the City of Omaha has once again stepped up to the challenge.