Some Wisconsin veterans who were once set to get a thank-you gift of watching the University of Wisconsin Badgers play in the Rose Bowl are now learning they'll be left out of the trip.

Local travel company Badger Trips had the idea of arranging the trip to honor some local veterans for their service and the access to send them to the big game. They planned to organize a group of Iraq and Afghanistan war vets to take them on an all-expense-paid trip to the Rose Bowl.

But within hours of learning they'd be jetting off to Pasadena, the trip was suddenly off.

The plans had been in motion in which 50 veterans were to take their seats inside the Rose Bowl as the Badgers take on the Oregon Ducks. The idea to take vets had been floated to Wisconsin Veterans Affairs officials two weeks ago. However, on Wednesday, a last-minute change sunk the plan.

"We thought it was a go," said Michael Trepanier, of the Wisconsin Veteran Affairs Administration." "For now, all I know is that all plans are off until further notice."

Trepanier said that officials thought this might be a treat for the veterans.

"We wouldn't say no to any opportunity to help our veterans," Trepanier said.

But hours after getting good news that the adventure would become a reality, suddenly, it no longer was.

"It appears they ran into some issues, possibly over booked," Trepanier said.

A Badger Trips representative said that a Groupon deal on Tuesday was the culprit behind the plan falling apart as the offer sold out. The representative said they have a contract with Groupon to take paying fans out west, but wouldn't elaborate, WISC-TV reported. He said they wanted to do something to make it up to the veterans, but they just weren't sure yet what that would be.

Trepanier said that officials really want something to come of this.

"I don't know what logistical problems they ran into, but they sounded very optimistic. They were going to find a way to look forward and move forward from this," he said.

Website testimonials heap praise on Badger trips for last year's Rose Bowl experience and Veterans Affairs officials said that they have hope the company will do the right thing.

The Badger Trips representative said he wants to make sure to get the veterans on a Badgers fan experience in the future.