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Connor Croken Claims Edmonton Eskimos 50/50 Draw Worth $350,000

Massive CFL 50/50 Jackpot Claimed
Edmonton Eskimos

EDMONTON - Thousands of Edmonton Eskimos fans lined up for 50/50 tickets at Thursday's game, growing the pot to a record high of almost $350,000.

But 20-year-old Connor Croken walked away the ultimate winner, after claiming the record-breaking jackpot Friday morning.

The game drew more than 40,000 people, reports CTV Edmonton, many of whom stood in line to buy tickets for a draw that grew dramatically in scope when a $71,000-prize went unclaimed from a July 11 home game and was carried over.

The Eskimos football club was unable to make the draw during the game due to the massive sales volume, but released the numbers on its website overnight.

Some 50/50 ticket sellers had to be escorted by police through the swarming crowds, reports the Edmonton Sun.

Many fans, despite standing in line until the third quarter, walked away empty-handed as vendors ran out of paper and kiosks closed.

“It became the perfect storm of being overwhelmed at every level,” ice president of marketing and communications Alan Watt told CBC Edmonton.

The sales smashed the previous Eskimos 50/50 record of $127,000, according to CTV.

On Friday morning, the club tweeted that the prize had been claimed.

According to Global News, last night's win is more than half of all winnings handed out during last season. The station reports $678,353 was handing out to ten different winners in 2013.

The additional $348,534 raised from Thursday's 50-50 sales will go to support amateur football in northern Alberta.

With files from the Canadian Press

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