Paying to Watch

For years, I could watch the GTHL and all the controversial stories that emanated from the world's largest hockey organization from a bemused distance.

My two daughters played rep hockey, but not in the GTA. So the issues that seemed so rife in the GTHL never seemed to touch our family. Letters and emails would pour in with parents complaining about this or that, about how their kid was getting screwed, and it all seemed to be happening a million miles away.

Well, that bemused distance is no more. I now have a son playing in the GTHL, which means I'm in it up to my hips.

I was fearful going in, but so far the experience has been outstanding. Great coaches, nice parents, good kids mostly from local neighborhoods, reasonable practice times and generally a good environment for my boy.

Hopefully, it will all last.

But as a GTHL newbie, there's one thing that has taken me aback even though I knew it existed, a reality of life for many GTA hockey parents that so far feels uncomfortable and odd to a rookie.

The price of admission.

Paying $5 a pop to watch your child play hockey, and $5 for the child as well, is something that's going to get some getting used to.

I don't know where the money goes, although I do know the costs of minor hockey continue to skyrocket, and the pressures on ice time have never been greater.

It just seems an awkward way to run things. If I invite my parents to come and see their grandson play, I've gotta tell them to make sure they don't come with empty pockets.

If I bring my oldest daughter and my wife, there's $20 right there.

This, as mentioned, is old news to those who have been around this league for years, and I'm certainly not accusing anyone of doing anything wrong, although nobody seems to be able to tell you exactly where the money from admission goes.

It's fundraising, I suppose, and every organization has to do it in some way or another.

Quite frankly, if the need is there, I'd rather pay more in up-front fees. Digging into my pocket just to watch the boy play, and asking others to do the same, just doesn't sit right.

It's how the GTHL works, I guess. Gonna have to get used to a few things.

Comments

[Ripp Doff]

The GTHL is doing all you T.O. hockey fans a favour, getting you and the kids used to becoming suckers and shelling out scads of cash, which you (not you, personally, Mr. Cox with your media pass) will need to do in order to watch the Leafs in person. My wife and I managed to get nosebleed tickets for us and the two kids the other night for the Penguins exhibition game at ACC. I bought my one and only $10 beer, just to say I had done so. And $5.25 for a bag of popcorn the size of a microwave bag you make at home for .02 cents???

[D.]

I understand the awkwardness of having your extended family paying to get in. However, paying more upfront does not translate well for many families, especially those with more than one child playing in the GTHL.

That being said, I do not know if five dollars a head is necessary either. I hope that there is a balance between covering the high GTA costs and making sure that fans aren't excluded from excellent hockey.

[Sandy T.]

A lot of people are simply unable to pay more in upfront fees. Hockey is quickly enough becoming an elitist sport(for players). Let's not rush it.

[Mark]

Damien;

Maybe a good chat with your counter part over at the Sun will help.

why not call and ask the league where the gate money goes to...they would be more than willing to answer your question and then you can write about it or all the paying parents out there. Ask them about up front fee's too. then explain to the single Mom who is already shelling out some stupid amount up front to com up with another $500.00 or more...

[Joe]

Having been in the GTHL for a few years, many of the parents on the various teams I've been associated with raise the same questions you are asking. One, why do I have to pay to see my child pay when leagues like the OMHA do not. Two, why does my child have to pay and why is that cost not an up front fee with registration. We know how many regular season games we are going to play this year, if you make the playoffs, fine we pay as we go for those extra games. Three, many people don't realize that on top of admission fees for parents and kids, there is also a charge for each team called "game sheets". This ranges from about $30.00 per team/per game up to around $60.00 per team/per game. I am not arguing that the GTHL is making money or not and I fully understand that it is not charity, but why is this money not included up front. I'll tell you why and every parent I know agrees, because the GTHL only accepts "CASH".

[Norman]

Only in Toronto.
I have 2 sons playing in Brampton - rep and intra city.
In neither case have we ever been asked to pay an admission fee for ourselves or our sons to enter a minor hockey arena.
I can understand in the case of tournaments as we have paid for these in the past.
But to be charged an admission for your own son to get into the building and play on his hockey team seems ridiculous... the players should at least be exempt from this and ideally so should parents, siblings, and grandparents.
It's not like we have a choice to bring our youngest along with us.
Come to Brampton Damian, the air is clean and the hockey is still free!

[John Richardson]

Ask John Gardner about the admission fee and the response you'll invariably get back is "ice time".

It's a little bit like buying a plane ticket.

That round trip airfare of $129.00 on Sunwing out to Halifax is in reality, $310.00 thanks to taxes.

So, if you and your wife go to all the games, it's another $540.00 on top of the $1,500 plus registration fee you forked out.

My eldest son played 8 eight years in the GTHL and had a great experience.

Still that $4.00 (back then) rankled every time I forked it out.

They should just add the cost directly to the price of registration. Total transparency.

[Grant]

Its $3.oo to watch the UNB V-Reds play in Fredericton, and they are the #1 ranked university squad in the country.

[Victor]

What about the coaches and such who volunteer their time? Do they have to pay too? That would be a kick in the shorts.

[Linda]

Two things to help ease the pain a bit -- seniors don't have to pay to go watch the grandkids (probably age 65, not 100% sure -- my parents have never paid). If you volunteer to help coach (or train/manage), you can also save yourself $5/game -- team officials get a card and don't have to pay the gate fee! Not sure the cost savings is worth the challenges of coaching though. Good luck!

[Mark]

My children play out in the 905 suburbs so I don't have to pay for admission to games. I was a bit taken aback when they first played some exhibition games in Toronto and I had to pay admission. I didn't know that existed. Not only that, but the facilities in Toronto are nowhere near the quality of the new suburban rink complexes, like Iroquopis Park or McKinney in Whitby, or Legends in Oshawa. My 10 year old daughter even played games in the GM Centre in Oshawa as part of her regular league schedule. But then again, our property taxes are twice what Toronto residents pay. So perhaps the user fees are the price you have to pay in Toronto to help offset the lower taxes.

[J. Boyd]

Ahhh the great GTA!!!!. Reminds me of those species that eat their young.

So glad to be long gone from there.

The real sad part is all those moronic dads forking over big bucks because they know for a fact little Brad is going to make it to the big time. Better hurray Mr. Griswald, the NHL may not be so bigtime in a few years.

[Coop]

what we need here is a little perspective. worst case, it's 5 bucks for a solid hour of "entertainment". people spend $15 a pop for the latest steaming pile of mind-numbing garbage that Hollywood serves up each week. it's $5.00!! it's our kids! it's local hockey!! it's a beautiful thing. it's not like the stands are packed with thousands and they're driving Mercedes Benz zambonies down there. relax. pay for Grandma and Grandpa, sit down, and enjoy watching your kids play the game they love. if you didn't have to pay, you'd probably just throw it away on Lotto tickets anyhow. jeez.

[Dave]

I agree with your comments about paying a gate fee. We already pay enough for our kids to play and then we have to pay to watch them play? I was in the OMHA last year and did not have to pay. So far it is the one thing i do not like aobut the GTHL. Regarding the OMHA I am glad I will not be driving to Barrie etc this winter(especially after all the snow we had last winter). Maybe the extra savings in gas and wear and tear on the vehicle will make the gate fee's a wash.

[Scott Oakman - Executive Director, GTHL]

Damien

I read with interest you comments on GTHL admission fees. As Executive Director of the GTHL, I’m glad you have brought to the table your thoughts as I am sure they reflect the thoughts of some parents involved in hockey and specifically the GTHL.

The GTHL’s financial summary is disclosed on the front page of our website in the Annual Report section. The report provides an overview of revenues and expenses and the cost of operating our league. The overwhelming majority of gate receipts are used to pay for the ice time used by the teams for games. Unlike other hockey associations in Ontario and Canada, the ice for games is contracted directly by the GTHL, not each Club. Therefore, the revenue needed to pay for that ice is collected on a per game basis and not by the Club as would be the case in other parts of Ontario. Only $27.00 per player for insurance and a team entry fee of $1000.00 per team for administration is paid to the GTHL from the fees you paid to your son’s Club. We are fortunate that even with an increase in excess of 30% in ice expenditures over the past 5 years, we have been able to maintain the gate fees at $5.00.

We recognize the cost of our game is getting more and more expensive for the families that have children playing in our league. That is why the GTHL struggles when we are forced to purchase 40% of our ice from privately operated, profit generating (and significantly higher cost) facilities because the municipalities do not have adequate facilities for hockey programs. As for the method of payment, we have debated the issue of changing the system so that the cost of ice is paid for by players and their families in one fee. As you would recognize having three children playing the game, adding another $450.00- $500.00 per player up front would be cost prohibitive for some families and it is easier for them to pay on a per game basis.

It is a difficult balancing act and one our Board is continually reviewing. Again, I encourage you to review our annual report that is posted on our web site at www.GTHLCanada.com and contact me if you need any further clarification.

And given that this is all really about the kids, it’s great to see your son is having a positive experience in our league. Our goal is for our players to develop a life long love for Canada’s game, build friendships and develop personal character from participating in competitive hockey.

[Ed]

I live in S/W Ontario. Kid plays in the "Alliance".
No gate fees, our ice here in town costs $127.00 bucks for hour our total assessment fees cost about $2200.00 all in.

Was there with my family to watch nephew play in Toronto last weekend, cost me $25.

They want to expand the game and get more kids to play? It will not happen with the GTHL conducting this type of robbery.

[Fast Freddy]

Damo. Enjoy your work. It's not just Toronto. Last year, my 6 year old son played Mite hockey in the Tri County League. It's basically a house league, a step below OMHA, and we had to pay (myself, my wife, and my 7 year old daughter who stayed in the lobby 80% of the time) admission to all games. At least my son got in free. Ironic part is, if they don't charge us at the door, we would likely have spent it at the snack bar.

[RM]

Hey Damien:

It's about time some one dug in thoroughly into minor hockey costs in the GTA. Entrance fees are just a small portion. Someone with research and forensic accounting needs to help the families in hockey truly understand what are the reveues collected and the true costs for minor hockey. With 503 GTHL teams see the following:

Average Club fee per player $800
Extra charges per player (Fundraising or direct payment from Parent) $1,500
Gate fees (2 people per game * $5 * 36 games) $360
Average number of Payers per team 16
Team Sub-total $42,560
Number of GTHL Teams 503
Total Money collected $21,407,680


Home Games (home team covers ice costs) 18
Average number of practices per team per year 50
Total ice rentals per team per season 68
Estimated average Ice costs per game or practice $300
Total Ice costs per team $20,400
Number of GTHL Teams 503
Total costs for Ice time $10,261,200

Non Ice time $$ - Where does this go?? $11,146,480