When you walk into a University of Kansas game, you are smacked with a sea of red and blue and roaring cheers from every direction. For an increasing number of students, it’s becoming out of the budget to go to memory-making local events as prices rise to inaccessible levels. 

The local community that surrounds KU shapes a special experience for some students. But, the price increase in the last two years has made tickets inaccessible causing many to miss out. 

“It is a super fun experience to go and watch a sports game live and support your favorite team and be there with everyone else,” junior Cayman Barnes said. “It is definitely taking away some good times.”

Some students are reevaluating whether making the effort to go to games is worth it with the higher price tag. Some fans, like sophomore Hank Walter, feel like their experience at the game is affected negatively.

“It’s more of a hassle because I have to plan everything ahead of time. I can’t just go pay for it and have fun,” Walter said. 

On top of the raised prices, KU sporting events have had increased ticket demand since the National Championship win for the men’s basketball team and standout success for the football team. This year the football team sold out four times for the first time since 2008. 

“My family has not been able to go to as many KU games. We used to tailgate like every game like the football games, and now we’ve gotten to one this year and the basketball. I think because we’re finally doing good consistently with both basketball and football,” senior Hannah Hayes said. 

Despite difficult ticket prices, some fans still make the effort to support the team due to the community built around KU. Sophomore Meera Lala still tries to go to a few games even with the high prices. 

“It’s fun to see the community and it’s fun to be a part of it,” Lala said. ”But then at the same time, it’s just too expensive.”