NJSIAA Wants Ticket-Price Increase To Offset Shortfall

ROBBINSVILLE – The NJSIAA submitted its request for higher ticket prices to state championship events to the New Jersey Commissioner of Education this week, hoping to take at least a small bite out of a projected $405,000 shortfall in its 2011-2012 budget.

“It would certainly bring us a lot closer than we are right now,” Steve Timko, the executive director of the NJSIAA, said about the higher ticket prices.

Under a state law written by Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), the NJSIAA must get the approval of the Commissioner of Education to charge higher ticket prices for state championship events at major venues like MetLife Stadium, Rutgers and The College of New Jersey.

Last year, the association was able to charge $9 for adults and $3 for students and seniors for sectional championships at MetLife and Rutgers and $6 and $2 at CNJ and Kean. That’s less than the $10 and $7 requested.

The commissioner approved prices of $6 and $2 for soccer and field hockey at CNJ, less than the $6 and $4 requested. The association hopes to receive an answer from the commissioner by the end of this week.

The association has $577,000 in cash surplus and another $220,000 that can be taken from elsewhere if needed to cover any shortfall this year.

“We received our annual audit today that shows we have done our part in tightening up our finances,” said Timko, who would not reveal what prices the association had requested for this year’s events. “But we continue to face the issue of ticket prices.”

In other business, the NJSIAA is working with the New Jersey Teen Safe Driving Coalition to put together a brochure that would help coaches and athletic directors educate their student athletes on the rules under New Jersey’s graduated driver’s license.

The moves come in response to a tragic auto accident that took the lives of four football players from Mainland Regional High School and injured four others just before the start of the season.

“We believe coaches and athletic directors are a great conduit to the kids,” Timko said. “Anything we can do to help protect the student athlete, we’re going to do.”