As spring sports wind down, students look ahead to next year and the fall sports season. Football is the most student-attended sport, and this school, along with every high school across the county, facilitates a stadium with bleacher seating to accommodate the student, parent and visitor population. To watch these games, and the matchups of other sports, attendees have to pay for an entry ticket.
This ticket is purchased through an app called GoFan, which grants one-time entry to the game, usually for $5. On this $5 ticket, the school receives just $4 with the other 20% charged as a processing fee, one of the main reasons cash is also accepted, according to Athletic Director Al Lightsey. Additionally, a season pass can be purchased for $40 for students or $70 for multiple sports. This pass grants the user entry to each team’s matchups for the season, not including playoff competition. With fees adding an additional few bucks to each ticket, attendees are wondering – should students have to pay for admission to games at their own school?
On one hand, making games free for students would provide an incentive for more students to attend competitions, promoting school spirit, fostering a sense of community and boosting morale for athletes in the heat of the game. Additionally, school-sponsored events should be inclusive, and creating a barrier for students to attend does not allow an equal opportunity for those affected. Students in lower financial situations might be able to pay this ticket cost, but free admission ensures that all students, regardless of financial status, have the opportunity to support their school and feel welcomed into its environment.
However, without admission prices many of the school’s athletics programs would not be possible, according to Lightsey. Out of the approximately $80,000 budget the school will receive for athletic programs per year, over $48,000 of that will come from ticket sales. That money, along with about $18,000 in county supplement and $15,000 from parking fees will pay for jerseys, workers, equipment, and more for our sports teams. The football team costs the most to support, with new helmets, pads, and other equipment needing to be purchased every year. Additionally, a jersey rotation requires each team to receive new jerseys every four years, factoring into the budget.
Although the most expensive, the majority of ticket profits come from the football team, with each home game bringing in about $4,000 and games against Churchill bringing in a staggering $12,000. Due to playing Churchill at home only every other year and playing a variety of other teams in any given season ticket profits will fluctuate per year, giving Lightsey more or less to work with in the budget. Outside of football, other sports that bring in significant numbers in ticket sales are boys’ basketball, lacrosse and soccer, along with girls’ soccer and volleyball. Still, these programs lose money in gross, and going over the budget is not an option, Lightsey said.
In summary, while making all sports competitions would be beneficial for the school community, and even Lightsey said he wished it were achievable, it is unsustainable for the athletic programs. No sports program at this school is profitable, and while the $5 charge might feel annoying, know next time you have to open GoFan on your phone that you are making the school able to run its teams. And if you feel more inclined to support, consider paying with cash at that gate.
