SBC can charge admission for baseball, softball games in 2026

Area high school baseball and softball fans might have to pay up to attend games next year. Starting with the 2026 season, Sandusky Bay Conference schools will be permitted to charge admission fees to baseball and softball games. Tickets for adults will be $8 while students will be $5. The SBC cited rising costs as the reason for the policy change. "High school athletic department budgets are tight, and costs are rising," Norwalk athletic director Josh Schlotterer said. "There has been discussion about raising admission prices for all events that currently charge for entry. However, school administrators want to keep costs as low as possible for families who want to support high school athletics. "Charging admission for baseball and softball games will allow schools to keep the admission price for other sporting events at its current price point for the time being, while allowing schools to generate additional revenue to support their athletic programs." Schlotterer said the move — approved earlier this month — isn't unprecedented. Other leagues have adopted admission policies for baseball and softball games. That includes nearby Fremont Ross and the rest of the Northern Lakes League. Sandusky baseball coach Zack Moots noted that Ross charged admission when the Blue Streaks played in Fremont two years ago. He says the new policy could be difficult to police. "I was kind of shocked when the SBC announced it," Moots said. "I don't want to say it's all about the money, but I don't know what the process or mindset behind it is. It's going to be hard to police. I know they do it at tournament time, but it's going to put a strain on everybody. "I know it's hard to find workers for spring sports. Track uses a ton, so if we have a track meet going on, who's going to be the ticket takers and watching the gates? It's going to be difficult. I don't like it too much, but I don't make those decisions." The choice to charge is optional. Schlotterer said Norwalk has not decided if it is going to charge entry to baseball and softball games next year. As a district, it will be discussed if it's needed to continue to financially support the athletic programs. Norwalk isn't the only school on the fence. St. Mary Central Catholic isn't sure what it will do. A lot of the questions have to do with being able to rope or gate off areas to funnel entry at one location. "My general reaction to this is that this will be very difficult to do for SMCC," Panthers athletic director Steve Ruthsatz said. "We play baseball and softball at Dorn Community Park, which is a wide-open City of Sandusky public park." Not only will schools have to adopt the policy, but they will need workers. "It will also be a challenge to find people to sell tickets," Ruthsatz said. "If we do decide to charge for baseball and softball in the future, a ticket booth or two may need to be constructed at Dorn Park." The idea to charge admission has been discussed over the past few years, said SBC assistant secretary Matt Flewelling. An increase in payments to umpires was one of the reasons the conference adopted the policy. "As a league, we saw this coming," Flewelling said. "Recently, our league increased our umpire fees to keep pace with the other area leagues. It really is an issue with supply versus demand. Low supply, higher demand — prices are going to be higher. Across the board, we have to stay up to date with what we pay officials since they are such an important part of what we do." Danbury athletic director Joe Miller was quick to point out the rising costs of the umpires as well. "I completely understand why some schools and athletic departments would like to charge admission for baseball and softball games," Miller said. "Umpire fees are $75 per umpire, which means if you host a varsity baseball and softball game, you lose $300 each night. If you have junior varsity teams in addition, the financial losses are even greater." Flewelling broke down the math and costs even further. "For a junior varsity game, umpire fees are $120 per game, while varsity officials are $150 per game," he said. "With a 28-game schedule, that amounts to around $9,000 for umpires with no gate receipts. For example, $9,000 is a really good gate admission for a high-profile football game. "Our taxpayers have to remember that paying officials do not come from a school's general fund but from an athletic account. That same athletic account also pays for equipment, uniforms and, in some cases, busing." Danbury recently opened its Norton Athletic Center with this scenario in mind. "When we built the Norton Athletic Center, we arranged the perimeter fencing to allow us to eventually section off the baseball and softball fields so that we had the ability to charge admission," Miller said. "More revenue provides an opportunity for the athletic department to spend more money on uniforms, equipment, camps, clinics, facilities, etc. that would improve the programs." Clyde High School has been the site of many district and regional baseball and softball games over the past decade. The Fliers are used to roping off areas, but that doesn't make it any easier. "Charging for baseball and softball will be the hardest issue many of us have moving forward," Clyde athletic director Ryan Greenslade said. "Most of us have multiple entrances that will need to be covered. We currently do this for tournaments, but having to set up every day in the spring will add a great deal of work and additional staff. "Covering three entrances each day will be stressful and a bit overwhelming when you have multiple events taking place at the same time." Not all schools will charge. Port Clinton athletic director Rick Dominick said the Redskins don't feel it is necessary right now. "Our Board of Education and administration are sensitive to doing whatever we can in easing the financial burden for our parents and families," Dominick said. "While we as a district will not be able to increase our revenue, we are at least not increasing the cost to watch our kids play." The cost to support baseball and softball programs have gone up in recent years while things such as field maintenance still need to be done. "High school athletics have not been immune from inflation," Dominick said. "Not only have costs of equipment and supplies increased drastically coming out of COVID, so also have the costs of our officials and umpires. "These men and women have earned and deserve the pay increases they have received across all sports. Going back to my roots as an accounting teacher, if costs of doing business increase, you need to find ways to reduce expenses or increase revenue. As a group, we're looking at ways to increase revenue." Greenslade said he hasn't heard much from fans and families about the change. He said those who have asked about it understand why the change is needed. "Many of us are trying to be creative and find alternative ways to make it easier on families and not take it out on the same families all year," Greenslade said. "We are exploring the options of adding adult passes, similar to our senior passes or our student passes. This would ensure savings to those who attend a lot of games throughout the year." Perkins baseball coach TJ Blanton sees the reason for an increase in paying umpires. The sport in general is expensive and the change isn't something he's opposed to. "Umpires are not getting cheaper," he said Thursday after the Pirates' win over Norwalk. "I know our conference pays a little more for umpires to get people to do it. I like to get fans out here and I think it might cut down on some attendance, but it might not. "It might not be a bad idea. They charge for most other sports. But I still want people to come out and enjoy the game. If charging admission is going to limit that, I'm against it." Moots echoed that sentiment and pointed out that attendance for baseball and softball is already low — especially early in the season when temps could be under 40 degrees at first pitch. Flewelling thinks athletic directors will be creative when it comes to setting up and finding ticket takers. "Those schools that are set up will do it," he said. "Some, for example, have already said they just can't do it based on how their facility is set up. Remember for OHSAA events that these schools host, they have to charge admission. "I think in many ways you count on the integrity of the fans to pay when they attend the games."