Suitcase Bingo is an annual Concordia event that brings together the fun competition of a classic game of bingo with high-stakes prizes to up the energy and competition in the room. Although at first glance this event might seem unexciting compared to the many other student activities on campus, such as the ever-popular Concordia Christmas or Fall Family Festival, the shorter time frame and high energy make it easy to fit into your schedule and a blast to attend. Student Ruby Hickie said, “This is one of our most laidback events, but it is still really popular.”

During last year’s Suitcase Bingo event, Grimm Hall was filled with students, with some even competing through an online Zoom version of the event. The large crowd of participants brought a lively sense of anticipation and excitement to the room. Student Leah Yost said that she “loved this event last year because we all got to play together, so the energy in the room was super fun!” 

The event works really well to foster a friendly sense of competition among the Concordia community, with everyone looking around the room to see whose card was the closest to BINGO. Last year, for example, there was a final showdown for the grand prize. Two competitors yelled “BINGO” in sync, so a fierce game of rock, paper, scissors was played to decide who would win the final prize. 

This year’s event takes place on Feb. 6, from 7 to 8 p.m., in DeNault Auditorium and is free to all Concordia students. Some of the prizes available to win include a Coffee Lovers Basket, a Disney Basket, a Fitness Basket and a Beach Lovers Basket. The baskets all have around a $300 value; however, the grand prize basket includes a suitcase, hence the name “suitcase bingo,” and a $300 gift card to Southwest Airlines. 

If the likelihood of winning a prize basket is what keeps you from coming to this event, it shouldn’t. For those unsuccessful in the BINGO rounds, there are multiple raffles for participants to receive gift cards, and the odds of winning are better than you might expect. Heidi Bishop recalled the last Suitcase Bingo, and said she remembers, “Two of my friends won a prize, and I won one of the raffles for a gift card. Even those who I knew that didn’t win had so much fun watching their friends’ screens to see when they were close to winning. A win from someone you knew felt like your own name.”

Tags: ASCUI

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