What will your college sports scene look like? by Spencer Thomas

As students prepare to go back to college in a couple months, many may be curious as to what the sports scene at their respective university will look like. Many Division I schools offer student season tickets to football and basketball for discounted prices. But how should an incoming freshman or transfer student know whether or not they are getting a good value by spending upwards of $200 to attend the schools’ sporting events? There are a few points to consider. First, how close is the stadium to campus? The majority of schools house their stadia on campus, but stadiums are often a few miles away from campus, thus removing some students’ incentive for attending. Second, is the student body interested in the respective team? This question lends itself to the value that can be found by attending the game. Many students are interested in attending a game because it is a social event, not necessarily because they are a big football or basketball fan; i.e.: people go where they know there will be other people. Ask around campus to find out if there is a buzz about the team entering the season.

While every university’s primary goal is to be the best educational environment possible, many schools take just as much pride in the success of their intercollegiate sports teams. Athletic departments are multimillion-dollar enterprises that operate in a similar fashion to professional sports franchises. It goes without saying that if your prospective school is in a major BCS conference, then there will be significant interest in the athletic programs.

Whether it’s books, a new computer, meal plans or a longboard, students are presented with a plethora of things to spend money on every August. Yes, spending money on your schools’ sporting events is just another one of those things, but it is one of the best ways to become acquainted with your schools’ traditions.