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Football
followers stage parking lot vigil for prized tickets
By AARON NELSEN
The
Brownsville
Herald
LOS FRESNOS, November 23, 2006 — The Aguilars knew they weren’t
going to be the first to get tickets to see their be-loved Los
Fresnos Falcons play La Joya on Friday. That privilege was reserved
for season ticket holders.
But, they would get the best of the remaining tickets and the chance
to see their son, Eric, play one more time.
Hundreds of Falcon fans lined up to buy tickets on Tuesday morning,
believing that whatever seats were not snatched up by season ticket
holders would be sold immediately afterward to the public.
So, Albert took off work on and headed to Leo Aguilar Memorial
Stadium with his wife, Corina, and son John.
“We’ve been here since 9 a.m. yesterday,” Albert said on Wednesday
morning.
The Aguilars were quickly surrounded by the second, third and fourth
group of fans to arrive on Tuesday.
When they learned that the remaining tickets wouldn’t go on sale
until Wednesday, numbered stubs were given out so that people could
leave and return the following day without losing their place in
line.
The Aguilars
wouldn’t risk losing their valuable spot in line and stayed. Other
families followed, pitched tents and settled in for the night.
“There was tents everywhere,” Corina said. “It looked like Boca
Chica Beach.”
To keep entertained and warm, Falcon supporters played games and lit
up their grills for an impromptu barbecue. A few enterprising fans
even took the opportunity to sell food and drinks to the faithful
followers.
“It’s Falcon fever, man,” said Joe Jaramillo, third in line. “This
is the least we can do to show our support.”
By 8
a.m.
Wednesday, the parking lot outside of the stadium had filled up.
And, encouraging signs, such as “Go Mighty Falcons” or “Go Falcons
Win,” were painted on car windows.
A few minutes before
9 a.m., the
tickets finally arrived, and the crowd began cheering. Signs for
“Section E and D” were taped to the ticket booth widow.
Albert said he hoped that there would be tickets left in Section E,
since those are on the 50-yard line and generally con-sidered the
best.
Each person was allowed to buy six tickets. The Aguilars walked away
with 18.
“I’ve got family coming in from all over to watch the game,” Albert
said. “I’ve got a brother-in-law from Sugarland that had never been
to a Valley football game before this year, but he just loved it. He
told me, ‘Man, Valley football is awe-some.’”
Los Fresnos plays the La Joya Coyotes in the 5A Division 1 area game
on Friday. Los Fresnos has been a power team this year, finishing
its regular season with a perfect 10-0 record and defeating PSJA
High in the Class 5A, Division I bi-district match up last week.
On Friday, Los Fresnos plays La Joya Coyotes, a team that finished
the season with a 6-5 record, but Falcon fans are ex-pecting a
hard-fought game nonetheless.
The Aguilars left the ticket booth with big smiles on their faces.
Any sign of exhaustion seemed to melt away and in its place radiated
contentment.
“We pretty much got what was left in Section E, so it paid off being
the first one.” Albert said. “Now, I have to go to work.”
anelsen@brownsvilleherald.com
Posted on Nov 23, 06 | 12:08 am |
