PIERRE — Fans headed for the high school football championships at the Dakota Dome in Vermillion had better have some cash handy to pay for parking.
At its meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, the South Dakota High School Activities Association board of directors learned that the University of South Dakota will charge $5 per vehicle for parking at the championship games.
“We’re not collecting any of this money,” SDHSAA Executive Director Dan Swartos told the board. He said the money was something USD officials thought they needed to collect for that particular event.
Swartos said a check with the association’s lawyer found that the contract for the football championships is for the inside of the Dakota Dome and that USD controls the parking.
“It’s something they do on their game days,” Swartos said.
Board chairman Jeff Danielsen of Watertown said this time the parking charge will be paid by a different clientele. “Ninety percent of those folks (who park on USD game days) are supportive of the college,” and are accustomed to paying for parking.
Danielsen said he hoped that the venues used by SDHSAA for state events would “care for the mission of the activities association.” Part of that mission is trying to keep costs down so families can afford to go to state events.
The $5 fee must be paid in cash. There will be no charge for handicapped parking or for high school students with a valid school I.D.
USD typically charges at least $10 for every football game day to park near the DakotaDome. The lots closest to the Dome for Coyote games are reserved for season ticket holders, who donate at least $100 and upwards to $2,500 to the school’s athletic fund.
Swartos said the championship games next year are the last games of the current contract with USD. He said parking would be addressed in negotiations for a new contract. He also noted that while other venues could bid on hosting the championship games, USD has the only indoor football field in the state.
USD will charge for parking in the four lots to the east of the Dakota Dome, in Lot 39 to the south, and in the west grass lot. There will be free parking in Lot 36, which is to the south of Lot 39.
Games will take place Thursday, Nov. 13, through Saturday, Nov. 15. On Thursday, the Class 9B game will be at 11 a.m., and the Class 9AA game will be at 7 p.m. On Friday, the Class 9A game will be at 10 a.m., the Class 11B game will be at 2 p.m., and the Class 11AA game will be at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Class 11A game will be at noon, and the Class 11AAA game will be at 5 p.m.
