MOSES LAKE — The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) has announced plans to raise ticket prices for the 2025–26 school year. The decision came during the executive board meeting on June 8. A finalized price list will be approved this fall.
WIAA Executive Director Mick Hoffman said the increase is necessary to maintain the association’s current level of service in the face of rising costs.
“We want to continue providing services at the level that we currently do,” Hoffman said. “We have to find a way to keep up with increased costs.”
The proposed increase is $1 per ticket and will apply only to state tournament events run directly by the WIAA. Ticket prices vary by sport. According to the WIAA’s website, adult tickets for the 2024 football postseason were $11 for opening rounds, $12 for semifinals, and $17 for finals. A full tournament pass was $30.
The increase comes after an unsuccessful attempt to raise membership fees. Hoffman explained that although the WIAA has multiple revenue sources, about 55% of its income comes from ticket sales.
Ticket prices have remained unchanged for six years. Hoffman said the board concluded that a price adjustment would help maintain operations and support the future of state tournaments.
In addition to raising prices, the WIAA is working to strengthen revenue through sponsorships, streaming services, and electronic ticketing. Hoffman emphasized the need to either grow revenue or reduce expenses.
“We have to increase one of those or cut our expenses,” he said. “We’re doing a combination of that.”
The additional revenue will help the WIAA preserve and enhance tournament venues. For instance, recent football events at the University of Washington and access to larger domes for other sports are part of the long-term plan.
To further reduce costs, the WIAA has eliminated a staff position that had remained vacant after the previous employee left. Hoffman acknowledged the difficulty of such decisions.
“We’re making some cuts as well, which is unfortunate,” he said. “But we’re going to try and mitigate without impacting schools as much as possible.”
The association is also focusing more on digital streaming. Their pay-per-view model has allowed them to expand coverage. Hoffman noted that Washington is one of the few states that broadcasts all fastpitch softball games.
“With technology improvements, we were able to broadcast 140 of the 148 contests,” he said.
The WIAA will continue partnering with schools to expand the use of electronic ticketing. Hoffman said this approach makes event entry faster and reduces the need for handling cash at venues.
While acknowledging the financial burden that ticket prices can place on families, Hoffman said the goal is to ensure value for fans.
“We understand how expensive these events can be,” he said. “But we want to make sure people feel they’re getting their money’s worth.”
