Ticket Prices Rise for High School Sports

"Welcome to the Upstate Eight. Please give us a dollar."

You're not likely to see that message posted at the ticket booth when Geneva plays St. Charles East in the first home football game on Sept. 10, but maybe it's not such a bad idea. That way, you'd know the reason you're forking over a fin instead of four singles.

The ticket price for Geneva Community High School homes games is going up from $4 in years past to $5 this year for all sports that regularly charge admission.

The price increase will put Geneva in line with other members of the Upstate Eight Conference, which consistently asks for $5 a head. Geneva and Batavia joined the UEC this year.

Geneva will charge admission for football, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer and gymnastics games, tournaments or meets.

In the past, there was no charge for most soccer games, so the $5 increase will be especially noticeable to Viking fans of the banana kick, chip pass and diving header.

Of course, the slight bit of bad news for consumers is good news for schools.

The price increase could result in about $20,000 in additional annual revenue for the School District, Athletic Director Jim Kafer said.

About 2,000 to 3,000 people attend Geneva home football games. With four scheduled home games in 2010, Geneva could add about $10,000 in revenue through football ticket sales alone. Basketball games draw fewer spectators per event, but there are 18 homes games plus the Thanksgiving tournament earnings, Kafer said, so the School District should see a substantial revenue stream there, as well.

"It's still pretty good entertainment value," Kafer said. "What does it cost to go to a movie?"