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Las Vegas • They drove all evening from Utah on Friday, father and son, not arriving at the MGM Grand until midnight, then staying up a few extra hours after that.

They braved traffic one more time on Saturday morning just a few hours later, and, by 11:45, Matt and his son Colin Hughes had plopped down in the bleachers at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Their day was just beginning, and they couldn't have been happier.

"Will we get through the day?" Matt Hughes said, repeating a reporter's question. "Oh yeah."

The Las Vegas Bowl crowd of 33,067 was dominated by red- and black-clad Utes fans, roughly 3 to 1 against Colorado State fans in green. Many of them had driven up during the week, many had flown in. Fans who talked to the Tribune seemed happy to be bowling for the first time

Some were far-flung families and friends reuniting, like San Francisco-based Utah alumnus Kenny Wantanabe meeting his Utah-based parents and a few other family members. For them, a bowl in Las Vegas made a lot more sense — and was a lot more desirable — than some other options.

"At least it's not El Paso," Kai Bartschi said, leading to laughter among his group.

Colorado State met mixed reviews as an opponent. Hughes said he was excited to play an old Mountain West rival. Others said they were more nervous about the potential of being embarrassed.

But maybe the opponent was beside the point for some bowl attendees.

"Any game the U. is playing is exciting," Salt Lake City resident Ted Pagoaga said. "It's a bowl game."

Of more than a dozen fans who spoke to the Tribune, all said they planned to attend the MGM Grand Showcase featuring the Runnin' Utes against UNLV later in the evening. Several mentioned that they were sold on Vegas trips because of the bowl game foremost, but that tacking on a basketball nightcap was "a no-brainer."

"A two-for-one is always good," said Riverton resident Jared Smith. "Makes a lot of sense."

kgoon@sltrib.com

Twitter: @kylegoon —

Red stands

R The Las Vegas Bowl hosts 33,067 fans, mostly Utah supporters.

• The Utes sell out of their 7,500 ticket allotment.