Youth between the ages of 13-17 will now have to pay the adult price for a Clippers ticket at the box office if they are not accompanied by an adult. (Damon James/Island Images Photography)

By Jordan Davidson

rowdy youth

Citing safety concerns, unaccompanied youth will pay adult ticket prices at Nanaimo Clippers games

Sep 27, 2023 | 1:31 PM

NANAIMO — Due to security and safety concerns, the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers are now charging unaccompanied minors the price of an adult ticket at their box office.

The Clippers announced the change on Tuesday, Sept. 26, saying it’s required to address “disruptive and unsafe behaviour by unaccompanied youth during our games,” which requires additional security.

Director of business operations for the Clippers Robb Hunter said they’ve tripled the amount of security personnel in order to help deal with these issues.

“We’ve had a number of complaints of the youngsters running throughout the facility, bumping into people, knocking into some senior citizens. We’ve had folks that have drinks knocked out of their hands and just overall being disruptive, running up and down aisles while play is going on which is not only disruptive for fans, but it’s also an unsafe practice.”

While police have been called to Frank Crane Arena in the past to deal with more severe disruptions, Hunter told NanaimoNewsNOW this change was complaint-driven, and not based on a specific incident.

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Youth tickets, anyone between the ages of 13-19, will remain $15 at the gate if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian, but unaccompanied minors will have to pay the adult price of $20.

Ticket prices for those under 13 remain unchanged.

Hunter said he’s hopeful a lot of youth will continue to come to their games, hopefully with a parent or guardian.

“It’s been building and certainly throughout our exhibition season and now early into the season here, it’s been an ongoing concern that we are now finding ways to address, and unfortunately those ways do come with an increase in costs for not only the team but now for unaccompanied youth attending our games.”

The Clippers hope this change will help cover their enhanced security measures while also encouraging a more respectful and family-friendly environment for all.

The new ticket prices for unaccompanied youth take effect for the Friday, Sept. 29 game in Nanaimo when Clippers host the Penticton Vees at 7 p.m.

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