Philly sports have always been a huge part of Christina Lucas-Saez’s life.
The 1997 graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School was born in Northeast Philly and raised in the cheap seats at Veterans Stadium, where she’d attend Phillies games with her dad and her uncle.
Lucas-Saez bleeds Eagles green, can tell you pretty much anything there is to know about her favorite team and is never afraid to let her Philly pride shine through.
Now it’s more than a passion.
A few years ago, Lucas-Saez, who now lives in Lancaster, found an Eagles bus for sale. She saw it and it was almost fate.
“It was the right price, the previous owner took great care of it, he had all these autographs inside and he gave me a lot of stuff, he hooked me up, he was a great guy who gave me all kinds of things for tailgating,” Lucas-Saez said. “I always had a dream to have an Eagles RV or bus from seeing them down there.
“As a single mom of four kids, I didn’t think it could be a reality. I didn’t get it to start a business, I got it because I’m a diehard fan. The idea came around three months when people kept asking, ‘Would you drive us here, would you drive us there?’ ”
Now, anyone can cruise with Christina and if you sign up for a trip with her, you’re going to get the entire Eagles experience.
Cruisin’ with Christina offers rides to and from the games. But also so much more.
It’s about the Eagles. But just as it did with Lucas-Saez and her family growing up, it’s about much more than that.
“There is a vibe I can’t explain when I drive people to the game in an Eagles bus,” Lucas-Saez said. “I have given people experiences that I’m happy I can share with them. There was a mom and a daughter that went to their first Eagles game together. I got to drive them. It’s so much fun. I think the entire thing is about creating memories. Memories last longer than things. I feel blessed. I’m able to give people the ability to experience things and help them make memories. They’ll never forget showing up at the Eagles game on an Eagles bus.”
It’s fun work.
But it is work.
Lucas-Saez has four sons – Tyler, Dylan, Ryan and Ayden – and they all do their part when it comes to the business. They’ll set things up, make sure the bus has everything needed, be it tables, cornhole games and plenty of snacks and drinks.
There are very few people whom she allows to drive the bus, so most of the trips, she’s the one behind the wheel.
Again, it’s work, but fun work.
“I have a trip almost every week,” she said. “At least once a week. Going on a trip or event. It goes to a lot of charity events, Toys for Tots, different events, any stuff the Eagles do. We do Sunny Day Camp. I’ve been in parades.
“I tailgate. I don’t go into the game, I wish I could. But I bring people down, we park where you can tailgate. Some go in, I bring a TV. We stream it on the bus or outside the bus depending on the weather. It’s like a big party. Most times people go to the game, but some stay out and party without tickets. It’s always fun.”
Even more fun when she can meet her heroes.
An Eagles bus will open a lot of doors, and Lucas-Saez has found herself around many great players. As excited as she is to see the former stars, they love checking out the ‘Birds Bus.’
As soon as it turns the corner, everyone knows Eagles fans are coming to town and that really excites the players.
“I brought it to Penn Jersey Paper for their employees to see for a pep rally and it was great,” Lucas-Saez said. “Mike Quick, Harold Carmichael, Swoop, front office executives. They make the napkins for the Linc. So cool to have it parked outside Penn Jersey. And Mike Quick walked right over to us. The players love it.
“I’ve met Brian Dawkins, Jeremiah Trotter, they’re all such nice guys and so humble. I couldn’t believe how humble Brian Dawkins was. They’re great. Who would I love to meet? Obviously Jason Kelce. Randall Cunningham is one of my favorites. And I would love to meet Ron Jaworski.”
The Eagles aren’t the only men who love the bus.
“My dad saw the bus, and he loved it,” she said. “He had cancer, and when he was sick in the hospital, he told people that I had the Eagles bus. He bragged about me and his family as long as he could talk. If he saw how far I’ve come, he would love it. And my whole family, all my grandparents, all born in Philadelphia. Blue-collar background. All my grandparents came from little and made something of themselves. I learned that behavior from them.”
There are few better ways for a Philly gal living in Lancaster to make a living. The trips to Philly are a huge bonus.
“I am so happy to be in Philly, I’m there a lot more since buying the bus, it will always be my home,” she said. “Philly, there’s a vibe I get down there, especially in Northeast, it gives me the energy I don’t get where I live. It’s because I’m born, raised and still have friends there. Philly fills my cup up.”
For information or to book trips on the Eagles Bus, Eagles Limo or the Party Bus, visit Cruisin’ With Christina.
