COLUMBUS, Ohio — If you were headed out to a high school playoff game last week and you didn’t get your ticket ahead of time online, you would’ve paid a little more at the gates in cash; $15 to be exact.
And now, fans will no longer have to pay more after the Ohio High School Athletic Association lowered prices after lawmakers introduced legislation.
Prior to Friday’s regional tournaments, tickets were $12 for adults online and $9 for students. If you didn’t get the tickets ahead of time, you would’ve had to pay a few bucks more. Now, tickets across the state for high school playoff games will be $12 flat for adults, and $9 flat for students.
At Upper Arlington on Friday, some fans noticed the price change.
"I was surprised last week when it was $15, and then this week it was $12 because when I was in high school it was 50 cents,” said Rich Hurley, an Upper Arlington graduate.
Last week, lawmakers in Ohio introduced House Bill 311 which would put a limit on ticket prices at high school events.
Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens said charging students too much money can discourage them from going to a game especially when the games are outside.
“I mean $15, that's a lot to get in the game, and as the weather gets worse, it may be cold, it may be raining, so you don’t want to buy online and waste that money so you start to add up and you have a student section, that may have a couple of hundred kids in it, with only 50 kids it makes a big difference for the experience and the fans,” said Stephens.
Other fans said they’re happy to see the change, that way more people can afford to see the games.
"They shouldn't gouge, so to speak, or take advantage of a situation where people come because not everyone can afford it,” said Don Reyna.
OHSAA said this change only applies to the playoffs right now. It is unclear if regular season sports will be changed too.