Graphic by John Ferrara.
If Lumberjack football fans want to watch any of the final four home games in school history, they’re damn well going to pay for it. That’s the stance that Humboldt State University has taken as it prepares to wring every last bit of cash from the dry, mildewy sponge that is Lumberjack football.
The online broadcasts of HSU home games — which the university long provided for free, but decided to charge for last year as the team’s future remained uncertain — will once again be put behind a paywall for the 95th and final season.
HSU Athletics Department spokesperson Andrew Goetz told the Outpost that the school made roughly a few thousand dollars by charging fans to stream the final three broadcasts in Redwood Bowl last season — a decision built on the idea that the department needed as much revenue as possible to save the football program from being cut.
“When we put this charging model in place, we did it because the streams, the equipment, the manpower, all cost quite a bit of money,” Goetz said. “The revenue helps cover the costs and allows us to keep doing the streaming we’re doing.”
But with President Lisa Rossbacher officially announcing in July that the football team will face her heavy-headed axe after the 2018 season, it may be hard for fans to justify paying for the shoddy, birds-eye view broadcasts.
According to the online service being used by HSU to stream the games, fans will be charged $10 dollars per broadcast, or $30 to access to all four remaining home games.
The Lumberjacks’ last ride begins next Saturday in Wichita Falls, Texas with a matchup against Midwestern State University. The first of the last four games to ever be played at Redwood Bowl is scheduled for Sept. 22., with the Lumberjacks facing conference rival Western Oregon.
Read more from HSU about plans to charge for other sports this season:
The Humboldt State Athletics Department announced that it will begin charging for men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and softball event broadcasts during the 2018-19 season.
Fans will not be charged for streaming access to home exhibition games.
It will cost $5.00 to access single men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and softball home broadcasts with a $30.00 season pass available for soccer and volleyball. A season pass will not be available for softball.
Single football and basketball games will also be available for $10.00. A football season pass will cost $30.00 and a men’s or women’s basketball pass will be $75.00.
Select home events will be available on-demand following the original date of broadcast, for a limited time, at no cost. Scheduled events are subject to change and Stretch Internet will manage any refund requests.
HSU women’s soccer will host Corban in an exhibition game on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed with live stats available at the link above the story.