Schools

Renting Falcon Field Could Net Whitnall $550 a Pop

The Whitnall School Board will look at proposed fees for renting the high school's new $6.5 million stadium.

Renting out Whitnall High School’s Falcon Field could cost someone more than $550.

Adding use of the concession stand and using the facility for a night event would bump that up to $750.

Those prices are among the fees the Whitnall School Board is expected to discuss, and possibly approve Monday for those who wish to use the .

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The cost to rent the stadium, as proposed by Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Matt Karshna, will be $552 for the first four-hour block, which includes one hour of custodial labor, and $500 for an additional block.

The stadium includes use of the game field and/or track, bleachers, press box, restrooms, team rooms and ticket booths. Wi-Fi and general area lighting is included in the fee.

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Using the concession stand is an additional $100, if approved by the district. There is also an energy fee of $100 for field lighting for a night event.

“The idea is to attract customers,” Karshna said. “We’re still quite undervalued.”

The proposed fees are based off a market survey conducted by the district to compare facility use charges at neighboring districts with similar athletic facilities. Karshna said he surveyed facilities with artificial turf similar to Falcon Field’s such as stadiums at Greendale, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and Arrowhead high schools, and Hart Park in Wauwatosa.

“They might not have the amenities we have, but they have artificial turf, lighting, and a scoreboard like we do,” Karshna said.

In addition, fee schedules already included $52 per hour for custodians and $40 for a technical supervisor for use of a public address system and/or a scoreboard. The new video screen at the stadium, however, is not available for rental, nor is track and field equipment.

Another change is the spike in field use fee from $35, which it has been for at least five years, to $150. Those fields include grassy areas at the elementary schools and middle school and the high school’s new softball diamond, which will be available come spring if the grass comes in adequately.

Karshna said it was important for the district to update its fee schedule and get something in place for stadium rentals because various groups have inquired about facility usage.

“We can’t start booking the space until we determine fee schedule,” he said.

School Board members will discuss the fees at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14.


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