Want to run the stairs at Cessna Stadium? That’ll cost $100.
Cessna Stadium is no longer open to free public use. The stadium was previously open to members of the public, and anyone from WSU students to Wichita community members to high school athletes trained and practiced on the track and stadium steps.
“People were abusing it,” Tyra Berger of Wichita State Athletics said.
Anyone seeking access to the stadium must pay a $100 deposit and sign a “recreational use agreement” in exchange for an access key to the facility. The $100 would be refunded to the user once the key is returned.
People with a key may access the stadium Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additionally, Cessna Stadium will be closed to the public during Wichita State track and field and cross country practices.
“We had personal trainers using it to train their people, which creates insurance and liability issues,” Berger said. “There was damage. There were people who were bringing their dogs in and not cleaning up after them. So we need to know who is in there and why they’re in there.”
Some students said they felt that the stadium was a resource that they ought to have access to.
“No student input, no community input. They just made a decision,” Cooper Colglazier, a senior, said.
“Any resources we have, they take them away,” Colglazier said. “They screw students every step of the way.”
Each issued key features a different identification number — “So we know when you’re in the stadium,” Berger said.
The use agreement states that individuals may bring only one immediate family member — defined as a dependent child under the age of 18, a spouse, or a partner — along when using the track.
People are “strictly forbidden” from using the football field, throwing areas, jump pits and track and field equipment. Users found in violation of the agreement must return the key and forfeit their deposit, Berger said.
Jenna Farhat was the news editor of The Sunflower. Farhat majored in creative writing.
I'm poor • Apr 17, 2017 at 9:57 pm
I rarely and never just have $100. WSU is all about making everything inacessible. Why don’t they get some mall cops to monitor it? Make sure they are definitely on Segways. That’s a better idea.
This “university” has become a laughing stock. Highway robbery. It just never ends.
I think the next thing the “university” should make us pay for are all the administrations hella fat paychecks. That’s what we should all chip in for next…
I'm poor • Apr 17, 2017 at 9:51 pm
I rarely and never just have $100. WSU is all about making everything inacessible. Why do they get some mall cops to monitor it? Definitely on Segways. That’s a better idea.
This “university” has become a laughing stock. Highway robbery. It just never ends.
Concerned Student • Apr 16, 2017 at 9:04 am
Get out of here with your click bait titles. This is not BuzzFeed.
I'm poor • Apr 17, 2017 at 9:53 pm
Actually, $100 is a lot of money for a key deposit. Not a click bait. It is that ridiculous. $100 for a key. Not everyone is a Koch brother, okay?
um. what. • Apr 21, 2017 at 11:03 am
If you can’t afford the 100 bucks to run the stairs then perhaps you should spend less time running and more time working.
They decided to close the doors and charge deposits because people were damaging the property and allowing their pets to relieve themselves on the turf. There’s nothing wrong with deciding they should limit access to their own facility to ensure that it doesn’t continue to get abused.
Not to mention the insane liability to the university when private personal trainers are using the schools facility to train their students.
In your other comments you say the school should employ a “mall cop” to monitor the facility. That would be a useless employment and a waste of school money.
Seriously, in conclusion.. a $100 deposit is a reasonable demand to ensure that the facilities remain unharmed and un-defecated on. If you can’t pay it, dont go. Better yet, if you hate everything about this school which it sounds like you do, stop giving them your money and go to another university.
Of course it seems the students that whine the most, like Carlo and her We The Students garbage, are attending this school on $40,000 scholarships….
Jul • Apr 15, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Wichita State University is a Public university and the stadium is supposed to and should be open to the public. Most people who used the stadium, use the stairs only and are not in the way of any athletics on the field.
I also think that if you pay the $100 deposit, you should have access to the stadium at any time or at least seven days a week, since they can track when you are in there..
Corey Williams • Apr 15, 2017 at 9:07 am
Wahhhhhh
Tyler • Apr 14, 2017 at 8:34 pm
This has been a privilege that people have enjoyed for many years. However, especially for a school that is moving into a more athletically competitive conference, it is not a surprise to me. Schools such as Kstate and Oklahoma state have their stadiums COMPLETELY closed off to the public with no option to be used.
Angela • Apr 14, 2017 at 3:18 pm
so sad to hear, i would walk from home to the track and walk back home. to bad people mess things up for us all
JoAnn Hermann • Apr 14, 2017 at 12:12 pm
WSU students and alumni should be able to use for free! Also, the available hours should extend into evening hours.
Forlanda Parker • Apr 14, 2017 at 11:33 am
I also have an issue with the hours . Can there be access to the track earlier for those that like to workout in the morning before work?
Brooke • Apr 14, 2017 at 11:27 am
I don’t mind the deposit fee since some were abusing the grounds, but I do think it should be open for key holders to use on the weekends.
Dave • Apr 14, 2017 at 7:20 am
It doesn’t cost $100 as the headline states. You get your money back. I think it’s a necessary step if people were creating messes, liability issues, and damage. It shouldn’t create a problem for those wanting to use the facility for the proper purposes.
I'm poor • Apr 17, 2017 at 9:59 pm
Dave, $100 is a joke. It isn’t reasonable at all. And no one asked the students for our input.
Tommy Martinez • Apr 14, 2017 at 4:35 am
I’ve used it for a couple of years. Its an excellent resource and quite peaceful. Mainly early morning and at noon. Before it opened at 6:30am, there was an exercise class run by personal trainers that already had a key. I’ve seen the WSU athletes train, and no one ever bothers them. I can’t recall ever seeing any dogs. So at least in two years time, now there concern by WSU? I don’t know. I have both my kids in WSU which I pay for. All this being said, I think they should just say they’re putting in effect a new rule for the use of the stadium because they can. I definitely won’t give a $100 deposit for a key. That’s my choice.
Carina • Apr 14, 2017 at 2:23 am
College students don’t have $100 just to give out. $100 is extremely steep. I understand the abuse of the facility and wanting to keep the stadium in good condition. Maybe do something different like leave a drivers license? It’s a ridiculous request that was issued out of anger.
Erika Nulan • Apr 14, 2017 at 12:55 am
$100 is steep! I also think they should reconsider the hours of availability. Those hours make it all but off-limits to to 1st shift workers
AJ Simkatu • Apr 13, 2017 at 11:31 am
misleading headlines are awful.
It doesn’t cost $100 to use the stadium. It only costs $100 if you don’t return the key to the stadium, otherwise you get the money back.
Chance Swaim • Apr 13, 2017 at 1:06 pm
AJ Simkatu,
It costs $100 to get a key. That deposit is returned after the key is returned, but that doesn’t change the fact it costs $100 to gain access.
Thank you for reading.
Karen Wright • Apr 14, 2017 at 8:43 am
You nailed it, Chance. Thank you for clarifying for others who seem to overlook the obvious. It’s a closed door anyway we (the public) view it. They’ve made it crystal clear.
I'm poor • Apr 17, 2017 at 10:04 pm
I think that most people are not confused that it is a fat $100 to get a key. Not misleading…because that’s exactly what it is. And it’s absurd.
Thanks for reiterating Chance.