SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — It was a golden opportunity for The Big E’s biggest fans!
On Monday, officials announced 'Golden Tickets' for all the Big E VIP action you can handle. Only 100 were available and sold for $1,000 each.
The Big E said Wednesday that they sold out of the The Golden Tickets in one minute and 2 seconds!
"We are grateful and humbled by your support, fair officials said in a Facebook post.
Monday morning’s delivery to Big E headquarters was a first for Loomis security driver Rick Pirog. “It was different, it was different from what we normally do.” Said Pirog.
The Big E fan was not taking chances on his way to Springfield, Massachusetts. “It’s a full armored truck, it is over seven tons, it was very safe,” said Pirog.
He was carrying the very limited Big E Golden Tickets to the fairgrounds.
“The Golden Ticket is a pathway and a passageway for a fair fan to have VIP treatment for the rest of his life,” said Eastern States Exposition President, Gene Cassidy.
Cassidy dressed in a purple jacket with a striking resemblance to Gene Wilder from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when he delivered the details stored inside the golden suitcase.
The Golden Tickets will provide a lifetime of fun and enjoyment at the Big E with parking throughout the year and at the fair for the fans who were lucky enough to grab one!
The golden tickets come at a tough time for the fair. It was canceled this year because of COVID-19. The non-profit has had to lay off staff and some 600 regional vendors went without a huge chunk of their business.
Cassidy’s optimistic about a big rebound, “As we look forward to 2021 our promise is to produce the best fair ever.” he said.
Pirog is eyeing a ticket himself. If he buys one he’ll need to go with a guest some 34 times before it pays for itself, something he may be able to do easily as he easily described what he loves about the fair. “Everything, everything about it, I’ve lived in the area, I’ve been coming here for many years, the people, the food, the excitement, the entertainment,” he said.