Parents of AAU basketball players accustomed to paying high fees to watch their children compete in tournaments faced a new reality over the weekend in Ohio.
Kevin Brandt, a basketball parent from Leipsic, Ohio, is no stranger to the high admission costs often associated with AAU basketball. His daughter plays on a top travel team in the Midwest. However, his experience at the Spooky Nook complex in Hamilton left him puzzled.
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Brandt shared his experience on social media after returning from the Select Showcase AAU Tournament. “$260 for my wife and I to watch her play this weekend. $260 to get in. Someone has to feel a little guilty about this, don’t they?” wrote Brandt.
Typically, such tournaments offer a weekend pass priced between $70 and $90. However, according to Brandt, this option was not available in Hamilton. The family was required to pay admission for two separate tournaments at the same complex: the Select Events Super Showcase and the Midwest Summer Classic.
“They told us it was two ‘separate’ events. Paid $120 for each event. Then $5 a day for parking,” explained Brandt. This situation forced the family to drive back and forth, opting out of hotel stays due to exorbitant local rates.
Efforts to contact Spooky Nook’s senior management for clarification on who sets the admission and parking fees have not yielded a response. The concern among AAU parents is evident.
Another parent, Mookie Edmond, attended a tournament in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where weekend passes were available for $90. Edmond expressed her determination to support her child’s ambitions despite the costs. “At the end of the day, we are going to invest in our child,” she shared in a Facebook video.
After spending nearly $1,500 on accommodations, entry fees, transportation, and extras, Edmond voiced her reservations about future expenses. “I’m over here scratching my head like do I really wanna run it back this weekend,” she remarked to friends online.
Joe Kinsey serves as the Senior Director of Content at OutKick.