You, too, could be a winner! (Really!)

If you haven't heard, the Columbus Blue Jackets sent out their annual Season Ticket Holder renewal email today.  Included with the financial incentive for early renewal is a continuation of last season's raffle contest to encourage REALLY early renewals.

The prizes are pretty cool, top-heavy with trips to Eastern Conference cities for games, jersies and meet 'n' greets with CBJ leadership.  The trip on the team jet is the primo prize, followed immediately by a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.  And people do win...amazingly, my ticket buying buddy and I won the trip to the NHL Awards in Las Vegas last year.  So hear me now and believe me later: If you're seriously considering getting/renewing your season ticket package, do it NOW.  It really does pay off.

But that's not why I'm writing this.  I'm writing because of the small print.

You see, you don't need to buy season tickets to enter the contest.

You just need to be a lurker.  Or a pest.

What do I mean?  Well, read the contest rules (emphasis added):

2. How to Enter. LIMIT ONE (1) ENTRY PER PERSON, REGARDLESS OF METHOD OF ENTRY. The Sweepstakes Entry Period begins immediately and ends April 19, 2013.

There are two (2) ways to enter:

(a) simply renew your Quarter Season (11-Game), Half Season (22-Game) or Full Season Ticket package for the 2013-2014 Season during the Entry Period. Under this method, before an Eligible Entrant is eligible to win, such Season Ticket package must be: Paid in Full – pay the entire balance due by April 19, 2013; OR the Spring Automatic Payment Plan: pay 25% by April 19, 2013 and then the balance by May 31, 2013; OR Summer Automatic Payment Plan: pay 25% by April 19, 2013, then pay the balance in two (2) equal payments on June 20, 2013 and July 31, 2013; OR 12-Month Interest-Free Installment Payment Plan: pay 1/12 by March 31, 2013, and then pay the balance over 11 months, interest-free, starting April 20, 2013. 

OR

(b) any Eligible Entrant can enter the Sweepstakes without purchase by visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets' business offices during normal business hours, i.e., from 9:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M., Eastern Time, every Monday through Friday during the Entry Period, and fully completing and submitting an entry form. Upon arriving at Nationwide Arena, please obtain an entry form from the Blue Jackets’ office receptionist. The Columbus Blue Jackets is not responsible for lost, late, mutilated, misdirected, illegible, or incomplete entries. The Columbus Blue Jackets reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual (and his or her Sweepstakes entry) who tampers with the entry process.

No other form of entry will be accepted.

That's right, just show up every day at the CBJ offices at Nationwide Arena, and you too can be entered to win all the same prizes that those of us who shell out hundreds and thousands of dollars will be getting.

I'm serious.  It's in the rules.  In fact, get this (Again, emphasis added):

8. No Purchase. No purchase necessary. A purchase will not increase chances of winning.

Can it be any clearer?

Good luck, everyone, no matter how you enter the contest!