MCSD raises ticket prices to athletic events in some cases

The Muscogee County School District has consolidated admission prices to high school athletic events and raised the prices in some cases for next school year.

The reason for the change is to offset the increase in fees for game officials, mandated by the Georgia High School Association, MCSD athletics director Jeff Battles told the Ledger-Enquirer. Instead of different admission prices for students and adults to varsity and junior varsity events in some sports, MCSD will have one price for students and adults in all sports, he said.

Here is how MCSD’s admission prices are changing from the 2016-17 school year to the 2017-18 school year in each sport:

Varsity football

Varsity football tickets remain $8 at the gate and $5 in advance for students and adults, but MCSD is promoting more online sales, Battles said. Those tickets, also for $5, will be available on each school’s website.

“Last year, it was kind of a trial,” he said, “and it worked well but not enough, so we are going to push it hard this year.”

Approximately 5 percent of MCSD’s football ticket sales were bought online in 2016, Battles said. The goal is 15 percent in 2017.

“They can do it up until 5 p.m. the day of the game to get the presale price,” he said, “starting Monday of that week.”

Varsity football tickets may be printed from a computer or downloaded to a smartphone, Battles said, then scanned at the gate. The only exception will be the Heritage Bowl, the annual game between rivals Carver and Spencer. Those tickets must be purchased in person, he said, “because they like folks coming to the school so they also can sell them programs and spirit wear in advance.”

If the online ticket sales go well in 2017, Battles said, the option might expand to basketball and baseball.

Other varsity sports

▪ Baseball: Remains $5 for students and adults.

▪ Basketball: Increases from $5 to $7 for students and adults.

▪ Cross Country: Remains $1 for students and adults.

▪ Soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, volleyball, wrestling: Increases from $3 to $5 for students and remains $5 for adults.

Junior varsity sports

A ticket to any freshman or junior varsity game that charges admission will be $5. That’s the same price adults were charged this school year, but it’s an increase from $3 for students.

This story was originally published June 21, 2017 at 7:42 PM with the headline "MCSD raises ticket prices to athletic events in some cases."