Wolfpack fans endure delayed flights as they head to Phoenix to the Final Four
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- "Survive and Advance" does not have the same ring to it as "Supply and Demand," but NC State fans packing Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Friday expressed their excitement ahead of the Final Four.
"We kind of had the idea that we were going to go, no matter what happens, but definitely the prices were a bit ridiculous, (still) it ended up working out," said Emerson Quirk, a student at NC State.
His brother Branch is an NC State graduate.
"It's been pretty cool seeing kind of a community get together, everyone's supporting the team," Branch said. "It's just been cool to see everyone rush to Belltower. Got a lot of people going to Mitch's Tavern and just everyone's hanging out having a good time."
Delta added two nonstop flights to Phoenix to accommodate the big crowds.
"Every airport I've stopped at, even people that aren't NC State fans are going by me, 'Go Wolfpack,'" said alum Taylor Spoon.
She's been racking up the air miles to follow the team during this run.
"I grew up a diehard Duke fan and then I went to NC State, so it was kind of like those were my two teams. And to see them meet in the Elite Eight was unimaginable. We flew out to Dallas and then when NC State won I was like, 'Well, we got to go to Phoenix,'" said Spoon.
Mackenzie Corcoran, another alum and a season-ticket holder said: "We just caught the ACC Tournament, managed to get out there for the UVa game, managed to get out there for the Carolina game, stay there. And it was an awesome, awesome experience. And then we had to ride the coaster, you know, why not us?"
Fans were appreciative of the understanding from their employers.
"They said go. I said I don't know when I'll be back. And they said that's fine," said alum and season-ticket holder Jessica Chorba.
"I'm happy to be using about half of my days off for the year. Everybody at work was very excited for me," added alum Nick Coren.
It's NC State's first Final Four since the school's 1983 national championship, and these fans hope to witness their own history.
"I have always said I wish that I could have experienced 1983, and I don't know what that was like, but this feels pretty darn close to it from all the stories that I've heard," Chorba said.
The Wolfpack Club chartered two flights that were set to leave Friday morning and early afternoon, though were delayed several hours. A spokesperson for Avelo cited fueling issues and air traffic control re-routes coming out of San Juan yesterday resulting in the flight crew timing out. The chartered flights were set to depart at 6:30 Friday evening and were expected to land in Phoenix by 9 p.m. local time. The spokesperson added that they are working to source food vouchers or provide meals to affected passengers.
On Friday morning, Terminal 1 at RDU was full of Wolfpack fans who expected to already be in Phoenix for the Final Four.
Some drove from Charlotte to catch the flight, so they were just forced to sit and wait, bummed they could no longer attend some of the planned events Friday night.
What's worse for those passengers: They likely will not be able to watch the Wolfpack women play in their Final Four game against South Carolina. That game is scheduled to happen during the rescheduled flights, and the airplane does not have Wi-Fi.
ABC11 was told by the Wolfpack Club -- the organization responsible for organizing these flight packages -- that the delays were because of mechanical issues with the planes.
The Wolfpack Club supports athletic scholarships and facilities at NC State.
Although a bit chagrined, one passenger said as long as they made it to Phoenix sometime Friday, it would be all right.
UP NEXT
NC State women's team will play against No. 1 South Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
NC State men's team will play against No. 1 Purdue on Saturday at 6:09 p.m. on TBS
