As a 11 yr wrestling family and many many times i have read this website I felt it was time to re-register and give my opinion on this particular topic. I myself was upset when I pulled into the expo yesterday and had to pay to park. It wasnt over the 3 dollars, but more just the idea that we had to pay. We have attended hundreds of tournaments and only the national one we went to in Tulsa did we have to pay to park. I have read post of how the wrestling numbers are down and how we need to promote our clubs and build for the future. I agree, but times are tough and are going to get alot tougher in the near future. When our boys were young and it only cost 6 to 8 bucks a tournament...it was hard to afford it every week. I cant imagine the young parents nowadays trying to pay for gas, motels, and everything they need to keep a kid wrestling every week. When we did it we took food, and drinks and bought used shoes and whatever else needed. The expo center was fine for the tournament but i also refused yesterday to spend any money there because of the convenience. I drove to sonic and bought our food which for 2 of us it cost a matter of 8 bucks. Stuck it in my pocket and walked back in. This is a matter of principal...not cash. In Salina for the High School State tournamnet...they charged 10 dollars a day to get in. BUT the food was reasonable and the pop and water was a normal amount.
If this sport is to continue in the future people need to bind together and quit paying these large amounts for the venues to make such money and you will see a increase in the amount of kids that wrestle. I think alot of parents just cant afford it anymore and so they just dont dont go.
Please note I am not trying to stir anything up here but it is what it is. Its not a crime if one has to struggle in this day and age with money issues....Its just a fact and we all need to take that into consideration when we are hosting a tournament or setting up our consessions stands or whatever to make money for our own clubs.
Good Luck to all the wrestlers next week at STATE!