By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Portage County schools will be required to accept cash as a payment option for athletic ticket sales, as well as concessions.

The requirement is the result of a provision in Ohio House Bill 33 that was passed by legislature and signed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on July 4. The provision becomes law in October and will impact all school-affiliated events.

Some area schools fully adopted digital-only ticket sales when athletic events opened up during the COVID pandemic, then kept the policy in place.

The Metro Athletic Conference was one of the leagues that only accepted digital ticket sales. The Portage Trail Conference had continue to maintain a cash-payment option.

While most schools appear prepared to re-introduce cash sales for the start of the fall season — as opposed to trying to implement a new policy mid-season this fall — it is unclear exactly what schools will start in August and which will introduce it in October.