just hope it isn't des moines...I just got sticker shock looking at airfare up there. West Lafayette wouldn't be horrible but it helps that I have family in Champaign that I can stay with, and that puts me less than two hours away and can just fly into Chicago (a far less costly venture than the $1200 or so into Des Moines).
And yes, I know that there are locations closer to Austin that we could wind up but the reality is that the fan base does not travel well, which reduces the NCAA incentive to keep us close to home. Even for games as close as KC, the turnout by the Texas contingent was appalling, a fact that won't be lost upon the bracket-makers.
KC fan attendance was a JOKE. It was just parents and a few others from what I hear.
Plane tickets are much, much cheaper if you drive to Houston and then fly from there. But then you have to factor in the inconvenience of the three hour drive.
There doesn't appear to be much Burnt Orange in the sea of blue at today's men's game in KC either. Basically call it a home game for KU since Lawrence is only 30 minutes away.