What do we auction besides jerseys and game tickets?

Athlete and team foundation galas and golf classics pull in a crowd that has seen every signed ball and suite night. After a few years, the same items draw thinner bids, no matter how big the host name. You need something that resets the room’s pulse, something your own player or coach would bid on.

Your foundation’s room is full of sports insiders. They know the value of a signed jersey and have attended enough suite nights to last a lifetime. The live auction segment can start to feel predictable when the same categories come up every year. That’s not a failure of your event; it’s a sign that your crowd is ready for a different kind of lot.

You only pay for an experience if it sells, keep 100% over the cost, and can sell experiences multiple times if the bidding gets hot. You are not too late: items can be added the same day as your event. Your organization sets a reserve price, so every bid above that is pure profit. Recommended starting bids sit 15–20% above cost, so the first bid puts money in the room. No cash outlay, no guesswork.

Browse over 140 travel and experience packages on Giveback XP’s site. Reserve the ones that fit your crowd at no charge, and get marketing sheets and email copy for your event. Add a Kentucky Derby weekend, a US Open trip, or an Italy getaway to your live auction lineup. Even if you are in the final week of planning, you can still add lots.

When the auctioneer calls a sold Kentucky Derby package, you see a room that’s awake again. The same package can sell to the underbidder, doubling your profit on the spot. Your gala ends with fresh energy and a higher total, without a single unsold jersey on the block.

Other questions about live auctions for athlete & team foundations