For those going to football games at Wayne Jamison Field this year to watch any Bridgeport High School team play, be prepared for a little bit of sticker – or in this case ticket – shock. Recently, the Big 10 Conference voted to increase the cost of admission at football games from $5 to $6.

 

BHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Matt DeMotto confirmed the increase took place by a vote earlier this summer. He said the cost increase will be in place for varsity, junior varsity and freshman games.

 

“We’re a member of a conference and we follow conference by-laws. Part of what gate money is used for is how much do we pay officials and so forth by what we charge at the gate,” said DeMotto, who proceeded to list a number of items that gate funds are used for by schools. “So, we’re following the by-laws.”

 

Student passes will still be honored. Also, WVSSAC passes will still be recognized, but standard admission for all others will go up slightly for the year. DeMotto said the rationale for raising the cost rests with the needs for athletic funding, which isn’t necessarily the same for all Big 10 Conference schools.

 

“Our situation is likely not identical to any other school in the conference and that includes financial issues. We all have different expenses and those schools further out may have more travel expenses than us,” said DeMotto. “There are also those that may not get the attendance that we get and that means less income. What it comes down to is a matter of trying to pay the bills and some schools within the conference struggling to do that.”

 

DeMotto said problems would be created by schools if they opted not to do the increase. He said, because of that, he anticipates all schools to take part.

 

“I think we all want to be on the same page when possible and if you end up having one school deciding to charge a lower rate they’ll create heat for the other schools,” he said. “I think you’ll see it universally applied throughout the conference.”