Florida A&M University athletics is now charging a $5 admission fee for all home baseball and softball games.
The change was announced in February and explained in am email to the FAMU community that the fee is only for non-FAMU students. Since the announcement, there have been mixed views on the change.
Players believe it to be positive and a step in the right direction. Since football is the most popular sport at FAMU, other sports teams can sometimes be overlooked. With the new admission fee, some players are hoping the money can go toward better facilities.
Lauryn Peppers, a first-year pre-physical therapy student at FAMU, is a pitcher on the softball team. She is among those who think the admission fee is a good thing.
“Perhaps the new admission fee will help provide additional financial resources to pay for things like umpires, transportation, equipment and facilities to help us perform our best,” Peppers said. “The fee gives our fans another way to support the program.”
However, for those who come from out-of-state to support the teams, they think the fee is unwarranted. Allaina Melancon is a senior at Lamar University and comes to between five and eight home games a season to support her boyfriend, who plays on the baseball team. She believes the fee is “unfair.”
“Since I’m coming from out of state, I feel like it’s unfair to charge fans to go to a game. Especially if the person you are going to go see is a family member, relative or friend,” Melancon said.
However, the one thing players know for sure is that the support will not stop due to the $5 fee. They are grateful for the support they receive from students and alumni and do not foresee any negative consequences.
Kelyn Fox, a senior criminal justice student and left-handed pitcher on the softball team, thinks $5 is a “reasonable price” and attendance will not change.
“FAMU has a great alumni base that comes out to support all athletic events. Adding in friends and family who attend to watch, and I see no reason why attendance should dip with the addition of an admission fee,” Fox said. “The admission fee will allow another stream of revenue … Coach [Jamey] Shouppe has always prided himself on making sure we feel like we are playing at an elite program, and this will help to bolster that.”
Both teams are still active in their 2022 schedule. Below are their remaining home games. You can follow @FAMU_Softball and @FAMU_Baseball on Twitter for updates.
2022 Baseball Home Schedule
Apr. 12 – Mercer – 5 p.m.
Apr. 14 – Jackson State – 5 p.m.
Apr. 15 – Jackson State – 5 p.m.
Apr. 16 – Jackson State – 1 p.m.
Apr. 19 – South Florida – 4 p.m.
Apr. 22 – Alabama A&M – 5 p.m.
Apr. 23 – Alabama A&M – 2 p.m.
Apr. 24 – Alabama A&M – 1 p.m.
May 6 – Alabama State – 5 p.m.
May 7 – Alabama State – 2 p.m.
May 8 – Alabama State – 1 p.m.
May 19 – Bethune-Cookman – 5 p.m.
May 20 – Bethune-Cookman – 5 p.m.
May 21 – Bethune-Cookman – 1 p.m.
2022 Softball Home Schedule
Apr. 12 – Jacksonville – 4 p.m.
Apr. 15 – Alabama A&M – 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 16 – Alabama A&M – 12 p.m.
Apr. 29 – Alabama State – 6 p.m.
Apr. 30 – Alabama State – 1 p.m. (DH)