Homecoming week is always an exciting part of the year, jam packed with all kinds of activities to build up school spirit and community.
It is a highlight to many students as they pass through high school and look back in future years. The week of activities is concluded with a Homecoming dance on Saturday night, open to all students.
Homecoming will be taking place Saturday, October 5. Students are excited as they make plans for their outfits, groups, dinners and rides. But there is one thing that everyone is talking about: ticket prices.
This year there has been a lot of talk surrounding the prices of tickets to attend Homecoming, which is set at $25.
Having to pay $25 for admission into the event alone is too high. A lot of students pay for their own ticket as well as their date’s; if they are buying two, the total for just admission is over $50. Expecting a high school student to pay this price is too much.
Many students have been upset having to pay for this ticket on top of dresses/suits, dinners, flowers and other expenses that come around with Homecoming.
A part of why this price is so outrageous is that in past years it hasn’t been this high. At last year’s ‘Lost at Sea’ Homecoming, the price was set at $20.
Though the price was only raised $5, that adds up when purchasing multiple tickets.
Senior Joshua Eagle shares how the price of tickets is too high for him to be interested in attending the dance.
“I think it’s just more worth it [to attend Homecoming], even $30 or even $40, it’s just that $50 price point is just too much. That’s basically the price for both of us at a cheaper restaurant,” Eagle said.
With this increase in price, one of the questions a lot of people are asking is: why do they need to be this expensive?
Dr. Anna-Lynn Morris is an assistant principal and the activity director. Morris shares what goes into choosing the price of the tickets.
“It’s based on how much the event costs. So, we have to pay for the DJ, we pay for a photo booth […] We pay for supervision, we pay for police protection and it also helps somewhat at the carnival which is free of cost to all of our students,” Morris said.
There are even some students that have decided the cost is not worth going to the dance.
Eagle made the decision to not attend Homecoming this year because he felt that there was no reason for him to pay so much to attend the dance.
“There’s just no general appeal to actually go to the dance for $55 when I can go to prom later this year,” Eagle said.
Instead of going to Homecoming, Eagle has decided to go to an escape room with his friend so they can do something they have more interest in for the same price.
Because of the high ticket prices there are some people that cannot afford to spend $25 on a ticket to a dance. There are options for these students so that they can join in the event.
“We will never allow cost to prohibit someone purchasing anything here at West,” Morris said. “So if there’s ever a kid that needs assistance doing anything, dances included, they just need to talk to a trusted adult and then they’ll get it to me and we’ll make sure they get a ticket to the dance.”
