By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record
An Oklahoma Centennial Mid-High School supporter shows off her Champion Event Pass during a recent basketball game. (Courtesy photo)
OKLAHOMA CITY – State high school championship basketball games are usually played in gyms packed with screaming fans. That wasn’t the case for Oklahoma Centennial Mid-High School when it made it to the 2012 boys basketball state championship game.
“We probably had – without a doubt – the least amount of fans representing our school than any of the seven to eight schools in our class,” said Garrette Mantle, Centennial Mid-High School’s athletic coordinator.
Games with rival Douglass Mid-High School typically drew large crowds, but others just didn’t have the fan involvement. With 95 percent of the district’s students on free or reduced-price lunches, and athletic events costing $5 per adult, the money needed for a family to attend a game could mean the difference between eating or going hungry that weekend.
That’s why Fields & Futures approached Centennial Mid-High and asked the school to pilot its Champion Event Pass program. Every student-athlete was given two plastic passes on lanyards that they could distribute to family members or mentors. The passes gave each holder free admission to any athletic event.
“I think it will increase attendance dramatically, especially for people that are important to our players,” Mantle said. “This will provide them the opportunity to attend games that they might not otherwise have attended.”
The 380 passes were made possible by a $12,000 donation from SandRidge Energy Inc. that will help offset the gate revenue lost when people are admitted for free. Since the school is young, having been created in the 2006-2007 school year, Mantle said it doesn’t have an alumni or a booster club group. It also doesn’t have a big athletic budget, since every Oklahoma City public school is responsible for its own. The district provides some funds for equipment, but the fund is essentially supported by the school’s athletic events. In fact, when Mantle became the athletic director in 2013-2014, it was the first year the district didn’t lose money on operating a football game. He said it takes $900 to kick off a game, between referees, scorekeeping staff and other officials.
“Every event we had – if we broke even we were shouting, ‘Hallelujah’ in the streets,” he said.
The school won’t have to worry about that this year. SandRidge Wellness and Community Outreach Manager Jefferson Killgore said the company was pleased to be involved.
“Oklahoma City is our backyard,” he said. “There was something in particular about the excitement of Fields & Futures. (Founder Tim McLaughlin) saw a need. When (SandRidge) saw the work that Fields & Futures was doing, not just for a field for today but character enrichment and development – it was just something we were excited to be a part of. “
Yet the Centennial Mid-High student-athletes are just a small portion of the 3,500 to 4,000 student-athletes in the district. Athletic Director Keith Sinor said low game attendance is a districtwide phenomenon. He said other schools’ athletic coordinators are interested in bringing the program to their schools.
Marshall Stockdell with Fields & Futures said the organization wants to take the program to more campuses, but needs more corporate partners. The $12,000 initial cost is expected to vary with each school, based on the number of athletes. But the same kickoff initiative will be done with a community pride night, when athletes receive free T-shirts and the company’s name will be on the lanyard and pass.
Sinor said the passes have been embraced by the supporters.
“The neat thing is that the kids get to select the parent or guardian that’s special to them,” he said. “That in and of itself is pretty special. For the parents, (the $5 or $10) to see their kids play is one last thing they have to worry about.”
Now, Mantle won’t have to worry about his athletic budget this year. While that’s important to him, he said what SandRidge has done is worth more than $12,000.
“What SandRidge has done is insurmountable,” he said. “Even though we’re letting (supporters) in for free, SandRidge is paying for them to be there. We’re going to do better than break even. We’re going to be able to go out and buy a fast-pitch pitching machine that we didn’t have. I don’t think (SandRidge) knows what they did.”