MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. -- Just in time for the last game of the season, a wet, chill set in for a Friday night football matchup between West Meck and Providence high schools.
“We had a good season,” said West Meck fan Stephanie Streeter. “I was loving that warm football weather.”
She says those conditions no one could scoff at lasted a while. “...until the weekend of Hurricane Florence,” Streeter added. “That game was postponed until tonight.”
Non-football friendly weather continued from that point on she says.
“Then, like two weeks ago, we played in the rain and the cold,” she said.
High school athletic booster clubs are now reporting concessions revenue took a dip this season.
“I would say probably 60-65 percent,” said Lourdes Mattar, president of the Providence Athletic Booster Club. She blames hurricanes Florence and Michael hitting the Carolinas in September and October.
“We've had games that have been cancelled, or moved to a different location,” Mattar said.
It's affected money that goes directly to the athletic department.
“All the funds go to our big pot which pays for field repair, maintenance, travel,” Mattar explained.
Providence athletic director Ken Constanty says, yes, the amount of people coming through the gates took a hit as well. One of the hurricanes forced them to reschedule a game that eventually got dismal attendance.
“I actually had four soccer games who's gates receipts were higher than that football game on a Friday night,” Constanty said.
Making up what was lost this season could be difficult. But, Constanty says basketball season may help.
“Budget cuts if we need to, and just try to pick and choose where we go from there,” Constanty said.
“We'll have some fundraisers that we're gonna try to come up with in the springtime,” Mattar added.
Get the latest news, sports and weather delivered straight to your inbox. Click here to sign up for email and text alerts.