2024 Xmas Match Auction: a record-setting edition!

While the official and final prize pool will be unveiled in the coming days, once the payment promises are turned into actual bank transfers, the charity auction of the jerseys from the 2024 Atalanta-Empoli Christmas Match is already shaping up to be a record-breaking edition, likely surpassing the previous best of 35,120 euros set in 2021.

The award of the jerseys took place during the TuttoAtalanta TV show, which was broadcast live on Bergamo TV (channel 15, digital terrestrial and streaming at www.bergamotv.it)) on the evening of Monday, January 13. The auction featured the 26 special “Christmas” jerseys prepared for the entire first-team squad and worn during the 2024 Xmas Match; namely, the Atalanta v Empoli game held on December 22 and that ended in a 3-2 win for the Nerazzurri with a brace from De Ketelaere and a goal from Lookman to secure coach Gasperini's team 11th consecutive victory.

Organized in collaboration with Bergamo TV, all proceeds will go entirely to the Amici della Pediatria charity through the Atalanta Trust, established by the Club at the Fondazione della Comunità Bergamasca Onlus, to support the “Wait & Play” project.

Starting Tuesday, January 14, and continuing throughout the week, the TuttoAtalanta editorial team will contact the winning bidders for payment and jersey delivery details, which, as in previous years, will be carried out through a private event. In the event of multiple winning bids, the second-highest offers will be selected to accommodate as many fans as possible.

The Associazione Amici della Pediatria ETS ODV, volunteering at Bergamo Hospital (now ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII) since 1990, will use the funds raised from the Christmas Match shirt auction to create a Wait & Play area in the hospital corridor. This space will be dedicated to children visiting the pediatric clinics for treatments, check-ups, and follow-ups.

The goal is to transform waiting time into play—the "work" of a child as they grow.

The activities will be designed for children to engage in independently, without the need for professional staff or volunteers, encouraging them to explore their abilities and interact with others, promoting relationships and socialization.

By integrating play into the hospital environment, the initiative emphasizes its crucial role in a child's development.