As this is being written, I have no idea which version of the old adage “March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb” may hold true. Regardless of how the weather may treat us during the month ahead, one thing is for certain; of the many basketball teams and wrestling squads that began this month dreaming of championship gold on the PIAA road to Hershey, most will end the season with a loss, as only the state champions will remain standing.
That is the reality of competition and the essence of that memorable slogan of the long-ago ABC television program “Wide World of Sports” — as host, Jim McKay would tout “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”
Sports fans relish those moments when their favorite team wins a big game or claims a championship. On the flip side, frustration and disappointment are often exhibited when the final outcome is not the hoped-for result. Regardless of the win/loss conclusion, the opportunity to be in the arena and witness the game are moments sports fans seek to enjoy.
As this year’s high school playoffs took center stage, the PIAA’s recent policy of requiring all fans to purchase their game tickets ahead of time online has left some fans grumbling, even to the point of discouraging them from attempting to go to the games. For those fans, the PIAA is Publicly Irritating Athletic Attendees at a time when the outcome of the games is of heightened interest to the ticket-buying public.
Like so many other changes and restrictions introduced to our society during the height of the COVID outbreak, the PIAA seized the opportunity to introduce its new playoff ticket policy. Their explained rationale to limit the potential exposure and spread of the disease made sense at the time. Most games were played in near-empty gyms with limited fans and spaced-out seating. But similar to many decisions implemented for an expressed reason by higher-ups, the ticket policy has found itself into permanency for District IV playoff games.
Two years ago, PIAA District IV president Chris Venna (Superintendent, Shamokin Area School District) took the time to explain the online ticket policy to Webb Weekly.
“We used online ticketing last year (2020), and it went extremely smooth. For this year (2021), we decided to utilize it as our exclusive way to purchase tickets for events based on several factors: the success of its implementation last year; online ticketing reduces the risk for COVID transmission since there is no exchange of money at the gate; for auditing purposes, it is much more efficient and cleaner process; it is being utilized during the state playoffs so implementing it during district play makes sense, and many events all throughout the state (and country) use online ticketing (so most people are familiar).”
Superintendent Venna’s rationale has merit from a bean-counters perspective, and offering online ticketing to the masses provides an opportunity to an ever-increasing ‘cashless’ society that prefers plastic over greenbacks for everyday transactions.
But questions must be asked — whether or not the PIAA officials choose to ignore their existence.
What about those folks that don’t own computers or are not comfortable enough to complete the ticket-buying purchase, or the fan that makes a last-minute decision to attend a game or drives several hours to get to one, not aware of the computer purchasing mandate and is turned away at the gate — with cash in hand willing to pay? Or the individual that doesn’t want to pay the convenience fees associated with online buying? Or how about the fan that goes online, buys a ticket, and then because of weather or personal circumstances, doesn’t go to the game?
The PIAA has indicated that if a game is called off because of weather-related circumstances, the ticket price will be refunded, BUT NOT the convenience fee.
Is all this necessary for the fan that only wants to go see a high school athletic event?
One District IV committee member told me, “The online process eliminates potential discrepancies with the process for everyone.
“I understand the situation it puts spectators and general fans into for attending games to support their local schools and community. The new process has benefits, but I do understand the difficulties and hassles it will cause people in terms of attending the games to support their schools and teams.”
When questioned during a rough time in his presidency, President Clinton once stated, “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”
Understanding a policy and trying to do something to rectify the problems that policy is causing are indeed two different things. Don’t expect the PIAA to understand or change the inconvenience and hassle it may cause members of the ticket-buying public. In their eyes, it is “extremely smooth.”
