My eyes are almost always glued on the action when I attend a
sporting event. But earlier this school year I couldn’t help but
notice what was, or wasn’t, going on behind me.
Looking at the Garcia-Elder Sports Complex stands during a
football game between Gilroy High and visiting Pacific Grove on
Oct. 17, I could only conclude that school spirit was at an
all-time low.
‘Where is everyone?’ I thought.
A third of the hometown seats were available, and more than half
had opened up by halftime. Sure, it was a blowout win, like many of
Gilroy’s games at the beginning of the season. But aren’t those the
kinds of games people enjoy most?
”
I’ve never seen so few people at a home game,
”
I said casually to someone on the sidelines.
The trend continued.
My eyes are almost always glued on the action when I attend a sporting event. But earlier this school year I couldn’t help but notice what was, or wasn’t, going on behind me.
Looking at the Garcia-Elder Sports Complex stands during a football game between Gilroy High and visiting Pacific Grove on Oct. 17, I could only conclude that school spirit was at an all-time low.
‘Where is everyone?’ I thought.
A third of the hometown seats were available, and more than half had opened up by halftime. Sure, it was a blowout win, like many of Gilroy’s games at the beginning of the season. But aren’t those the kinds of games people enjoy most?
“I’ve never seen so few people at a home game,” I said casually to someone on the sidelines.
The trend continued.
Less people showed up the following week against Alisal, and the final home game of the season, the 52nd Prune Bowl between the Mustangs and Hollister, was well attended but well below what many expected.
Then basketball season started and I wondered if anyone other than me, the players’ parents and friends, and a couple die-hard fans knew. The only real home-court advantage was people from Gilroy never had to worry about finding a seat.
I asked around why fans weren’t showing up to games and heard a laundry list of reasons: poor weather, the economy, the anxiously awaited new school – Christopher High – fracturing the fan base, girls’ basketball playing on Fridays rather than boys, and/or simply unexciting GHS squads to watch.
The economy was already in the tank during this time and I figured the athletic department was going to be taking a major hit to the coffers. It turns out the opposite is true.
As of Wednesday night, GHS has made $35,096.29 more than it did a season ago on fall and winter sports, according to gate receipts compiled by GHS Athletic Director Jack Daley.
The question is how. This wasn’t some kind of season ticketholders no-show scenario, where the money was already in hand.
It turns out Daley and others were thinking ahead.
Ticket prices at every sporting event, aside from those for $1 purchased by students with an ASB stamp, have gone up a buck compared to last year. While GHS doesn’t keep attendance numbers, it’s clear to see that the price increase has made up for a lack of butts in the seats. In 2007, only the highly anticipated Gilroy-Palma football game topped $10,000 in revenue at the gate. This season, three home games – Mitty ($10,869.11), Salinas (12,307.80) and Hollister (12,956.95) – went above the five-digit mark.
With football carrying most other high school sports, which break even or often lose money, the dramatic increase in revenue this school year – $88,608.34 and counting – has been a pleasant surprise.
“Actually, it’s higher than I thought it would’ve been,” Daley said.
But all good things must come to an end, and it’s not a stretch to say this year is likely to be the last hurrah for GHS, as the student population is soon to be cut in half with the opening of Christopher High next fall. Players and parents will go their separate ways as allegiances change, meaning the Mustangs will no longer be the only show in town.
Daley said GHS spends roughly $100,000 to cover all costs – transportation, referees, security, equipment, etc. – to operate the athletic department for an entire school year. In 2007-08, GHS fell far short of that number.
Inventing new ways to get fans in the stands will need to be a priority, one that Daley readily recognizes. Last Friday’s doubleheader, in which North Salinas brought all six of its girls’ and boys’ basketball teams to Gilroy for non-stop games in two gyms, was a major success. No other basketball matchup this season has come close to filling as many seats throughout an evening.
“That’s what I liked so much about last [game],” Daley said, adding that it’s difficult to get opposing schools on the same page to pull off such an event.
“It’s really getting the other schools to buy into it. North Salinas was nice enough to accommodate what we wanted to do.”
In these tough economic times, which look to be getting even tougher in this area after the second car dealership in a week closed down, setting a path for the future will need to be a major priority. GHS has no plans to cut any programs, Daley said, meaning costs will be about the same in 2009-10. Revenue, however, isn’t likely to keep pace with this banner year.
Not far down the road, it could be sink or swim time for Gilroy sports.
—
Gate Comparison
2007-2008
Income # of Games Av./Game Comments
Girls’ Volleyball $2,884.00 8 $360.50
Varsity Football $37,857.94 5 $7,571.59 Palma only gate over 10K $11,201.30
Freshman Football $3,099.01 3 $1,033.00
Boys’ Basketball $5,603.00 9 $622.56
Girls’ Basketball $2,995.10 6 $499.18
Wrestling $1,073.00 2 $536.50 Hollister
Boys’ Volleyball $1,979.00 9 $219.89
07-08 Gate Receipts $55,491.05
2008-2009
Income # of Games Av./Game Comments
Girls’ Volleyball $3,316.50 9 $368.50
Varsity Football $68,137.66 6 $11,356.28 Hollister 3 gates of 10K plus Mitty, $10869.11 / Salinas, $12307.80 / Hollister, $12956.95
Freshman Football $6,912.70 6 $1,152.12 2 games v. Hollister
Boys’ Basketball $5,730.69 8 $716.34 does not include Palma 2/19
Girls’ Basketball $3,814.79 6 $635.80
Wrestling $696.00 2 $348.00
Boys’ Volleyball N/A 9
08-09 Gate Receipts $88,608.34
Ticket price increase 07_08 08_09
Football
2 games Adult 6 7
HS Student W/ ID 2 3
GHS ASB Stamp 1 1
Seniors 3 4
Child 2 3
All other sports
Adult 4 5
HS Student W/ ID 2 3
GHS ASB Stamp 1 1
Seniors 2 3
Child 2 3
Gate difference
07_08 08_09 Difference
Girls’ Volleyball $2,884.00 $3,316.50 $432.50
Varsity Football $37,857.94 $68,137.66 $30,279.72
Freshman Football $3,099.01 $6,912.70 $3,813.69
Boys’ Basketball $5,603.00 $5,730.69 $127.69
Girls’ Basketball $2,995.10 $3,814.79 $819.69
Wrestling $1,073.00 $696.00 -$377.00
Boys’ Volleyball $1,979.00 N/A
$35,096.29
