Athletic budgets feel COVID-19 pinch

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit schools’ athletic budgets in the pocketbook.

While the games are going on for basketball, there are expenditures being made, but the usual income is not coming in. Area schools have been hit with a loss of revenue from gate receipts and concessions.

“We’re taking a hit,” Hall Athletic Director Eric Bryant said. “It’s pretty obvious we’re going to lose money on referees and sponsorships and things we have for our programs.”

The biggest hit to the Hall athletic budget was the lost of the Colmone Classic. Hall’s crown jewel helped fund money for all sports, not just boys basketball, Bryant said.

Bryant said the gate receipts from boys basketball games would cover the costs of referees and workers for games, but not necessarily for the girls games.

First-year Bureau Valley Athletic Director Brad Bickett said the pandemic has made a significant challenge for the Storm’s athletic budge. They are allowing a limited number of home spectators at basketball free of charge.

“Filling up those gymnasiums is not happening, regardless, with a limit of 50 participants,” he said. “It’s having an impact when we’re still paying officials and workers to help monitor guidelines and protocols for COVID. Expense are still out there, so it’s definitely having an impact.

“Being a shorter shorter season, it won’t be as drastic if we had a full season of this. But I do commend our school board and administration for not charging spectators. I think going through this pandemic and finally having games, I think we’re taking the right approach from that aspect.”

Bickett said they are saving come in costs in transportation, because of the fewer number of games.

“So where we’re hurting in one area, we’re saving in another,” he said.

Bickett said the BV sports boosters are taking a significant hit because of lost revenue with concessions and clothing sales at games.

“That’s always a big money-maker for them. That has really hindered their ability to, maybe down the road, provide for our kids,” he said. “They’re still doing things monthly to try to raise some money, which I commend them for thinking out of the box and doing, but it’s not the significant money they’re going to make at four or five football games and eight to 10 boys and girls basketball games. It’s just not the same.

Bickett said the school will have to be really fiscally responsible in the near future to help make up for lost income.

“Uniforms that we thought maybe we needed, we’re going to have to take a look and be fiscally responsible. We won’t know until we go forward with requisitions,” he said.

“I think our coaches are smart and understand some of the strains and difficulties we’ve had with revenue. I think everyone from top to bottom has to be fiscally responsible getting through this at this time.”

Princeton AD Jeff Ohlson said the pandemic has had an interesting effect on financials. They have less revenue coming in, but they also have lower expenses with fewer home games to pay officials and fewer road games with travel expenses.

The Music Boosters handle the concessions at PHS, but the Tiger Athletic Boosters have lost some big money-makers such as the Tiger Golf Outing and the Boys Shootout.