Ava Joyce will never forget opening presents for her 11th birthday.
The young Buffalo Bills fan from Irondequoit – whose father, Chris, is a season-ticket holder – had never been to a Bills game. Chris typically brought his father along. Still, Ava expressed interest in attending earlier this season, telling her father: "Dad, maybe some game you can bring me," Chris recalled.
Ava opened her gifts a few days before her 11th birthday, which is Monday, and Chris' wife, Kaitlin Joyce, recorded the proceedings. After unwrapping a few Bills-related gifts that hinted toward protection from the elements, Chris revealed the biggest present: that Ava would be joining him Sunday to see the Bills play the New York Jets in Orchard Park.
ABC News shared the video clip of Ava's reaction – a look of disbelief, a sprint across the living room to her father and a long, tearful embrace – to the network's 17 million followers.
THAT'S THE TICKET: A young Buffalo Bills fan was surprised to receive an early birthday present—tickets to see her favorite team play for the first time. https://t.co/ZjkIP4FB2s pic.twitter.com/QTJTBshvBA
— ABC News (@ABC) January 9, 2022
Ava's response to the gift proved an unforgettable moment for Chris, too.
"It meant the world to me," he said in a message. "I remember my dad bringing me to my first game: I knew she would be excited but that reaction was more than I could have dreamt of."
Chris' father hadn't been able to make it to the last few home games, so Chris had circled the date against the Jets, the regular-season finale.
"I had today slated for a long time as a day I wanted her to come with me and see the Bills clinch the division," Chris said.
Chris and Ava managed to avoid the Covid-19 surge of the past week, a concern of Chris' ahead of attending Sunday's game, and both made it to Orchard Park for the game.
