Hometown Spotlight | Jeff Whisler: MSHSL
HOMETOWN SPOTLIGHT | MARCH 2025 Organization: Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Secretary of Region 4AA: Jeff WhislerHometown is excited to announce March spotlight, Jeff Whisler and MSHSL. About My name is Jeff Whisler. I’m currently the Secretary for Region 4AA, part of the Minnesota State High School League. I spent 38 years in education, starting as a teacher and administrator before transitioning to an activities director. I served as the activities director for 14 years at Monte School District and later for 6 years at Roseville Area High School, retiring in 2018. After retirement, I took on my current role, where I oversee section tournaments, manage finances, and support schools in our region. How you use Hometown? As Region Secretary, I work closely with schools to organize and run section tournaments, and tools like Hometown (or Schoolfundr) help streamline processes like handling event logistics and managing funds efficiently. What is your favorite Hometown feature? I appreciate features that simplify financial management, such as systems for paying officials and processing tournament expenses. It keeps everything organized and reduces administrative headaches. Fun fact After 37 years in education, I’m retired but still busy! I’m married to my high school sweetheart, and we love spending our mornings with our 2-year-old grandson. Stepping into my role as a region secretary has been a perfect fit—it keeps me connected with schools and students and allows me to stay involved in high school athletics, which has always been a passion of mine.
The Hidden Costs of Paper Ticketing in School Sports: Why It’s Time to Go Digital
For many school athletic programs, paper ticketing and cash-only sales have long been the standard way of doing business. But while this process may seem simple, the hidden costs can add up quickly – impacting your staff, your revenue, and your community. Here’s a breakdown of the four most critical hidden costs, and how to combat them. Hidden Cost #1: Increased Personnel Managing cash boxes at the gate requires extra staff, increases the risk of clerical errors, and slows down fan entry. When the final buzzer sounds, reconciling cash takes even more time, and transporting deposits to the bank adds another layer of work and risk. These steps might sound all too familiar if you have been taking a cash-only approach. Digital operations not only make the attendee experience better, your staff no longer has to worry about staying late to count cash and deposit funds. The ability to reconcile your funds nearly instantly means less time spent on manual accounting, fewer errors, and complete financial transparency – giving your team peace of mind and getting you back home shortly after the event is over. “As someone who is always the first to enter and the last to leave the stadium on Friday nights, I can honestly say that before we started using Hometown, I’d often be there until midnight. Now, I can leave [early] because of the streamlined reporting – it saves me from having to go to the bank.” – Beth Smith, Athletic Secretary at Wylie ISD Hidden Cost #2: Security and Accountability Risks Cash transactions can come with security concerns such as missing funds or potential theft. With digital ticketing, every sale is tracked and accounted for, reducing the chance of financial discrepancies and ensuring accountability across all touchpoints. This shift can enable schools to enhance the safety at each entry point, giving their staff peace of mind before, during and after the game. “The switch helped our district recover lost revenue during critical seasons. The revenue generated has been reinvested in student programs, creating a positive impact throughout the district.” – Jay Govan, Assistant Athletic Director at Northside ISD Hidden Cost #3: Fewer Ticket Sales & Revenue Event attendees today expect simple, contactless options. Cash-only ticketing can be inconvenient for these event goers, discouraging attendance from those who prefer mobile payment options. A digital system allows fans to buy tickets in advance, reducing last-minute stress at the gate. This keeps stands packed and recurring fans happy. Hidden Cost #4: Lack of Reporting Visibility Paper ticketing doesn’t offer schools real-time event insights, which can lead to capacity challenges and heightened security risks. Digital ticketing provides instant reporting, giving your staff the visibility they need to manage capacity, track revenue, analyze trends, and even make informed decisions for future events. Struggling to get buy-in for digital ticketing? This quick guide helps athletic directors effectively engage with their school administration to make the case for a seamless ticketing solution. Download it now! DOWNLOAD NOW “Transitioning to Hometown helped centralize how the district operates and it was a game changer for logistics and operations, allowing them to sell over 400% more season tickets than in previous years.” – Lance Moffet, Athletic Director at Hays CISD Hometown Is Here For Your Community By streamlining event operations, your staff will spend less time on manual tasks and more time enhancing game-day experiences for your dedicated community. Plus, digital ticketing can significantly improve required financial compliance, ensuring transparency at every level from purchase to scan to collection. Offering a digital-first ticketing system isn’t just about modernizing – it’s about making your athletic program more efficient, more secure, and more reliable for everyone. Ready to make the switch? Book a free demo to learn how digital ticketing can maximize revenue for your school and improve the fan experience. BOOK A MEETING
Choosing the Best Ticketing Partner: Expert Tips from Corpus Christi ISD
Managing athletic events for a large school district is no small task. For Corpus Christi Independent School District (ISD)—which oversees six high schools, 11 middle schools, and two stadiums, including a historic venue from the Great Depression—the challenges of organizing sporting events are immense. Assistant Athletic Director Michael Keel shares how adopting Hometown transformed their processes, from ticketing efficiency to audit compliance, while keeping fans satisfied. The Challenge: Inefficient Ticketing and Audit Risks Before Hometown, Corpus Christi ISD struggled with an outdated ticketing system. Their previous provider failed to deliver detailed reports, causing issues during audits and leaving the district financially vulnerable. “As a data nerd, I value transparent and detailed reporting—The lack of clarity in reports from the previous provider was a major issue and drove us to search for a better solution.” – Michel Keel, Assistant Athletic Director at Corpus Christi ISD The Solution: Hometown’s Game-Changing Features Hometown quickly solved Corpus Christi ISD’s challenges with its advanced reporting and user-friendly platform. The district saw immediate improvements in efficiency, transparency, and audit readiness. Key Benefits of Hometown: Detailed Reporting: Hometown’s reports satisfied auditors and made financial processes seamless. Ease of Use: The platform is intuitive, even for non-technical users, ensuring smooth operations. Real-Time Support: During a regional soccer tournament with 17 lightning delays, Hometown’s support team helped extend ticketing times within minutes, avoiding logistical chaos. “The reports from Hometown are the easiest I’ve ever seen. They’ve made everything more efficient and transparent for our auditors and finance team.” – Michel Keel, Assistant Athletic Director at Corpus Christi ISD Flexibility and Advanced Features Hometown’s flexibility is another standout feature. The platform accommodates complex needs, such as: Custom Ticketing: Prevent opposing teams from buying out seats during playoff games. Stadium Management: Simplify season ticket sales for two vastly different stadiums, one of which is a historic landmark. “The ability to customize and secure ticketing options has been crucial for us.” – Michel Keel, Assistant Athletic Director at Corpus Christi ISD Real-Time Support in Action Hometown’s exceptional support was tested during a regional soccer tournament plagued by lightning delays. Despite being new to the platform, Keel was able to extend ticketing times and re-enter fans without issue, thanks to real-time assistance. “Anything I couldn’t figure out, their team fixed within minutes. Without their support, the delays could have cost the district money and caused a logistical nightmare.” – Michel Keel, Assistant Athletic Director at Corpus Christi ISD Key Questions for Choosing a Ticketing Provider Keel offers advice for schools and districts evaluating ticketing solutions. He recommends focusing on these key factors: Report Quality: Does the platform provide detailed, transparent reports for audits and financial needs? Real-Time Support: Can the provider offer immediate help during events to resolve issues quickly? Ease of Use: Is the platform intuitive for all staff, technical or not? Hometown checked all these boxes for Corpus Christi ISD, significantly reducing administrative burdens and improving event management. Conclusion: A Reliable Partner for School Districts For Corpus Christi ISD, Hometown has proven to be more than just a platform—it’s a reliable partner. From simplifying event management to ensuring financial transparency and meeting the unique challenges of running events at two very different stadiums, the platform has addressed key pain points and elevated the district’s operations. “As an administrator, I don’t have to be in the system all the time,—yet, I know it’s reliable, easy to use, and backed by real-time support. That’s what makes Hometown stand out.” – Michel Keel, Assistant Athletic Director at Corpus Christi ISD If your school district is searching for a ticketing solution, take it from Corpus Christi ISD—Hometown is worth considering. The ease, efficiency, and support it provides could be exactly what your district needs to streamline event management and ensure success.
