With the school year in full swing, it’s time for fall sports. In years past, there has been an option to buy an all-sport pass that allows you to get into any game, and that is no different this year. However, as students may remember, during the beginning of the year class meetings, Athletic Director Andrew Hodson informed the student body that the price of the pass would increase from $30 to $50. While this might seem like a steep increase, the motivation behind it makes the price hike much more reasonable.
As a nation, we are still recovering from the effects of COVIDCovid-19. These effects aren’t even lost on Indiana high school sports.
“Every piece of equipment costs more,” Hodson said. He add, “One soccer ball is over $100.”
This increase of equipment costs has led IHSAA, and therefore our conference, to increase ticket prices from $6 a game to $7 pera game. Mr. Hodson took this information and made the ultimate decision to raise the price of the student all-sports pass. However, this isn’t the only change in price. Last year the adult pass was $80, or you could spring for the family pass which was $200 for four passes. This year,Now adult passes are just $50, meaning all passes are the same price. When asked to comment on this, Mr. Hodson stated that in previous years any adult could have purchased a student pass for the cheaper price and no one would have been able to tell. This year, however, the playing field is leveled as everyone pays the same amount.
“We’re definitely losing money,” Hodson explained. However, he remains hopeful that this change will be a positive one for the community.
“$100 for a soccer ball is crazy,” Senior Aden Pierce said. “It makes more sense now.”
While it isn’t ideal to have to pay more than previous years for the same pass, the reasoning behind the increase gives better context and a better understanding. If you purchase a pass, you end up saving money if you make it to only 8 sporting events throughout the whole year. Football season isn’t your only chance to go support the Cougars, so this all-sports pass is still a very good deal.
You can purchase your all-sports pass in the same place you buy a normal online ticket at bhsnathletics.com/tickets.
