American football fans are being offered a remarkable chance to win tickets to the Super Bowl, with the price of entry being nothing more than a potentially life-saving blood donation.
A Life-Saving Lottery for the Big Game
The American Red Cross has once again joined forces with the National Football League, this time enlisting Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, for an urgent winter campaign. The initiative offers every donor the opportunity to win a spectacular trip for two to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.
Anyone who donates blood or platelets at an American Red Cross centre between January 1 and January 25, 2026, will be automatically entered into a prize draw. The campaign is timed for National Blood Donation Month, a period when supplies traditionally run dangerously low.
What's in the Winning Package?
The lucky winner and their guest will receive an all-expenses-paid experience, including:
- Two tickets to Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
- Access to exclusive pregame activities inside the stadium on the day.
- Tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience event.
- Round-trip airfare and three nights of hotel accommodation.
- A $1,000 gift card for additional expenses.
Star ambassador Saquon Barkley shared his personal motivation for supporting the drive. "I gave blood once in college and that was the only time I had ever been asked to give, until the Red Cross reached out. It was a no-brainer for me to give again," he said. "It only takes about an hour and once you realise in that short amount of time how much help it can bring – it's a beautiful thing."
Tackling a Critical Shortage
The high-profile giveaway comes as the Red Cross issues a stark warning over a growing risk of blood shortages. The situation has been exacerbated by severe winter weather in December, which led to thousands of scheduled donations being cancelled.
The organisation is currently distributing blood to hospitals faster than new donations are coming in. Without a significant boost in supply, medical professionals may face difficult decisions about prioritising patient care.
Paul Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Donor Services at the American Red Cross, emphasised the timing. "The start of the new year is a challenging time to collect blood, but it's also an opportunity to build lifesaving habits," he stated. "Through our partnership with the NFL, we're turning ordinary acts of generosity into what we hope is a powerful tradition."
Now in its seventh year, the Red Cross and NFL collaboration has successfully motivated over 150,000 first-time donors to roll up their sleeves.
To book a donation appointment, eligible individuals can use the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Donors must be in generally good health, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be 17 or older (16 with parental consent where permitted). All blood types are urgently needed.
