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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --October 13, 1998
Contact: John Johnson or Mike Clifford-- 517.332.5046

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The phrase, "Home Court Advantage" means more than one thing to the member schools of the Michigan High School Athletic Association. And in 1998-99, it has an even greater meaning financially.

During the 1998-99 school year, the MHSAA will pay its member schools an unprecedented amount of money to host its post-season tournament event as a result of action by its legislative body, the Representative Council, last March.

"The Association has always reimbursed schools for their expenses to host MHSAA tournaments, and paid a stipend to all tournament managers," said Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts. "In 1998-99, the MHSAA will begin to share gate receipts and guarantee minimum payments to sites in all sports, not just selected sports; and the MHSAA will be doubling the guarantee in the most work-intensive tournaments."

Hosts' shares range from 10 percent of the net gate receipts or a $300 minimum in Pre-Regional Football Playoff games to 30 percent of the gross gate receipts for Girls and Boys District and Regional Basketball tournaments. Schools hosting high effort, low revenue tournaments, such as Regional meets in cross country, track and field, tennis, individual wrestling and girls gymnastics, will now be provided a $600 minimum payment in addition to expense reimbursement.

Total payments by the MHSAA to member schools will be approximately $1.1 million more than their local cost of administering those tournaments. "That's more than a $1 million subsidy by the MHSAA for local programs," Roberts points out.

In addition, MHSAA tournament host schools retain 100 percent of concessions and parking fees, and a portion of merchandise and program sales. Host sites also avoid travel expenses for their teams and spectators. "In very many ways, it pays to host MHSAA tournaments," added Roberts, who also pointed out that membership in the Association does not require a school to pay dues to tournament entry fees.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,300 public, private and parochial high schools and junior high/middle schools. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which does not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools may participate in MHSAA tournaments conducted in 12 sports for girls and 12 sports for boys which attract approximately 1.3 million spectators each year.