Local man waits 22 years for Redskins tickets

Recently married David Spain of Charleston was sitting at his computer last month when an e-mail from the Washington Redskins popped in.

The subject line said "Congratulations."

"How did they know I got married?" Spain wondered. "I was like, 'wow, these guys are good.' "

But the e-mail carried good news of another sort. After 22 years on one of the longest waiting lists in sports, Spain had qualified for season tickets to Redskins games.

"Actually, 22 years, eight months, nine days and six hours," Spain said. "But who's counting?"

Spain, 32, was just 10 years old when he put his name on the waiting list for season tickets for the Redskins, one of the NFL's most storied franchises and for years the team of choice in the Lowcountry.

"At that time, they said the wait was 25 or 30 years," Spain said. "I asked my parents if they could put me on the list, and over time I just sort of forgot about it."

But during a trip to a Redskins game a couple of years ago, Spain took the time to update his contact information in order to win a free T-shirt. That move proved fateful when his name came up at the top of the waiting list.

"I called the ticket office right away, and they already knew it was me," he said. "They told me I had two hours to react to the e-mail. It took me about five seconds."

Spain purchased two season tickets for the 2011 season, one for himself and one for his father, George, a Redskins fan since 1963. After buying the season tickets, David was able to take his father to his first Redskins' home game last weekend.

It's a long haul from Charleston to Washington, D.C., but Spain said he plans to make the trip as often as he can, especially for the "big games -- the Giants, Philly, Dallas. I'm going to bust my butt to get there."

And with his new wife expecting a baby boy, David decided to put his son's name on the waiting list.

Estimated wait time -- 30 years.