Heat Fan Contest Warming Up
MIAMI (CBS4) - After braving one day into the "48 Hours Of Intense White Hot Heat," contest, several have fallen, but many more remain in the same seat outside the American Airlines Arena hoping to outlast everyone else to win Miami Heat playoff tickets.
As of 10 p.m. Friday night, 38 people remained sitting in front of the AAA.
"We didn't get much sleep, only a couple of hours," said contestant Jackie Chavis.
The fans have to sit through the heat, wind, and any rain to win a pair of lower level tickets to all 2011 Heat home playoff games. After 24 hours, it's now all about determination.
"Your knees get very stiff, your back aches cause even though these chairs are cushioned; they're not soft," said contestant Bryan Cortez. "I love the Heat, I want to go to the playoff games bad!"
Sisters Joselyn and Marivi Maymi said if they can get past today, the contest is in the bag. They're biggest concern is the sun.
Click here to check out images from the event.
"Little by little right now we're in the shade, but the Heat is coming up and it's bad," Marivi said. "It's going to be right here until about seven o'clock tonight," Joselyn stated.
The group is kept busy with activities, are fed by corporate sponsors, and they do get bathroom breaks. For the Heat organization, it's easy to see how this group is putting the fan in fanatic.
"These are true Heat fans," said Miami Heat vice-president of marketing Michael McClough. "If you're willing to sleep outside for two days, you're a Heat fan."
The contest will end at 11:00 a.m. Saturday. If more than one person is remaining, a trivia contest will be held to narrow down the field until a winner is finally determined.
The Heat take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Arena.
