Hoosier Fans Ringing In The New Year With Bowl Appearance

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(BLOOMINGTON) - In Bloomington and In Tempe, Arizona, the bars are hopping in anticipation of tonight’s Insight Bowl, the first bowl appearance for IU in 14 years.

In Tempe, it's not IU that's the attraction. The annual bowl game is part of the city's New Year's Eve celebration, with 40 bands jamming away in a postgame block party in Tempe's nightclub district.

Bartender Esther McGregor at the Library Bar and Grill says business jumps for the celebration regardless of who's in the game. The library's business is about evenly divided between Hoosiers fans and backers of Oklahoma State, with the biggest crowds expected after the game.

In Bloomington, Bear's Place was already banking on a big New Year's Eve thanks to the calendar. Monday is standup comedy night.

Manager Eric Davidson says the night's second show at 10:15 sold out quickly. He says at least some of that is probably from Hoosiers fans who will watch the game on the flat screen in the back room, then come up front to ring in the New Year with comics Bob Batch and Lamar Williams.

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