Vent: Admissions fee for youth sports games

[SusanBAnthony]

Sept 13, 2024 19:37:25 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Even back in HS during the dinosaur age when I was there students and everyone had to pay to get into games. I think it was $1 for students for everything except football, which was $5. Adults were more; all students/kids were $1 if they were over the age of 7 or something.

Of course back then like @villainv said parents/siblings didn't go to every game or performance. Most friends I had in the marching band might have their parents come for Homecoming and the final game.

Same... rural Iowa in the 90's charged for high school sports.

Our high school charges and I'm fine with it. I would however be slightly annoyed with non school sports. Don't question my logic.

[mommyatty]

Sept 13, 2024 16:35:55 GMT -5 Tacocat said:

It’s the same where I live. My DD is in competitive cheer, so not only do we have to pay a monthly fee for practice 3x a week ($220/month!) but we have to pay to get into 8 competitions to watch her team. This year they also did a cheer camp that was another $195 for 3 days! I can’t believe how much sports cost these days. There’s also a traveling cheer team that goes to nationals in Florida. Once I saw the fees and costs of travel I said absolutely not. There’s probably so many families that couldn’t afford this and it’s only middle school. It gets even more $$$ once they are on JV or Varsity.

Fun fact: the highest paying job I had on an hourly basis until I became a lawyer? Competitive cheer coach. Paid more than teaching high school, for sure!

[mommyatty]

Here our Optimist Club charges to watch 1st-6th graders play football. $5 per parent per game. Supposedly it goes to field rental, but the fields are owned and maintained by the city. I think the “volunteer board members” (who have been in charge since I was in elementary school and I’m now 50) pocket it. My daughter was a cheerleader for 2 years, and I was pissed every time I had to take out the pass to show them. You could apply for a free parent pass if you could show financial need.

[sent]

I already have a limit of attending 1 soccer game per year and I am not being charged a fee for it. I don't think public schools charge here at the elementary or middle levels because I have not seen the townsfolk complain about this particular issue.

[livinitup]

How hard is it to not pay and still get in and get a seat?

How long do you guys think until these public school create VIP viewing sections at VIP prices?


My favorite price-ducking was at our county Zoo when we had season tickets for a few years (it’s a nice zoo for young kids). The only difference in prices for season packages was ‘family’ or family +1’. The +1 option was nice so you can bring a grandparent or a friend (obviously). We bought the family+1 package every year but I registered us as a family with an extra kid. I figured, why not? I felt so scandalous every time I invited a friend for DD plus their mon and didn’t have to pay extra.

[mrspez07]

We only have to pay for HS here, and I think mostly just varsity. Either that or the places they can control the admission point (stadiums and gyms.

I’m ok paying as a parent, but I think students should be free (not even an athletic pass that you buy, but show an ID and you get in). We were standing in line for the HS football game a few weeks ago, and listened as the students around us tried to figure out if they could get a friend to pay, if they had enough on their Apple Pay, etc.

It doesn’t help our system is now cashless too. I paid for a JV player to get into the varsity soccer game because he didn’t have a pss or money. Also ridiculous.

[InBetweenDays]

Sept 13, 2024 20:28:59 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

Here our Optimist Club charges to watch 1st-6th graders play football. $5 per parent per game. Supposedly it goes to field rental, but the fields are owned and maintained by the city. I think the “volunteer board members” (who have been in charge since I was in elementary school and I’m now 50) pocket it. My daughter was a cheerleader for 2 years, and I was pissed every time I had to take out the pass to show them. You could apply for a free parent pass if you could show financial need.

I wouldn't be surprised that this is true. In our state high school level lacrosse is a club sport. So we have a team affiliated with our high school but it doesn't get any funding or support from the school. And on top of that we have to pay the district to rent the fields at the high school for all games and practices.

All non-school related sports programs here pay to rent the fields from either the city or school district (whoever manages that particular field).

[Deleted]

Sept 13, 2024 20:28:59 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

Here our Optimist Club charges to watch 1st-6th graders play football. $5 per parent per game. Supposedly it goes to field rental, but the fields are owned and maintained by the city. I think the “volunteer board members” (who have been in charge since I was in elementary school and I’m now 50) pocket it. My daughter was a cheerleader for 2 years, and I was pissed every time I had to take out the pass to show them. You could apply for a free parent pass if you could show financial need.

Plenty of cities and counties charge for field use as a way to offset the cost of maintaining them and other parks. Not to say that they didn’t pocket the money, but field rental is a legitimate cost.

[ssmjlm]

It’s stupid and someone should be auditing where the funds go. Growing up the only that had a fee was games at the stadium.

A local city facility got in a lot of trouble for the way they were charging admission for events. It was a big deal once someone finally started digging instead of accepting the status quo.

[gerberdaisy]

None of our sports charge here except for championship games, depending on the sport. Would never consider having to pay to attend middle school high school sports. We’re a small town, but think it’s similar at most school in the area.

[expectantsteelerfan]

That's crazy and I'd complain about it. Our school offers a 'sports season pass' where you can pay $50 and get into every athletic event for the school year. We haven't bought it...we only attend the HS football games because ds is in marching band, and for that, admission is $5 a person, and we only go to the home games, so I don't think we'd use the worth of the $50 pass.

[sadlebred]

How about if there was a "season pass" for families of athletes? The state wide mountain bike league for high school & middle school does this. I think it's about $75-100 for the season of 6 races. Pack as many people in the car as you can. If you don't buy it, there is a parking fee at each race. This is a privately run league, so it's how they help to pay to rent to parks that host the races & for their staff. 1000 kids on mountain bikes 6 weekends a year in my state. Yes, please!!! #morekidsonbikes

[TR]

Sept 13, 2024 21:22:03 GMT -5 livinitup said:

How hard is it to not pay and still get in and get a seat?

How long do you guys think until these public school create VIP viewing sections at VIP prices?


My favorite price-ducking was at our county Zoo when we had season tickets for a few years (it’s a nice zoo for young kids). The only difference in prices for season packages was ‘family’ or family +1’. The +1 option was nice so you can bring a grandparent or a friend (obviously). We bought the family+1 package every year but I registered us as a family with an extra kid. I figured, why not? I felt so scandalous every time I invited a friend for DD plus their mon and didn’t have to pay extra.

Maybe I’m too much of a rule follower/stick in the mud, but bragging about cheating a zoo out of money is…a choice lol

[pugz]

we pay $2 to watch our middle schooler play volleyball at school but don't pay to play. However our home games have not had anyone taking money....just the away games. It's weird.

[cjcouple]

Sept 13, 2024 21:22:03 GMT -5 livinitup said:

How hard is it to not pay and still get in and get a seat?

I wouldn't do this. If schools are charging admission, they likely need it to fund their programs.

I'm friends with the new HS AD. He took over last year from an AD who retired after 30 years and he shared that the programs were operating on a loss for years. He was trying to correct that so he started being strict with admissions, selling apparel, fundraising. These monies are needed to keep these sports running. The costs of equipment, uniforms, refs, scoreboard/clock personnel, busses, all cost the school a lot.

If you truly can't afford it, speak with the school/AD and see if you can volunteer your time in exchange for your admission.

lots of parents volunteer for concessions, tracking book/stats, recording Game tape, set up for games, etc.

ETA: if you think the admission is being pocketed, you absolutely have a right to ask for an audit.

[morecoffeeplease]

My son plays middle school soccer and it’s $7 per person and I happily pay it. The school funding is crap in our state and in so thankful teachers coach even though the pay is shit.

[jillybean222]

I get charged a small entrance fee to watch my HS soccer player (but I watch XC and track for free hmmm).  The money is spent on supporting athletics so I don't mind paying. If they charged me to watch a club game I'd be fuming bc I already pay thousands to them!!! 

[mccallister84]

I will say the nickel and diming me bothers me more than just an admission fee. Both of my girls do karate. We pay $200 a month for my older daughter to take 2 40 minute classes a week. But then every three months we need to pay $10 for her belt promotion. They are on a contract so basically every kid promotes - I would say it has to be like a 99.9% promotion rate. Just charge me an extra $4 a month and roll the belt fee in to the monthly charge.

[cjcouple]

Sept 14, 2024 10:40:38 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

I will say the nickel and diming me bothers me more than just an admission fee. Both of my girls do karate. We pay $200 a month for my older daughter to take 2 40 minute classes a week. But then every three months we need to pay $10 for her belt promotion. They are on a contract so basically every kid promotes - I would say it has to be like a 99.9% promotion rate. Just charge me an extra $4 a month and roll the belt fee in to the monthly charge.

That used to drive me crazy too. Then if you go to a competition it's $75 regardless if they were doing 1 or all 3 events PLUS $10 spectator fee. Karate is crazy $$$.

[Poppy]

I'm torn on this because there are costs associated with hosting spectators. Extra setup and cleaning, someone to keep the building open late and lock up after, wear and tear on the stands and stuff, possibly security, etc.


Those prices seem high to me, though, and I would also be annoyed.

I did winterguard in HS and we hosted meets and charged admission. It was a fundraiser for the team. But, it involved a lot of work. Lots of coordination/planning, many volunteers, etc. IDK. These groups have to fund their programs somehow and maybe it's better for access if league fees are low.

[mommyatty]

Sept 14, 2024 1:29:35 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

Sept 13, 2024 20:28:59 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

Here our Optimist Club charges to watch 1st-6th graders play football. $5 per parent per game. Supposedly it goes to field rental, but the fields are owned and maintained by the city. I think the “volunteer board members” (who have been in charge since I was in elementary school and I’m now 50) pocket it. My daughter was a cheerleader for 2 years, and I was pissed every time I had to take out the pass to show them. You could apply for a free parent pass if you could show financial need.

I wouldn't be surprised that this is true. In our state high school level lacrosse is a club sport. So we have a team affiliated with our high school but it doesn't get any funding or support from the school. And on top of that we have to pay the district to rent the fields at the high school for all games and practices.

All non-school related sports programs here pay to rent the fields from either the city or school district (whoever manages that particular field).

Oh, I’m sure they pay rent. But the money doesn’t add up. And they give the same answer to “what does this money go toward”. Like you have to pay $145 for a boy to play football. That supposedly goes toward the uniform and gear. But you get a helmet the first year you play and then don’t get another one. Same with pads until you outgrow them. The girls pay $250 for cheer uniforms. You can get a cheer uniform from an online place for like $65. Then you pay a fee to sign up that’s $60 per child. That supposedly goes toward field rental. So does the $5 per person per game. So does the concessions money. They also do baseball, and some people got so pissed they started a rival league. It’s $60 per kid, which gets you a full uniform except shoes. You have to work 2 concession shifts as a team. Concession money rents the city fields. There’s no charge for entry. And they have extra money left over that they use to fund sports scholarships for needy kids who show promise so they can do extra camps and things. After I learned that, I was really, really suspicious.

[InBetweenDays]

I think many people underestimate the cost of sports programs. I was on the board of our high school girls lacrosse program and am now on the board of the boys program. Since they aren't a school sponsored sport their registration fees are pretty high - around $500-600 per player. But that doesn't come close to covering the cost of operating the program. Field rental, uniforms (which last a few years but you often have to buy more because EVERY YEAR there are players that don't turn then in no matter how many times you contact them), head and assistant coaches (who usually only average $3000 each for the year), transportation for away games, refs, end of season banquet, lacrosse balls (my god the number is lacrosse balls we go through), nets for restringing the goals, etc. And yes scholarships for those who couldn't pay some or all of the registration fee.

I'm sure many felt the program was nickeling and diming them. But it was either that or increases the registration fees which may make the sport even more out of reach for some.

[eddy]

As a parent I don’t have an issue paying. But it does annoy me that other kids have to pay. I feel like when you are in high school you shouldn’t have to pay to go to the friday night football game. It is your school!

[cinnamoncox0]

I work in a public high school in MA. I often work selling the tickets to football and basketball. Some of these families have two or three kids playing various high school sports and it’s a ton of money to be paying for all the games each week plus the cost of the sports in general.
We’ve spoken to the AD and he’s thinking of either family pass/season tickets or like a cap each time, like no more than x amount per family per game.

In our school the money supposedly goes into a general fund. I’m sure the money for the custodians OT comes from it. And our pay for selling the tickets.

I will say under ten and over 60 it’s free.

There are some cities and towns around me that do not charge and so we routinely have parents / spectators from those places come and not have $ since they don’t pay and we don’t take Venmo so it sucks they’ve got to go find and atm.

[jlt19]

Sept 13, 2024 21:05:52 GMT -5 sent said:

I already have a limit of attending 1 soccer game per year and I am not being charged a fee for it. I don't think public schools charge here at the elementary or middle levels because I have not seen the townsfolk complain about this particular issue.

One game per year of your own kids soccer games?

[thebreakfastclub]

My school district offers an unlimited season pass for middle and high school games, sold for individuals or families.

[sent]

Sept 15, 2024 19:24:02 GMT -5 jlt19 said:

Sept 13, 2024 21:05:52 GMT -5 sent said:

I already have a limit of attending 1 soccer game per year and I am not being charged a fee for it. I don't think public schools charge here at the elementary or middle levels because I have not seen the townsfolk complain about this particular issue.

One game per year of your own kids soccer games?

Watching games and matches of any sport makes me want to scratch my eyes out. Even if my kid is in it. It's not my thing. 

If my kids were super sad about it, I would suffer through it but I haven't seen them particularly care. 

[ellipses84]

DH and I grew up poor with parents who couldn’t attend many games due to needing to work, so I really hate any events that exclude families because of money especially if the are associated with public schools.

Our middle school sports typically use the high school facilities (on off days or seasons) and they are free. I know high school is set up to charge for football games, keeping visitors and home fans separate, but I think they give like 2 tickets to each player for their parents and charge for other fans. They raise money via the concession stands and other fundraisers. Even in the middle school sports and other rec league sports events that use the school district fields, the various high school teams will come set up and sell snacks and drinks, or do other fundraisers.

[sdlaura]

In thinking more about this - our middle school sports are not free. They use the school fields but you pay the boys and girls club for each sport. Usually about $250-$300 per kid per season. You pay when you sign up to try out and then get charged if your kid makes the team. Are middle schools charging for admission because the sports themselves are free to do?

[stemmie]

We have entrance fees here for any varsity HS sport played in the stadium (football, soccer, lax, marching band, track and field) or indoors (swimming, basketball, volleyball)

The gate helps defray the costs of running the events-- grounds maintenance and working staff (officials, nurses, coaches), plants department, and teacher chaperones.