This article is written by Eli Johnson.
It’s a Friday night and there is a home football game to attend. However, they say at the gate five dollars for a ticket. You have already gone to three sporting events this week and spent $15, or you’re waiting in line realizing the ticket costs more than you thought. It dawns on you being a supportive student is expensive.
Students deserve to be spending less money attending sporting events and enjoying the memories and time spent with friends. Adult community members paying for games is 100 percent understandable, but students should be let in for a price reduction. It is understandable to pay full price as a student for the games such as Blackout because the money is going to a great cause, however paying to get into every game makes students second guess attending due to the cost.
Students are able to attend some sporting events for free such as the first game of the season or if you win a punch card in a raffle, however the school selects which games are five dollars and which games are free. The highest attended games and those with hired officials are usually the ones charging admission. Revenue from games pays staff running the event, and also supports teams by purchasing items they request, but on high attendance events it also makes a profit. This profit is brought in from the revenue that the students are paying to attend the games, and being a student that bothers me.
Standing outside in the cold to support a football team is never fun, students should be let in for $2 or even free at that. Students have to pay for gas driving to and from games, which is already a lot of money. We also come straight from work and in order to enjoy a game we have to pay five dollars before we enter. If students were able to get discounts I believe that the concession stand would get used more and the school would bring in more money.
Students, on top of sporting events, already have to pay for many other things throughout the year, such as Homecoming, Fling and Prom. Total price is $80 per dance and if you pay for a date it doubles. If schools are already charging for dances, there will be students that can’t afford both a dance and a sporting event.
The National Federation of State High School Associations, is a company who provides leadership for the administration of education.
They also write playing rules that emphasize health and safety, educational programs that develop leaders, and administration.
The NFSHA recommends students attend games because it opens the social life of students and builds those friendships in other grades. If sporting events are free, we are more likely to show up and it will allow more friendships to develop because it wouldn’t be the same few kids that attend games.
“High school life is filled with many memories, more memories from high school comes from being a fan.” The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) said, “An athletic event is really the social hub of high school. On any given day, the following question can be heard throughout the high school hallway ‘Are you going to the game tonight?’.”
Schools allow free lunch or reduced lunch for families that may be struggling financially, however they won’t allow a student discount for sporting events. Allowing students into games may reduce revenue but it can help grow the students spirits for their school and make students want to attend.
“Schools that do not offer free student admission may face some challenging situations with students who are on school property but not attending because they don’t have the money,” NFHS said.
Senior Joshua Wickstrom has gone to many games during his four years at Northview.
“It’s kind of annoying sometimes especially if the weather is not too cooperative. If it’s rainy or cold it’s not too fun,” Wickstrom said.
Students should be getting discounted tickets or even free admission to come support sports teams and friends, and really enjoy that experience of being in a student section or better yet enjoying the high school experience. Northview should allow discounted student tickets for entrance at all games aside from fundraisers.