Parent Critique on AAU Basketball Tournament Costs

AAU basketball parents accustomed to high fees to watch their children play in tournaments received an unexpected jolt in Ohio over the weekend. Changes in how tournaments charge admission have caught their attention.

Surprise Costs at Spooky Nook Complex

Kevin Brandt from Leipsic, Ohio, a seasoned AAU basketball parent, is no stranger to paying high ticket prices often exceeding those for NBA games. His daughter is part of a leading travel team in the Midwest. However, his experience at the Spooky Nook complex in Hamilton puzzled him.

Brandt shared on social media, “Just got home from watching my daughter play in AAU Tournament, Select Showcase. $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?” Typically, tournaments offer a weekend pass ranging from $70 to $90, which did not exist at Hamilton.

The family faced admission charges for two different tournaments at the same venue. One event was the Select Events Super Showcase, followed by the Midwest Summer Classic. Despite the same location and organizer, they were informed these were distinct events, each costing $120 plus $5 daily parking fees.

Brandt explained, “We stayed one night but drove two and a half hours back and forth every other day because every hotel was $300+ around the area. One of our sons and his girlfriend came for one day… so add $60!” OutKick attempted to contact Spooky Nook senior management regarding who sets admission prices and parking fees at their facilities but has received no response.

Broader Concerns Among AAU Parents

The broader concern among AAU parents is where these costs are heading. As basketball seems wrapped in financial demands, families like Brandt’s are left questioning the sustainability of these expenses.

AAU travel mom Mookie Edmond empathizes with Brandt’s situation. While her family attended a tournament in Rock Hill, South Carolina with a weekend pass priced at $90, the total expenses approached $1,500 including hotels, admission, gas, and food.

Edmond conveyed her thoughts in a Facebook video, emphasizing, “At the end of the day, we are going to invest in our child. We’re going to do whatever we have to do to get him to that next level.” Yet, the financial strain left her reconsidering future trips. “I’m over here scratching my head like do I really wanna run it back this weekend,” Edmond shared with friends.

Joe Kinsey is the Senior Director of Content at OutKick.