CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte Douglas International Airport had signs at the baggage claim welcoming ACC fans, and an information booth set up for fans attending the game. Bank of America Stadium has a huge ACC championship game banner drivers can't miss, and the city is buzzing on the eve of the game.
So far, both Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer and Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher and ACC commissioner John Swofford have been pleased with the site of this year's title game.
Beamer said Charlotte is "the perfect place."
"The only thing that is iffy is the weather," he said. "You know, cold doesn't affect a game anymore. Rain affects a game a little bit, wind I think affects a game a little bit, but hopefully the weather is going to be okay, and if not, both teams got to play in it.
"But I do think this is -- where it's located is the right place for our conference championship," he said. "And I think how it's supported -- and I know in Jacksonville and Tampa, I know those people worked hard to support it, too, but I really feel like there's a great support going in and trying to make this thing work here in Charlotte."
Fisher agreed.
"Like I said, Charlotte is the hub of the ACC," Fisher said. "You're right here in the middle of ACC territory. It's a great stadium, great venue. If they can give us good weather like this every year, I'll be happy as heck. I'm good with it. But that's football sometimes. You have to go in that weather venue. That's part of being outdoors. I think they're taking the Super Bowl in a couple of years up to New York, aren't they? So they're going to find out what true football is like. It's a great city, great venue, and it's right in the middle of ACC territory. We have to play it somewhere."