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Southern Columbia leaders weigh scrapping Hometown Ticketing amid app problems and $68,000 in gate revenue
Summary
District finance and facilities committee spent most of its meeting debating Hometown Ticketing fees and functionality after repeated customer complaints; members discussed switching vendors, permitting cash purchases through the district office, letting boosters handle admissions, or eliminating gate ticketing entirely while staff will check the contract and sales data.
The finance staff member said the meeting’s major item was a review of ticketing and season-pass pricing after repeated complaints about the district’s Hometown Ticketing app.
The chair opened the discussion by noting that the solar project news was brief and that the ticketing topic warranted an extended conversation. The finance staff member told the committee that the district’s current online pricing and processing fees have prompted community criticism, though she said some fee structure decisions reflected attempts to balance season length, the number of home games and expected usage.
Why it matters: Board members said gate revenue is not insignificant — about $68,000 a year — but many argued the administrative burden and recurring social-media complaints have made the issue more visible than the revenue alone. ‘‘If we do move to an environment where we don’t charge any admission, there is no going back,’’ a committee member said, noting that postseason PIAA rules may still require the district to use a vendor for some events.
Major proposals and trade‑offs - Eliminate ticketing: Several members urged ending gate charges and absorbing the revenue in the district budget to remove barriers to attendance and stop the repeated public complaints. One committee member said, ‘‘I would like to put this to bed once and for all and move on.’’ - Switch vendor or payment method: Board members discussed alternatives such as Square or similar tap devices at gates, which would allow credit-card payments with lower barriers for gate staffing, but raised concerns about season-pass handling and tracking accountability. - Boosters or third-party handlers: The idea that booster clubs might collect admission was raised; one board member said boosters had previously declined responsibility. - Maintain digital accountability while enabling cash: Staff outlined a workaround where the district office can accept cash ahead of events, enter the purchaser into the system and provide a name-based lookup at the gate for those without smartphones.
Functionality and access concerns Committee members repeatedly reported app failures and spotty cellular reception at events, saying the Hometown Ticketing app sometimes won’t load passes. One member called the app ‘‘terrible’’ and criticized its customer service; others noted common mitigations such as screenshotting passes or using gate staff to look up purchasers by name.
Contract and refunds Members asked staff to check the district’s contract with Hometown Ticketing and whether the district is obligated for the season; the finance staff member agreed to review the contract and provide information about refund options and the fiscal impact of reimbursing purchasers if the board decides to change vendors midseason.
Next steps The committee asked staff to compile sales data (season-pass purchases year-to-date and prior-year comparisons) and to return with the contract terms and numbers showing how many people buy season passes versus single-event tickets. Several members recommended deferring any major operational change until next year to avoid disrupting current-season logistics.
The meeting ended with agreement to gather the requested information and to continue the discussion at a future meeting; no formal motion or vote was taken on changing ticketing practices.
