4 tickets -- for only $10,700!
BEARS BARGAIN
JOLIET -- The theme of the 50th anniversary Caritas Ball on Saturday night was Golden Memories, and Andrew and Stacey Landsly have a whopper.
The Landslys were in shock after they learned they were the successful bidders on, not two, but four Bears Super Bowl tickets. And it only cost $10,700 for the two sets of tickets.
(LARRY KANE/SPECIAL TO THE HERALD NEWS)
"I'm going to the Super Bowl," said a dazed Andrew, as he clutched the winning tickets. His wife, Stacey was busy talking to Michelle Corsetti, whose husband Nino bought and donated the tickets for the silent auction.
Andrew is a 10-year Bears season ticket holder and never lost faith that the Bears were headed for the Super Bowl.
"I booked airline tickets three months ago. This is a dream come true," he said.
There were two sets of two tickets being auctioned off for the University of St. Francis fundraiser gala. Bidding was done by computer.
"We bid on both sets to help our chances of winning at least one set of tickets," Andrew said.
Throughout the evening, couples checked to see how the bidding was going and how much the tickets were going for. Nino said it was exciting to see the auction going so well as the bids crept up into the thousands.
Along with the tickets, the winners got a Bears hat, tee shirt and logo jacket.
Ryan Haun, a USF senior, stood by to help anyone unfamiliar with the bidding process. The Caritas gala started at 6 p.m., and by 7:10, bids were already over $3,000.
When the silent auction bidding closed at 11 p.m., and winning bidders were revealed, Stacey, who was watching the action at a computer terminal called out to Andrew, "We won."
Meanwhile, Andrew, who was at another computer watching the bidding, looked over to Stacey and called out, "We won."
And that's how Andrew realized he was on his way to Miami.
Stacey will remain at home with the couple's two daughters, and Andrew said he would invite three buddies to the game.
"The money goes to a very good cause, and I couldn't be happier. It's been 21 years since the Bears were in a Super Bowl game, and we will be back (to Caritas) next year and bid again if the opportunity is available," he said.
The Corsettis were only too happy to donate the four tickets. As it turned out, Michelle and Stacey remembered meeting some five years ago when their youngsters were in a gym class together. They spent time talking while the guys congratulated each other and traded football stories.
And what did Stacey say to all of this good fortune?
"Go Bears!"