Lifelong Saints Fan Wins VIP Tour, Season Tickets after Playing the Louisiana Lottery
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Arthur Caron Jr. had the undivided attention of New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton Wednesday, chatting about the upcoming football season over lunch and getting a unique glimpse at how the team operates. The VIP experience the Iowa, La. resident and his family received at the Saints practice facility in Metairie is part of the 2014 Saints Season Prize Package Caron won in the Louisiana Lottery’s final BLACK & GOLD SAINTS second-chance drawing.
“I’ve never seen Dad talk so much in my life,” exclaimed Caron’s daughter Casie Caron as the family walked in awe through the Saints’ on-site museum. The group also received special access to the team locker room and indoor practice field, where Arthur Caron threw a football with his son Coby Caron. Afterwards, the family watched players scrimmage from the owner’s balcony and even got several autographs on footballs and special memorabilia they brought from home. The Carons also tried on a Super Bowl ring from the Saints’ 2009 winning season.
“I’d never seen the Super Bowl ring, so that was a treat-and-a-half,” laughed Caron. “I’ll take it any time!” he joked.
The Lottery launched the $5 scratch-off BLACK & GOLD SAINTS last year as part of a strategic alliance with the New Orleans Saints. Caron’s nonwinning ticket was drawn from more than 19,500 entries submitted for the Lottery’s final second-chance drawing, which was conducted May 6. His prize package also includes four 2014 season tickets, a parking pass and pregame field passes to watch players warm up before each home game. Three additional second-chance drawings associated with the scratch-off were conducted last fall, where Lottery players who submitted nonwinning BLACK & GOLD SAINTS scratch-offs won gameday prize packages and official autographed Saints merchandise.
“Every time I got a [nonwinning ticket], it wasn’t a loser; it was a chance for me to win something, whether it was game tickets or memorabilia,” explained Caron. “I enjoyed playing the game!”
Caron and his family plan to play the Lottery’s upcoming 2014 SAINTS scratch-off, which launches Aug. 18 and features three different fleur-de-lis ticket scenes. More information on the game will be available on the Lottery’s website at that time.
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