The Globe's Regatta Chair Auction sets new mark with $15,000

It was a record-breaking Saturday for the 20th annual Chair Auction at last weekend's Worthington Windsurfing Regatta & Music Festival.

The auction, coordinated each year by The Globe, raised a total of $15,000 this year for the Worthington Hockey Association. Globe Publisher Joni Harms said Tuesday that the highest total prior to this year was $6,500.

Each year, staff at The Globe determines what entity will be the beneficiary of that auction's proceeds. Harms shared that in approaching Josh Miller — representing the hockey association -- about its selection for 2025 auction funds, Miller promised hockey families would come out in strong support at the auction. That certainly was the case, as five of the 10 chairs in the auction sold for at least $1,000.

One chair, which included a Minnesota Wild logo and the certified signature of Marc-Andre Fleury — a goaltender who recently retired from the Wild and is widely considered to be a likely Hall of Famer — went for $3,500. That money and the other proceeds donated to the Worthington Hockey Association will help in its drive to build a new ice arena in the community.

Harms said that in 20 years of hosting the Chair Auction at the Regatta, a total of $93,350 has been donated to local organizations. This past weekend also represented the last Chair Auction for Harms, who is retiring effective Aug. 1 after a 47-year career at the newspaper.