Fans of Escambia County Public School football, basketball, softball and other sports may soon pay $1 more for tickets.
ECPS Supt. Keith Leonard told school board members at a June 15 workshop that the district is considering raising ticket prices because of an increase in security costs.
Leonard said the cost of hiring off-duty Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies has increased from $40 an hour to $50 an hour. The school district also hires off-duty officers from the Pensacola Police Department, which already charges $50 per hour.
Security officers usually work about four hours at football and some other games.
Leonard said at some sporting events with smaller crowds, schools actually lose money.
No action was taken on the matter but if approved by the school board, the ticket price increase would apply to middle school and high school sports events and start at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.
Currently, adult and student tickets to high school preseason and spring football jamboree games are $7. Tickets to varsity regular season games are $6 presale and $7 at the gate. Elementary school students pay $1.
Junior varsity and freshman game tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students and $1 for elementary school students.
Adult tickets for other sports (basketball, baseball, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track, volleyball and wrestling) are $5. Student tickets are $3 and elementary students pay $1.
Weightlifting county meet tickets are $5 for adults and students.
Tickets to all middle school sports events are $3 for adults and $2 for students. There will be no charge for swimming, tennis, golf and cross-country events.
There is also a $2 parking fee at sports events.
Admission prices to invitationals and tournaments will be set by the host school.
Tickets to playoff games and series will be set by the Florida High School Athletic Association. Official “State Series Passes” are valid.
“We haven’t raised prices since before COVID, except for a subtle change in 2023,” said Casey Thiele, ECPS director of athletics, who stressed ticket prices have not yet increased.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Tickets prices may go up for Escambia school sports
Reporting by Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
