A "rivalry" up-charge at EWU? Really?

After 12 years of being a working guy at Eastern Washington University sporting events for the Cheney Free Press and having complimentary admission, on Monday, Feb. 18 I became a paying customer.

Went to the Reese Court ticket window and asked for general admission for the double-header featuring men’s and women’s teams from Eastern Washington and Idaho.

Damned near choked when told that my bill was $28. Luckily, I visited the cash machine on the way, plus anyway, I gladly bought the ticket to help support my alma mater.

But then I got to thinking just what does it cost to be a fan for EWU basketball? Took a peek at the website and best I could tell was general admission seats were between $10-$15 for men for a future game.

I presume that price range considers the seat location, as is the case with most sporting venues.

Women’s tickets are $8, I see, for an upcoming game with Southern Utah.

The $28 math did not add up, plus I saw I qualified for a $23 senior discount so I went out at halftime of the women’s game to get my $5 back.

When I asked the person in the booth what was up with the ticket math, she told me prices were increased because “It was a rivalry game.”

Just because a game features schools close geographically is not cause to raise ticket prices, no matter how much or how little. EWU and Montana are football rivals with tickets at a premium; charge what you want and we will buy.

The time to raise ticket prices for an EWU vs. Idaho basketball game ought to be based on the most simple of rules from Econ. 101 — when the demand exceeds the supply. Eastern is unfortunately light years away from that. 

Paul Delaney

Spokane