A sports team giving away free tickets to a game through social media is fairly common. The Eagles’ way of doing this has been through their #FanFriday promotion, which happens every time there’s a home game. The first fan to high-five their mascot Swoop at a designated location gets those coveted free tickets.
On Tuesday, this fan @YungYle won:
Congrats to #FanFriday winner @YungYle! See you at #NYGvsPHI. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/12z1giETUU
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 20, 2016
Usually, the story would end right there, and everyone goes on their merry way. But Twitter user Mark Magowan noticed something peculiar about @YungYle’s win: He’s actually won free tickets several times. Here’s every single time @YungYle won free tickets from the Eagles:
Jan. 3, 2014:
3rd time's the charm! Congrats to loyal #FanFriday follower @YungYle on finally winning tix, thanks to @CSNPhilly. pic.twitter.com/Os7wOvpL7d
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 3, 2014
Sept. 5, 2014:
Congrats to @YungYle on winning today's @CSNPhilly #FanFriday! See you at #JAXvsPHI. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/kAsmRkNHdo
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 5, 2014
Note: He also won a free coffee a few days after this.
Got my free @DunkinDonuts coffee ☕️ for the #Eagles win Yesterday !!!
— YungLE is G.O.L.D. (@YungYle) September 8, 2014
Free Tixs and Free Coffee ... I can't lose pic.twitter.com/9LdSTkfJ7r
Sept. 19, 2014:
Congrats on winning this week's #FanFriday, @YungYle! See you at #WASvsPHI with @CSNPhilly. pic.twitter.com/Gd50kzuddK
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 19, 2014
Dec. 5, 2014:
Congrats to this week's @CSNPhilly #FanFriday winner, diehard fan @YungYle! See you at #SEAvsPHI. pic.twitter.com/H1bniHlL4S
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 5, 2014
Sept. 18, 2015:
The first @CSNPhilly #FanFriday winner is @yungyle! See you at #BeatDallas. pic.twitter.com/gGdmbObntd
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 18, 2015
Oct. 9, 2015:
Congrats to this week's @CSNPhilly #FanFriday winner! We'll see you at #NOvsPHI. pic.twitter.com/86Sx6cm7z6
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 9, 2015
Nov. 13, 2015:
Congrats to #FanFriday die-hard @YungYle on winning this week's #MIAvsPHI tickets from @CSNPhilly! pic.twitter.com/jm1bydoWHV
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 13, 2015
Dec. 11, 2015:
This week's @CSNPhilly #FanFriday winner is all in for #BarwinWPMOYCHALLENGE. See you at #BUFvsPHI, @YungYle! pic.twitter.com/uYaOGT0qkx
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 11, 2015
Dec. 22, 2015:
Not only did @YungYle score @CSNPhilly's final ticket giveaway, he showed his support for #BarwinWPMOYCHALLENGE! pic.twitter.com/hmmqZtNcPF
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 22, 2015
Sept. 9, 2016:
Congrats to @YungYle who will be going to #CLEvsPHI as the winner of @CSNPhilly's #FanFriday contest. pic.twitter.com/FICdvgzbni
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 9, 2016
Oct. 21, 2016:
Congrats to @CSNPhilly #FanFriday winner @YungYle! See you at #MINvsPHI.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/YbGXlfRtvy
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 21, 2016
Nov. 25, 2016:
Congrats to #FanFriday winner @YungYle! We'll see you at the game on Monday night. pic.twitter.com/ELqpXDeH4b
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 25, 2016
Dec. 9, 2016:
Congrats to @YungYle for winning this week's @CSNPhilly #FanFriday. See you at #WASvsPHI! pic.twitter.com/kUA5bZ67nd
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 9, 2016
And at one point in 2016, @YungYle didn’t even have to high-five Swoop to get front-row seats:
Shoutout to @verizon for the front row seats to the @Eagles vs. @AtlantaFalcons game !#footballlifebalance #VZSweepstakesPHI #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/M1ehr8yrxq
— YungLE is G.O.L.D. (@YungYle) November 13, 2016
When you scroll down to see 14 photos of @YungYle and Swoop, it’s like you’re watching a man slowly become best friends with a human-sized eagle. His multiple wins have not gone over well with other fans, to which the Eagles’ Twitter account had to remind everyone (through a subtweet) that they get a chance to win.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 20, 2016
You guys will all have another chance next Friday, by the way. pic.twitter.com/32i97lAZRT
In an interview with BillyPenn.com, @YungYle (real name Kyle Lloyd) says that the contest isn’t rigged, and that his wins are basically a result of being really, really diligent during his lunch breaks.
“I don’t have any connections with the Eagles or I wouldn’t be out there on my lunch break not getting lunch,” Lloyd told me Tuesday. “I clock out for lunch early to get there. I have a boss who’s cool enough to let me take a lunch break at 11 o’clock to go see Swoop and give him a high five.”
It’s a hustle I deeply respect ... and also sometimes, it’s a literal hustle:
And yet, it’s not that easy. “It’s not about getting there,” he said, “Once you see the bird, you got to run to him. The first year I did it, I was slow. I didn’t take advantage. Someone ran past me. Ever since then, I’m like ‘I’m going to go for it. I’m going to get the tickets. If I see Swoop, I’m running.’”
Whether the Eagles have to change their rules remains to be seen, and Lloyd laments in the interview that him being outed will “screw up” his chances of winning. That being said, it’s hilarious to see all those photos of Lloyd and Swoop together, and to imagine the person in the costume seeing him one more time, thinking, “Here we go again.”
(via Philly Voice)