OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Nebraska -- The Patriot Club was packed January 21, with football fans filled with dreams of taking home an autographed piece of sports history or perhaps even hope to win the grand prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to Super Bowl LI.
The only name fitting for this event was simply, ‘Super Saturday.’
With the assistance of sponsors, the 55th Force Support Squadron was able to offer more than $25,000 in autographed and certified memorabilia and $2,700 in cash and an all-expenses-paid Super Bowl LI grand prize worth $16,000 – maybe worth more if your team actually made it.
“We would like to send a big thank you out to former NFL player and auctioneer for our event Mr. Chris Bober, Heisman Trophy winners Eric Crouch and Johnny Rodgers for helping make this event a success,” said Donna Rachel’s, 55th Force Support Squadron marketing director.
If you won an item at the event and did not want to keep it, it could be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The highest auctions were a Jim Brown helmet and an Arnold Palmer signed print. Each was auctioned off for more than $1,000.
“We started planning this event ten to 15 months ago,” said Tom Fahrer, 55th FSS deputy director. “It is just amazing to see all the hard work and planning come together.
“I also think it says a lot about the quality of an event when it gets sold out,” he added.
The event even went as far as to offer free child care so everyone could enjoy the evening.
In the end, Maj. Kelly Borukhovich, 20th Intelligence Squadron director of operations, won the grand prize.
“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “Each room was like a team so we were cheering for our own folks. It didn’t matter if you won or if someone else in the room won, you were just super excited to see someone else’s great fortune.”
"The sponsors are the main reason this event was such a huge success,” said Renee Young, 55th Force Support Squadron commercial sponsorship coordinator. “They came together to provide the grand prize Super Bowl trip and more, we appreciate their support of FSS events and being here tonight."
Even though the event had a lot of NFL memorabilia up for grabs, FSS did also offer basketball, baseball, NASCAR and hockey items. In addition, there was even autographed University of Nebraska items for all of the local Husker fans.
“We plan on making this an annual event,” Fahrer said. “So if you couldn’t get out to enjoy it this year come see us next year.”
No federal endorsement of sponsors intended.