GILROY
– As an Oakland Raiders season ticketholder, 45-year-old
Gilroyan Dion Bracco knew his chances were slim to be randomly
chosen for an opportunity to purchase Super Bowl tickets.
GILROY – As an Oakland Raiders season ticketholder, 45-year-old Gilroyan Dion Bracco knew his chances were slim to be randomly chosen for an opportunity to purchase Super Bowl tickets.
Although the odds were stacked against him – with only 1,000 pairs of tickets allocated to season ticketholders – Bracco remained optimistic. But when the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline passed and Bracco hadn’t received a phone call, he thought it was over.
“I forwarded all the phones here and made sure someone was here to answer them at all times,” said Bracco, who’s owned Bracco Towing for the past 11 years on Monterey Road in Gilroy. “At about six o’clock, we gave up. At 7 p.m. we were eating dinner, the phone rang – and we never answer the phone during dinner – but I told my wife I better answer that.”
It was the call he was waiting for, albeit two hours later than expected.
“(I was) speechless. At first I thought it was someone pulling my leg. I was like, “Who is this?’ ” said Bracco, a Personal Seat License owner at the Coliseum since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995. “I started dancing and telling everyone ‘we’re going to the Super Bowl.’ ”
Bracco – who will be taking his wife, Christy, to the game with him – still had to go down to the Coliseum and purchase the tickets, priced at $400 each. A dedicated Raiders ran since he was a kid, Bracco not only bought the tickets but also walked right past feuding ticket brokers offering $2,000 for each ticket.
“Never even thought about it,” said Bracco, whose office is filled with Raiders memorabilia he’s collected through the years, including a piece of the original wood bleachers from the Coliseum. “I’ve always had Raiders stuff. Every year it gets a little more, a little more.”
Early this morning, Bracco, his wife and daughters packed up their motor home and headed down to San Diego – where he will camp out at his father-in-law’s house. Saturday night, there is a big Raiders Party planned and then it is off to his first Super Bowl on Sunday at Qualcomm Park.
“We got to all the games. We go a day early and camp out,” said Bracco, who wants to get to Qualcomm Park by 11 a.m. Sunday morning. “It’s like a dream come true. All year long I saved my tickets because I knew they were going to the Super Bowl. I’m going to frame them after the game.”
Bracco, whose season tickets are four rows up in the north end zone, was at both playoff victories at Oakland Coliseum over the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans.
“They were playing great,” said Bracco.
His said favorite Raider is defensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy.
“He’s a really good guy. I’ve met him a few times at the games,” Bracco said. “He’s just a really nice individual. After the home games, he comes around and thanks everyone for coming.”
Bracco has been going to Raiders games since he was a little boy. He recalled the first game he went to with his uncle.
“I saw Jim Otto and Ben Davidson. It was awesome,” said Bracco, who drives a black pickup truck with Raiders flags on both sides and the team emblem painted on the side. “I’ve had a love affair with the Raiders since I was a little kid.”
The match-up for Super Bowl XXXVII – the first for the Raiders since 1984 – also excites Bracco with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers number-one ranked defense up against the Oakland Raiders number-one ranked offense. In addition, former Oakland head coach Jon Gruden is now the head coach of the Bucs.
“I think it is going to be one of the best Super Bowls ever,” Bracco said. “I think it’s going to either be a field goal game or the Raiders are going to blow them out in the first quarter. I don’t think their defense can stop (Rich) Gannon. He operates best under pressure.”
Bracco was one of the lucky Raiders fans going to the Super Bowl without having to pay thousands of dollars for his tickets. But there are only 1,000 fans on each side who were just as fortunate.
“It’s an unfair way to do it,” Bracco said. “The two teams who are there should have their fans right there with them.”
Most of the Raider Nation will be watching the big game either at home, at a friend’s house, or at a local tavern.
Jim Palacios, 35, of Morgan Hill, has a special Raiders Super Bowl bash planned at his house for about 30 to 40 friends and family.
“We’ve got a strict dress code – you have to wear Raiders gear. Even if you’re a Niners fan, you have to come wearing Raiders gear,” said Palacios, a lifetime Raiders fan. “We’ve waited 19 years for this.”
For the playoffs, Palacios had some smaller gatherings at his house – but this is the big one and there are extra measures being taken. There are four televisions set up throughout his house – a big screen in the living, one in the garage, one outside and one in the kitchen – so he won’t miss a play as he entertains.
“There’s so many people coming I’ve got to make sure there’s a TV everywhere,” said Palacios, whose favorite Raider is cornerback Charles Woodson.
As for the menu, Palacios said he plans on frying up some carne asada and chicken.
“I always hang my four-by-six (Raiders) flag out in front,” said Palacios, who comes from a long line of Raiders fans in his family. “I’ve been a Raiders fan ever since I was born. My dad was a Raiders fan and he baptized me.”
Palacios – owner/disc jockey of Unique Sounds Productions – has been to four Raiders home games this season. When he goes to Oakland Coliseum, Palacios brings all of his DJ equipment with him and sets it up in the parking lot for pre-game.
“It gets the party started right,” said Palacios, who wants the same feeling he got when the Raiders beat the Titans in the AFC Championship Game. “That was an awesome feeling. That was best feeling of my life, knowing that my whole family is Raiders fans and we all had that feeling.”
Palacios – who regularly sports his silver No. 24 Woodson jersey – predicts the Raiders will come out on top, 38-14.
“It’s going to be an awesome game,” he said. “I can’t wait.”
While some stay in-house for the Super Bowl, others head over to the local sports bar to enjoy the big game with fellow Raiders fans.
At The Claddagh Irish Restaurant & Pub, which has a big screen TV in the seating area as well as other TV sets over the bar, there will be raffles and prizes throughout the game. The big prize is a spot on a couch – which will be placed in front of the big screen for the entire game.
“We do a lot for the football season,” said employee Jennifer Coyne, who has worked at the four-year-old establishment on First Street in Gilroy for eight months. “We figure since the weather has not been great people will go out because you can’t barbecue if it’s raining.
“Last week for the Raiders game it was packed, so it should be just as crowded.”
At the Krazy Koyote Bar & Grill on Church Street in Gilroy, there will be dollar hot dogs and nachos for the Super Bowl as well as half-price well drinks and domestic taps. The Koyote also has a big screen TV and several TVs over the bar.
Barbecue and potluck will be provided for patrons at Betsy’s Lounge (also known as The Regal Beagle) in Tennant Station in Morgan Hill. Fans can get an early start as doors open at 10 a.m. Betsy’s has three TVs – a big screen and two 27-inch sets.
“Food and fun for everyone over 21,” said 28-year-old manager Art Nazzal, whose father and owner Jessie Nazzal cooks a mean barbecue every Monday night during football season.
At the Boxseat Sports Grill off Vineyard Street in Morgan Hill, patrons can enjoy the game with normal, everyday drink specials. The Boxseat has two big screens, three sets over the bar, four over the boxing ring and two over the video games. According to an employee, it was standing room only for last week’s AFC Championship.
“We’re going to be packed for the Raiders game,” she said.
Wherever Super Bowl XXXVIII is watched, the silver and black of Raider Nation will be out in full force – so look out because ‘Here come the Raiders.’
