Brainerd Hockey on Life Support.....

[Can't Never Tried]

We are now in a "pay to play" just about every where in hockey. High schools typically charge about $300 and if you cant pay, help is available, usually thru the people who can.

I am OK with this. $300 is a bargain for 25 games plus post season.

But I still have a real problem with the money (about a million bucks) being made off the hockey tournament going to fund other activities.

Hockey people have always paid their own way for the most part. Why cant other sports?

We pay the City rink $160/hour for ice time but what do soccer people pay for field use? Most cities will spend hundreds of thousands in a year on fields but operate the ice rink for break even or about a $15,000 loss because , as always, we pay for its use.

I dont mind paying for hockey but participants in other sports ought to pony up too. And some of the money we make on the hockey tournament ought to go back to hockey.

I totally agree, in fact if it's hockey generating the revenue, then it should be reinvested in hockey!
If this were done, wouldn't it improve like any good entity the reinvests in itself?

[darkdemon]

We are now in a "pay to play" just about every where in hockey. High schools typically charge about $300 and if you cant pay, help is available, usually thru the people who can.

I am OK with this. $300 is a bargain for 25 games plus post season.

But I still have a real problem with the money (about a million bucks) being made off the hockey tournament going to fund other activities.

Hockey people have always paid their own way for the most part. Why cant other sports?

We pay the City rink $160/hour for ice time but what do soccer people pay for field use? Most cities will spend hundreds of thousands in a year on fields but operate the ice rink for break even or about a $15,000 loss because , as always, we pay for its use.

I dont mind paying for hockey but participants in other sports ought to pony up too. And some of the money we make on the hockey tournament ought to go back to hockey.

Yeah its the same way at SCSU the hockey team makes most of the revenue generated by sports. However the money made by hockey is given to the other sports. Seriously who watches the SCSU football and even baseball teams? Hockey may cost a ton of money but it makes a ton of money as well. Its disappointing money made by hockey should go back to hockey. (yes i understand a university has more money but its the same scenario)

[Stitch Lips]

So tell me ... which sports generates more money for the MSHSL?

Hockey, Boys......................Class AA...Class A
..............................................Adults......Students
Season Book............................$72.00.....$46.00
Championship Single Session.....$13.00......$8.00
Consolation Single Session.........$10.00......$7.00

...............................VS.....................................


Football................irregardless of class (6 classes over 400 teams)
..............................................Adults........Students
Quarterfinals.............................$8.00........$5.00
Semifinals................................$12.00.......$8.00
Prep Bowl Day 1.......................$12.00.......$8.00
Prep Bowl Day 2.......................$10.00.......$7.00
Prep Bowl Pass.........................$18.00......$12.00

[packerboy]

I think football (Prep Bowl)makes money too but football doesnt get any back.

But what did we pay to play football this season? It didnt cost a dime. Plus the school supplied the helmets and pads. The revenue generated from admission to the games is used to defer any user fees in most places.

[AngusYoung]

How does Cretin(and other privates) fund their athletics? Are the hockey players charged activity fees?

AY

[quickgym guy]

How does Cretin(and other privates) fund their athletics? Are the hockey players charged activity fees?

AY

I'm sure the $10,000+ tuition helps a little...

[Stitch Lips]

There's no doubt the state hockey tournament injects a lot more money than the prep bowl into the MSP/STP economy when it comes to the State Tournament at the X ... as opposed to the Prep Bowl at the Metrodome.

In terms of sheer dollars from gate receipts statewide, I think football is king.

Many factors come into play as to why hockey has become so expensive. What about the teams from yesteryear? How come expense wasn't an issue then? [high school hockey in the 40's, 50's, 60's & 70's].

I suspect greed played a role from the equipment manufacturers to the artificial ice to the cost of energy in relation to transportation and facility maintenance.

My first hockey stick cost me $ 0.99 [Northland Crackshot]. Now I'm paying upwards of $200.

Who's to blame?

It's all about the almighty $

[elliott70]

Football is a distant second in revenue.
Football costs exceed hockey.

The winner is hockey.

[Stitch Lips]

Football is a distant second in revenue.
Football costs exceed hockey.

The winner is hockey.

This is precisely why I threw the comparisons out there.

Now show me the money.

Prove your case. Where did you get your information?

I hope you're right.

[Knowlzee]

What is really going on here? No money for sports,......or is sports the new tool being used by our education system to generate more revenue (i.e. pass referendum) for education? Maybe it isn't enough anymore for them to just say "it's for the kids", or "it's for education" to get us to pass levies, every other year,....it seems. People are getting tired of the continual requests for more money by education (it never seems to be enough), so new methods need to be invented, such as threatening to eliminate sports, or bussing, or band, etc.

This is nothing other than a threat folks,......and we are stupid enough to fall for it.

P.S. Hockey will not go away, but......when individuals (parents) bail out the school district, which they will,......it moves hockey one step closer to being the "sport for the richt", that it is in many other parts of the country.

[Stitch Lips]

What is really going on here? No money for sports,......or is sports the new tool being used by our education system to generate more revenue (i.e. pass referendum) for education? Maybe it isn't enough anymore for them to just say "it's for the kids", or "it's for education" to get us to pass levies, every other year,....it seems. People are getting tired of the continual requests for more money by education (it never seems to be enough), so new methods need to be invented, such as threatening to eliminate sports, or bussing, or band, etc.

This is nothing other than a threat folks,......and we are stupid enough to fall for it.

P.S. Hockey will not go away, but......when individuals (parents) bail out the school district, which they will,......it moves hockey one step closer to being the "sport for the richt", that it is in many other parts of the country.

Well, let me assure you knowlzee ... the situation in Brainerd is no threat.

Simply put ... it will happen if the money isn't raised the first week in April.

Threat or no threat these are the hard facts that people will have to deal with. If sports aren't important ... then why the hell do they devote a whole newspaper section in all daily papers across the world? Why do they devote 1/3 of the television newscasts to sports (not nationally). Whole cable television channels are devoted to sports. The Super Bowl has practically become a global holiday. Thousands of publication and periodicals are devoted to sports.

Sports are very important in schools whether people believe it or not. Otherwise so much time and money wouldn't be invested in such, if this were not the case.

Just because a few don't care about sports doesn't mean it doesn't have an impact on the economy, your pocketbook and large numbers of fans' entertainment.

Sports are important. I don't care what the academia elite say. Just ask a ton of major colleges about the importance of the NCAA Final Four or the College football scene in regards to getting a bowl bid!

Granted, people lose interest in sports as they age, but regardless of whether or not they took advantage of sports when they were young, it is their civic duty to make these opportunities available to the youth of today. What comes around goes around.

Today's youth will have to find other outlets to satisfy their aggressive tendencies if sports are taken away. Let's hope they choose not to take the wrong path down devil's lane.

Now that would be a threat we don't want to deal with.

[packerboy]

How does Cretin(and other privates) fund their athletics? Are the hockey players charged activity fees?

AY

Tuition, donations, endowments, fundraising etc is used same way as tax dollars are used.

In addition some sports have fees. Hockey is $300.

The private schools not only have to fund the cost of the sport but also all of the cash, autos , and signing bonuses paid to top recruits.

[AngusYoung]

How does Cretin(and other privates) fund their athletics? Are the hockey players charged activity fees?

AY

The private schools not only have to fund the cost of the sport but also all of the cash, autos , and signing bonuses paid to top recruits.

That is cheap at twice the price! Tis the season to start stealing from the publiks!

AY

[great hockey mind]

Knowlzee you are right on. The sports budget is less than 3% of the totat budget at Brainerd. The problem is the teachers union. The biggest part of the budget is wages and benefits. In the private sector that would be the first thing cut to balance the budget. Times are tuff- everyone is paying more for health coverage, etc.

[Neutron 14]

The problem is the teachers union.

The Teachers Union represents its constituents like any other union. They seek maximum increases and top benefits, including having its members retire at an age the rest of us couldn't afford. They care not about activities or school closures. And they say "Its for the children".

But the problem rests with the school board for giving them the increases they seek, and then needing referendum after referendum to pay the bills.

[Knowlzee]

Not a threat? Do the "decision makers" have athletes,....or students in high school, for that matter? Say the money doesn't get raised,.....do you think the "decision makers" want the legacy of being a part of the group that eliminated many high school sports in Brainerd? I am not a gambler, but the bluff may be worth the call.

[packerboy]

But whats wrong with 'if you play, you pay'.

Sure , there will be situations where some cant afford it but charge enough so those that can make up for it and/or line up pizza sales or what not just like youth sports.

Everybody did it all thru youth and kids dont start a sport in high school.

Then we wont be held hostage by these clowns.

[Knowlzee]

Nothing is wrong with "pay for play",.....in fact the overwhelming majority of HS athletes (actually their parents) have been doing it since age 5 in youth sports. And it is what Brainerd will do. They will raise the money, or each pay their own way. If sports are dropped, the athletes will go to a different school. The parents will not risk "the call", and the apprehension is understandable. You only have one chance to play HS sports, that's it.

The only problem with "pay for play" is that it is a treatment of the problem, but not a treatment (or even address of) the CAUSE of the problem. The cause, which needs to be addressed (and solved) is where is our money going in public education? We are continually spending more and more, and receiving less and less. We do not seem to want to admit this issue, much less even attempt a solution. We just keep pouring money at it.

[Can't Never Tried]

Nothing is wrong with "pay for play",.....in fact the overwhelming majority of HS athletes (actually their parents) have been doing it since age 5 in youth sports. And it is what Brainerd will do. They will raise the money, or each pay their own way. If sports are dropped, the athletes will go to a different school. The parents will not risk "the call", and the apprehension is understandable. You only have one chance to play HS sports, that's it.

The only problem with "pay for play" is that it is a treatment of the problem, but not a treatment (or even address of) the CAUSE of the problem. The cause, which needs to be addressed (and solved) is where is our money going in public education? We are continually spending more and more, and receiving less and less. We do not seem to want to admit this issue, much less even attempt a solution. We just keep pouring money at it.

Well Knowlzee, I know a lot goes to build fancy new buildings that sit empty 25% of the time.

I'll say this if they cut 12-16 sports @ Brainerd my guess is Neighboring schools are going to see a large increase in class size, I kind of agree with the threat theory, they seriously must have looked at what would happen if they did this, and the effect on the surrounding area schools, wouldn't ya think??

[Silent But Deadly]

Hockey in Brainerd will survive if players' parents agree to take on the costs.

HS hockey exists in some unexpected places in this country because mom and dad come up with a minimum of $1,500 for a season.

I'm curious what it costs to play HS hockey in some programs around the state.

The school district will not allow for any group to fund an individual sport. This was made very clear last night. I am certain it has to do with Title IX and the gender equity equation.

Although it could be a Title IX issue (if the boys program was funded and the girls wasn't) don't be fooled...it isn't. This is a strategy that superintedents use everywhere.....they want a referendum passed and if you let certain groups that might have money or are good fundraisers pay their own way, you lose voters who might otherwise vote for the referendum. Instead, they try to spread the pain as broadly as possible so that they garner enough support for passage. If they tell you anything else watch for smoke and mirrors!

[BIAFP]

Nothing is wrong with "pay for play",.....in fact the overwhelming majority of HS athletes (actually their parents) have been doing it since age 5 in youth sports. And it is what Brainerd will do. They will raise the money, or each pay their own way. If sports are dropped, the athletes will go to a different school. The parents will not risk "the call", and the apprehension is understandable. You only have one chance to play HS sports, that's it.

The only problem with "pay for play" is that it is a treatment of the problem, but not a treatment (or even address of) the CAUSE of the problem. The cause, which needs to be addressed (and solved) is where is our money going in public education? We are continually spending more and more, and receiving less and less. We do not seem to want to admit this issue, much less even attempt a solution. We just keep pouring money at it.

Well Knowlzee, I know a lot goes to build fancy new buildings that sit empty 25% of the time.

I'll say this if they cut 12-16 sports @ Brainerd my guess is Neighboring schools are going to see a large increase in class size, I kind of agree with the threat theory, they seriously must have looked at what would happen if they did this, and the effect on the surrounding area schools, wouldn't ya think??

The neighboring schools all immediately closed open enrollment for that very reason. There is no threat involved, this is reality. The district already informed 62 teachers of their dismissal for next year.

[Silent But Deadly]

The problem is the teachers union.

But the problem rests with the school board for giving them the increases they seek, and then needing referendum after referendum to pay the bills.

Who do you think works to get school boards elected?

Not here to bash school boards or anyone else because I think it is pretty clear that society has way more wants than they can afford....whether it's new SUV's & houses or your kids with I-pods & phones, or better roads, schools & less expensive higher education, I think we want more than we can afford and this (and other decisions) will become more commonplace in the years to come.

[elliott70]

The neighboring schools all immediately closed open enrollment for that very reason. There is no threat involved, this is reality. The district already informed 62 teachers of their dismissal for next year.

The St Cloud schools, too? Wow, ripple effect.

[Neutron 14]

The problem is the teachers union.

But the problem rests with the school board for giving them the increases they seek, and then needing referendum after referendum to pay the bills.

Who do you think works to get school boards elected?

Bingo. The MEA.

[Silent But Deadly]

But the problem rests with the school board for giving them the increases they seek, and then needing referendum after referendum to pay the bills.

Who do you think works to get school boards elected?

Bingo. The MEA.

It's now Education Minnesota!