By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Holders of Senior Tar Heel Athletic Cards will no longer receive free admission to sports events at Alamance-Burlington School System venues.
Spectator ticket prices are increasing for some sports events, but the big change for the upcoming school year is related to limitations on Senior Tar Heel Athletic Cards.
“We’ve got to do something,” said Todd Davis, athletics director for ABSS. “We’re just taking a hit.”
Beginning with competitions next month, admission for varsity competitions in all sports where there’s ticketed entry will be $10. The middle school ticket cost will be $6.
ABSS schools will accept Senior Tar Heel Athletic Cards for half-price admission ($5 for high school, $3 for middle school). Valid cards must be presented to receive the discount.
“Athletics isn’t immune to inflation,” Davis said. “We want to honor (those cards) in some way and at the same time we’ve got to take care of our programs.”
Davis said a typical varsity football game has expenses of about $2,000 before the ball is kicked off because of fees for security and officials.
“It adds up,” he said.
Senior Tar Heel Athletic Cards are for ages 60 and older. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association requires that schools accept those cards for admission during the postseason, but acceptance of the cards is optional during the regular season for school districts.
Cards can be obtained through Kernodle Senior Center in Burlington. The issuing venues vary from county to county throughout the state.
Roxboro Person, which is a member of the same conference with the seven ABSS high schools, will have the same ticket-pricing structure, though it offers free admission as part of the senior discount.
The NCHSAA sets ticket prices for postseason events on the high school level.
At ABSS events, there’s no charge for admission for cross country, golf, and tennis.
For multi-team events, such as wrestling tournaments, in-season basketball tournaments, or track and field invitationals, the admission prices might vary.
Many schools in the county sell season passes for specific sports or all-sports passes for the entire school year. Those are specific for each school and good only at venues for that particular school, Davis said.
For middle school postseason tickets, ABSS won’t accept any passes. Those events are considered fundraisers for ABSS Teaching Scholars and for middle school athletic departments. Semifinal tickets cost $6 and championship competitions are $8 (except for $10 for football).
This is the second year in a row there has been a bump in ticket prices at ABSS schools. Unlike in recent years, all ABSS schools will be in the same conference for the coming school year.
Prices were set by conferences prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, with the Central 3-A Conference charging $10 (marking a $2 or $3 increase from the previous year). The Mid-Carolina Conference opted for $10 for football and basketball, and $8 for other sports.
