LAKEWOOD, Ohio — After providing the Ranger community with video and commentary to Lakewood High School boys and girls basketball games last year during the pandemic, the Lakewood Sports Channel is going off the air this season.
“Last year there were two things, beginning with livestreaming of high school sporting events — such as wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics, swimming, soccer and basketball,” Lakewood Athletic Boosters President Vince Frantz said. “That was being done by the athletic department just as a way to share the game with parents and fans who couldn’t come to the games because of limited attendance last year.
“Then in the basketball season we came up with a format to add commentary to basketball games. For the majority of the home boys varsity and girls varsity basketball games we put together what amounts to the Lakewood Sports Channel.”
Basically, the former begot the latter with Lakewood High School’s Athletic Department covering the $200 monthly livestream subscription cost. However, due to a loosening of restrictions allowing for everyone to attend the Ranger sporting events, the decision was made to cancel the livestreaming.
“The case for not having streaming was mainly due to the notion if you lose attendance to the games, then we lose ticket sales and concessions,” Frantz said.
“Right now, 100 percent of the Lakewood High School Athletic Department budget is funded by concessions, spectator tickets and athletic fees. No tax dollars are used in the athletic department’s budget.”
Lakewood High School swim meets were one of many sporting activities livestreamed last year. (John Benson/cleveland.com)
Those funds equate to more than 65 percent of the athletic department’s roughly $250,000 annual budget, which covers the cost of officials, transportation, equipment and uniforms.
Frantz noted that the minimal costs to produce the Lakewood Sports Channel were paid for by sponsorships, which could potentially lead to the return of the livestreamed basketball games with commentary going on-air in the future.
“The value of the commentary on the games was very demonstrable,” Frantz said. “It was fantastically received, so there is a desire to bring that back. We just need to figure out how.”
Read more news from the Sun Post Herald here.
