New Ohio law requires schools accept cash at sports, other events

Jessie Balmert and Andy Resnik, The Columbus Dispatch
Updated ·2 min read
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Angela Myers hands Johnstown’s Kaden Carpenter a water from behind the concession stand during a baseball game between Johnstown and Columbus Academy at Johnstown-Monroe High School. A new law requires at least one concession stand accept cash.
Angela Myers hands Johnstown’s Kaden Carpenter a water from behind the concession stand during a baseball game between Johnstown and Columbus Academy at Johnstown-Monroe High School. A new law requires at least one concession stand accept cash.

Schools will soon be required to accept cash for sports, concerts and other events − or let cash-wielding patrons in for free.

A last-minute addition to the state budget will require schools to take cash for admission to school events and at least one concession stand per venue. If the event does not accept cash, the school must allow patrons to enter for free if they can prove they had enough cash to cover the price of admission. The change takes effect Oct. 1.

More: From universal vouchers to working from home: How Ohio's two-year budget impacts you

There is an exception for schools that lease professional sports facilities or privately owned locations. It's not yet clear what this change will mean for high school state tournaments, which are played at a variety of venues, including ones owned by universities.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association informed schools of the change in early July and is evaluating how the new law will affect its ticketing and concession plans for postseason tournaments, which sold online tickets only in recent years.

Sen. Shane Wilkin, R-Hillsboro, championed the requirement to accept cash after watching attendees at his daughters' basketball games struggle with electronic and online payments.

"You ought to be able to spend the official currency of the country pretty freely," Wilkin said. "Some of it came through COVID. We’re past that."

Wilkin also wasn't able to pay for hot chocolate during a chilly Ohio State football game when the concession stand's credit card reader broke. Wilkin wanted to require public universities and colleges to take cash, too, but that didn't make it into the final budget.

Ohio High School Athletic Association
Ohio High School Athletic Association

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many athletic and concert venues switched to online-only tickets to cut down on the possible spread of disease. Ohio Stadium switched to mobile tickets and cashless concessions in 2021. The OHSAA has partnered with HomeTown Ticketing for online ticket sales since October 2019.

More: Ohio State apologizes for slow digital ticket scanners that created havoc entering Horsehoe

"We hadn't received a lot of complaints about digital ticketing, but certainly there will always be some folks who prefer cash for purchases at any level," OHSAA spokesman Tim Stried said in an email.

Westerville North allows attendees to pay online or with cash, but some schools in its conference and playoff tournaments have switched to cashless payments only. Eliminating or reducing cash is convenient, but it frustrates some fans, Westerville North athletic director Wes Elifritz said.

"I really and genuinely feel the most frustration we faced was when we hosted those postseason contests where it was mandated to us: don’t collect any cash," Elifritz said.

So he understands why lawmakers made the change.

"It’s just going to add a little bit more on our plate," he said.

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio schools now must accept cash at sports, other events