Friends who have attended every Super Bowl hope for memorable final trip

PORTLAND, Maine (KLKN) – Three friends who have attended every Super Bowl together hope for a memorable 2022 game, their final one as a group.

The three men, all in their 80s, have attended every game since the first AFL-NFL World Championship was held 55 years ago.

They are meeting at the game again this year, but may not be able to continue in the future.

Maine resident Don Crisman, 85, confirmed this would be his last game, barring a Patriots appearance next year.  Gregory Eaton of Michigan, 82, wants to keep attending but said health concerns might prevent him from doing so.

Even self-proclaimed football fanatic and member of the Never Miss a Super Bowl Club Tom Henschel, 80, expects Super Bowl LX in 2026 to be his last.  He said he wants to make it to his 60th game and then quit as old age sets in.

Crisman and Henschel first met at the 1983 Super Bowl, and Eaton met them in the mid-2010s.

The group of fans who have attended every Super Bowl has declined over the years as other members have aged.

The trio looks forward to this year’s game, as they’ll be able to sit together again.  Last year, due to COVID-19 restrictions they were several rows apart at Tampa’s Super Bowl.

Eaton and the others are also looking forward to a traditional, big crowd.  Last year’s attendance was limited to only 22,000.

The fans plan to meet Thursday in Los Angeles. They spent about $2,500 per ticket, more than 400 times the cost of the cheap seats in 1967.

Eaton will be cheering for the Los Angeles Rams.  He feels seeing Rams quarterback Matt Stafford win is the closest thing to seeing his favorite team, the Detroit Lions, take the Super Bowl.

Stafford played for the Lions for over a decade before signing in L.A.