First off, I should say I believe VT should charge for softball. It's an issue of intent and attitude, as much as it is revenue, in my opinion. By making games free, it signals (to me) that you don't see it as valuable or as important as others, even when the program has been one of the most successful at the university over the past few years. I also think we're all in agreement that tickets should still be free for students (VT and maybe even for local high school students for positive community relations?) so you don't price them out and still encourage them to come to the games, and "adults" with jobs or are retired have $5-$10 to pay for tickets without causing a sizable dent to their wallets. However, I don't know that tickets would be as significant a revenue boost as folks might think. For one, Tech Softball Park's capacity is just over 1,000 (more if they bring the temporary bleachers back). Arizona State (cited by Chip above) is over 1,500. A good chunk of SEC, Big 12, and PAC-12 (not for long) stadiums seat well above that and bring more folks in. Alabama averaged close to 4,000 fans a game during the 2023 season (3,745). When I went to the VT-Tennessee game in Knoxville two seasons ago, the attendance was over 2,000, and South Carolina (a middling SEC program) had over 1,800 at their home game against NC State on March 17. In 2023, VT's average attendance (1,075) ranked 20th in the country. They were actually closer to #33 in the country (Penn State) than to #15 (Washington). In 2022, the Hokies ranked 23rd nationally in total attendance. The other issue around revenue is home dates and weather. In 2023, VT played 19 home games (according to the data I looked at). 17 schools in the top 25 for attendance played more -- 5 played 28 or more, and one played over 30 -- and 4 played the same amount. Only three schools played less than 19 but they all averaged more fans than VT does: Oregon (15; 1,881), Oklahoma (16; 1,594), Michigan (18; 1,346). Weather has a great deal to do with that and attendance is correlated. Formerly living in Blacksburg, I know games the first few weeks of the season aren't exactly ideal for fans, and you can't play many of them anyway. Schools with bigger stadiums and more home dates in more advantageous climates can produce more revenue. Does that mean Virginia Tech shouldn't charge, even nominally as a statement? No, VT absolutely should. I live in the Northeast now (though I am making the trip down to Durham this weekend!) and UConn, where I often go, charges $7 and $9 for tickets. The early season games I've been to have been frigid. They also only get ~150 people or so -- they can't be making any money at all. When I head to Syracuse for the VT series later this season, I saw they don't charge at all, and nor does Boston College. But if UConn can charge, a program as successful as VT has been should as well. VT is competing at a national level, and as an athletic department it's important to behave accordingly. ** Edited by hokiehigh2000 at 3/25/2024, 7:31:25 PM