TUESDAY, August 25, 2026|
Photo – Saratoga Panthers logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
To help offset rising costs and decreased state funding, parents and nonstudents will be charged to attend certain Saratoga Middle High School games.
On Sunday, the Saratoga Middle High School Facebook page announced that beginning this school year, gate fees will be charged for high school athletic games. Carbon County School District Two Superintendent Darrin Jennings explained that recent statewide school‑funding changes, including a large reduction in the districtwide activities budget, have created the need to bring in additional revenue for Saratoga’s sports programs.
Superintendent Jennings said Saratoga Middle High School spent $20,000 on officials to manage its games last school year. He said that cost is only expected to grow as more students participate in the school’s sports programs. Like other schools in Wyoming’s Class 2A division, Jennings said Saratoga will begin charging to attend its home games.
Adults will be charged $5 per game, while school‑age children must pay $3. Children under five are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Current Saratoga Middle High School students are not required to pay.
Superintendent Jennings said the school will not charge gate fees for nonconference games.
Four Saratoga Middle High School football games will require paid admission: September 10th’s game against Wind River, September 25th against Big Piney, October 9th versus Greybull, and October 23rd’s matchup with Pine Bluffs.
Three volleyball games will require gate fees: September 26th against Washakie and Wyoming Indian High School, October 2nd versus Kemmerer, and October 24th versus Big Piney.
And six Panther basketball games will require paid admission: January 15th’s matchup with Wyoming Indian High School, January 16th against Fort Washakie, January 23rd versus Wright, February 6th against Burlington, February 19th against Big Piney, and February 20th’s contest with Kemmerer.
Due to its large sports‑program participation, Superintendent Darrin Jennings said Saratoga is the only school in District Two that will require paying gate fees to attend its conference games.
Superintendent Jennings reiterated that the increasing expense of operating an athletics program, along with declining state support, has necessitated implementing gate fees. He added that other schools have adopted similar measures.
Season passes are available to purchase from Saratoga Middle High School. Call the school’s main office at 326-5246 for more information.
