Ticket prices are experiencing a shake-up across the Metro Conference, which is affecting high school students as well as families.
“The change was due to the rising cost of officiating costs, uniforms, transportation and etc,” said Eric Johnson, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director.
The Metro High School Activities Association sets all the regular season costs, while the Nebraska Schools Activities Association determines postseason pricing.
The new admission prices for High School football games are 8 dollars for adults and 6 dollars for students, while all other sports are seven dollars for adults and five dollars for students. If students have their OPS Activity Card/ID, they can attend any home Omaha Public Schools event at no charge during the regular season.
In previous years the cost was 6 dollars for adults and 5 dollars for students during the regular season
The cost of getting into playoff games has not changed. Adults are still 8 dollars and students are 6 dollars.
Johnson emphasized that the adjustment in pricing was necessary to maintain quality athletic experiences while balancing rising operational costs.
John Hankel, Curriculum Specialist and Assistant Athletic Director, also added that the Metro Conference reviews admission prices each year and makes adjustments when needed.
“I think it is reasonably priced when compared to other events and entertainment venues,” said Hankel.
According to the Nebraska Athletics website, football tickets for the Nebraska Cornhuskers Football season started at 45 dollars per ticket and ranged all the way up to 150 dollars. Those ticket prices do not include resell values or options.
During the week of the Michigan game, KETV reported that the lowest ticket price for the game was not under 200 dollars. This is a large difference between the original cost. Although high school games are not up to the same level as college games, it is still a much cheaper alternative in terms of getting to watch live sports.
Nebraska Cornhusker Women’s Basketball started at about 9 dollars and 10 dollars for Men’s Basketball, with Volleyball starting at 149 dollars per ticket.
Unlike high schoolers, students do not get into every sport for free. Football, volleyball, and men’s basketball all require students to buy student tickets. There are different packages that the college offers that allow students to bundle games for a set price. Games that occur during prime times such as Thanksgiving are usually not included in the deal.
Parents who attend NSAA games have different feelings regarding the increase in pricing.
“I feel they should add a family package option at a discounted price offered for all sports,” said Kimberly Samland, mother of Max Samland, 10.
Samland has not had any major issues with how the tickets are sold, and thinks the price is adult tickets are fair, but she feels that all students and young children should be able to attend for free at both home and away games.
“The ticket sales so far have been trending upward. I am not sure if it has anything to do with ticket prices though. I think it has more to do with the schools involved and some of the matchups,” said MeganHuber, Business Manager and the Assistant to the Executive at NSSA.
Huber handles financial reports, all accounting and payroll, the NSSA calendar, International Transfer Students, activities registration/membership for the schools, cooperative agreements, and championship tickets.
“This change was proposed by our Board of Directors in August at their monthly meeting. They passed adjusting our prices to include fees associated with digital ticketing and for “all in” pricing on an 8-0 vote,” said Huber.
Huber adds that in prior years, the NSSA would pass the fees on to the consumer, where now we are including those fees in the ticket prices, so ticket prices are “all in” which is ticket price plus any fees.
Although pricing for high schools is trending upwards, spectators are essential for support as well as building the environment for the students.
