Rise in Fuel Costs, Officials’ Pay Drives Ticket Price Increase
(July 10, 2008) – The dramatic rise in fuel costs and a mandate from the University Interscholastic League (UIL) to pay game officials more are some of the contributing factors leading to a ticket price increase for Katy ISD athletic contests.
“The cost for a football reserved seat has not increased since 1987,” explains Rusty Dowling, Katy ISD executive director of athletics. “Today's operational costs of a comprehensive athletic program, however, have risen astronomically forcing a price increase to meet these escalating costs.”
A major contributing factor leading to the ticket price change is a UIL mandate that school districts pay game officials an additional $5.00 per game for all sports. This alone contributes to approximately $100,000 in additional costs to the athletic department’s budget.
Also adding pressure to the athletic budget is the fact that for the next two years all six Katy ISD high schools are in the same district, 17-5A. As a result, four of the district’s six schools will make the playoffs in each team sport, which leads to increased costs for athletic equipment, officials, tournament fees, event staff and utility expenses.
The new realignment also means that the district will schedule more non-district games with opponents who are farther away, meaning more travel and increased fuel use. “Considering that our closest non-district opponent is nearly 80 miles round trip and diesel fuel hovering at around $4.90 a gallon, there is a considerable cost just to get to and from games,” says Dowling. The Board of Trustees recently approved a resolution seeking a change in the formula used to calculate transportation allocations, which have not been updated in over 22 years.
Katy ISD Superintendent Alton Frailey doesn’t believe the increase in ticket prices will have a negative impact on the community’s support of Katy ISD athletics. “One of the great things about Katy is the support our community has for our students. The unfortunate reality is that athletic costs across the board are more than they were 20 years ago; however, I have faith that our community will continue to come out and support our student athletes.”
The new Katy ISD athletic ticket prices, per event for the 2008-09 school year are:
Varsity Football
- Season Tickets............$10.00
- Pre-Sale......................Adult $6.00/Student $4.00
- Gate..........................$12.00
All other high school/junior high events
- Adult ..........................$5.00
- Student........................$2.00
The district expects that the new ticket prices will be generate nearly $590,000, which will be added to the district’s general operating fund.