PENDLETON — Students at Pendleton Heights High School can’t beat the discount.
In a major change to the school’s athletics ticket plan for 2019-20, students will now be able to get into events for free.
“This is my third year here, and since Day 1 I wanted to get our budget to the point we were able to do this,” Pendleton Heights Athletics Director Chad Smith said. “The timing was right to do it now.”
Smith said crowds were “pretty good” in 2018-19, but noticed they were tailing off after the fall sports season.
“We wanted to make school spirit a priority,” he said.
After talking with the Student Athletics Council, it was determined students didn’t have the money for an all-sports ticket ($60).
A lot of times students, because of their personal schedules, were able to attend only a portion of a sporting event. They didn’t want to pay full price for an event when they were going to have to leave early or arrive late.
“People seem to be excited about it,” Smith said of the the new plan which was released on social media Friday.
Pendleton Heights isn’t breaking new ground in the state or area, though Smith said he was aware of only one other high school (Elwood) that currently offered free admission to high school students.
The offer is for high school students only, and students must provide a valid school ID.
Pendleton Heights will be increasing the charge for family ($220) and adult ($80) all-sports tickets. Senior citizen (55-plus) and K-8 student all-sport passes will remain at a cost of $60.
More ticket information and purchasing of family, adult, senior citizen and K-8 student passes, and renewals, are available on the athletics website at phhsathletics.com or by going to the athletics office from 9 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
