Parents voice concerns after CMS imposes ticket limits on big football games
Some parents of students at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are disappointed with a new policy that limits ticket sales at certain “high-profile” football games throughout the regular-season.
Last week, CMS limited ticket sales at two games — North Mecklenburg at Mallard Creek and Independence at West Charlotte.
At the West Charlotte game, for example, only 1,050 tickets were sold and none were sold at the gate.
“It’s an inconvenience for everybody else that is not going to be able to get (tickets) when they get to the gate,” Ardrey Kell parent Alejandra Rocha told the Observer. “I wouldn’t agree with it. I don’t think there should be a limit on how many tickets you sell if they’re not going to be (many) people on the other side.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials said the policy was implemented after incidents at four high school games in the district this season, including one where the stands had to be cleared at West Charlotte High School during its homecoming.
In a statement, CMS said, “The decision to cap tickets sales is on a game-by-game basis depending on the expected size of the crowd and being able to maintain safety.”
CMS officials say the decision is a collective one between both schools involved, the CMS athletic department and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ police.
Which ticket sales will be affected this week?
This week, one game in the district will fall under the policy: Chambers at Independence.
Only 1,300 tickets be sold, on a first-come, first-served basis, all in advance of the game. No tickets will be sold at the gate, though school badges, senior citizens and state passes will be honored.
CMS officials estimate that between 1,700 and 1,800 people will be in the stadium Friday, a number that includes athletes and coaches. That’s less than half of the Patriots’ stadium capacity for fans alone.
Gates will open at 5:30, 30 minutes earlier than usual. In addition, there will be one entrance and two exits — one for each team’s fans. There will also be separate concession stands for each team.
CMS hasn’t decided whether the policy will extend to playoff games, when schools also have to pay a portion of proceeds to the NCHSAA.
In the first and second round, schools pay 15% of the gate, after expenses, according to NCHSAA spokesperson Brandon Moree. After the opening round, that amount increases to 20 percent, 25 and then 33 percent for the regional championship and state final.
If CMS limits fan attendance in the playoffs, schools could end up in the red for games.
“I think it’s very challenging” to limit the number of fans that can attend games, said Quantin Henderson, a West Charlotte parent.
Henderson’s son, Sam Johnson, is a lineman for the Lions and Henderson has gone to CMS games since his son was in middle school — or six years total.
“I think the schools should implement harsher penalties on the kids at the school if they cause trouble,” Henderson said. “And it’s going to be a real burden on the schools when they lose money from the gate that these types of games can create.”
Correspondents Richard Walker and Bill Kiser contributed
