(The Center Square) – As the high school football playoffs begin Friday in Ohio, two lawmakers plan to go after the Ohio High School Athletic Association for what they call price gouging.
Reps. Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville, and Justin Pizzulli, R-Scioto County, want the association to reduce prices for students and be sure cash is accepted at all games.
“The OHSAA should be ashamed of themselves for charging $15 for a ticket to get into a high school playoff game,” Edwards said. “These games are supposed to be about the school, community, team, band, cheerleaders, and families, but for the OHSAA, it is only about the money. There will be many family members missing games because of these outrageous costs.”
The OHSAA sets ticket prices for all postseason games and events in all sports. During the regular season, schools establish ticket prices.
Ticket prices for first-round playoff games are $15 for students and adults at the gate. If bought online, prices are $12 for adults and $9 for students.
“I just looked at from the perspective of everything is hitting now with the high inflation, and it’s really a struggle,” Edwards told The Center Square. “In rural Ohio, that town shuts down. The one thing our communities do have is on Friday night, we have high school football.”
The General Assembly added legislation to the state budget, which was signed into law in early July by Gov. Mike DeWine, that requires school districts to accept cash at gates for tickets. That law went into effect Oct. 3.
The new law, however, did not address pricing.
“High school football is Americana at its best and is an experience that should be able to be enjoyed by all,” Pizzulli said. “The cost of a game ticket shouldn’t be an obstacle. The OHSAA’s already bloated budget shouldn’t be built on the backs of the students they are supposed to serve.”
The proposed legislation, which awaits a committee assignment, would ensure student tickets to athletic playoff games are priced lower than those of adults and will be the same whether they are bought online or with cash. The legislation would also guarantee that if an event does not accept cash, and the game is not sold out, the students would be admitted for free.
Edwards said he wants to develop a special legislative committee and invite the OHSAA to testify publicly about their decisions and money.
“Let’s just invite them in and come in to tell their story,” Edwards said. “If they have nothing to hide and think they can justify what they are doing, then let them come in and tell their story.”
The OHSAA said late Friday afternoon it plans to continue discussions about ticket prices.
“The Ohio High School Athletic Association is aware of the legislation introduced today, Oct. 27, regarding the gate price set for OHSAA tournament games and that the gate price is higher than the online ticket price, particularly as it relates to student tickets. The OHSAA will continue to discuss this issue today and over the weekend with lawmakers and the OHSAA Board of Directors regarding any changes to the cash price of tickets. More information will be released on Monday, Oct. 30,” the OHSAA said in a statement.
