<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>
A well-funded program should charge no admission
fees to any of its tournaments. Other programs should
charge fees which are commesurate with the level of
funding that program
receives.
<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>
Well funded programs often gain funding commensurate
with overall success and service to campus, but more
often gain funding commensurate with fundraising.
For example, at our school the budgetary decision is
in part based on a fundraising grade, which rewards
activities which raise large revenue by increasing their
allocation.
I'm sure we would all want new teams on the circuit,
but, heartless as it may seem, teams won't raid their
own tournament fees for the greater development of
the circuit.
The best idea is to probably
expand the current system of deep discounting for new
circuit teams.
If they aren't coming to your
tournament because it's too expensive, giving them deep
discounts and having them coming is better than not giving
them a discount and having them not come at all. Our
non-open events have done so for some time
now.
Jason Paik
Washington University in St. Louis