A20-year-old Edmonton man has claimed a record 50/50 draw jackpot at the Eskimos football game, winning an impressive $348,534.

Connor Croken was probably thrilled to winthe big prize Thursday night, but he had to do so while watching his home team lose 26-22 to rival CFL team the Calgary Stampeders.

The winnings are the largest in Eskimos history by more than $220,000.

More than $71,000 was carried over from unclaimed winnings on July 11. Fans knew about the massive potential for a big payout and many of the 40,000 stood in lines as long as an hour to buy tickets.

 

By the middle of the second quarter, the jackpot had already topped $250,000.

Some fans weren't even able to buy tickets as vendors ran out of paper and kiosks closed. Because so many people were buying tickets, the football team waited until Friday morning to make the grand-prize announcement on social media.

 

Croken went to the Eskimos' office first thing Friday morningto claim his win, and an official cheque presentation will happen Tuesday.

 

As the name of the lottery suggests, half of the ticket sales go to the winner and the other half go to minor football programs in the city, including the Edmonton Wildcats and the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

"Not only does it add to the excitement of the game on the field, but it adds another element of excitement; I think it's good for all," Edmonton Wildcats President John Wojcicki told CTV Edmonton.

"The 50/50 support for junior football is more than 50 per cent of our budget, without it, we would not exist."

With files from CTV Edmonton’s Veronica Jubinville and Julia Parrish