Story by Maya Bennett
Staff Writer
Photo by Mac Shropshire
Photography Editor
SPHS is hosting homecoming for the 2026 to 2027 school year at the Pasadena Convention Center on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 7 to 10 p.m. This year, the theme is Night in the Bayou, and it is the first year in half a decade that the location is different
When finding another venue to host the dance to fit student’s asks, ASB went through many options and places, but decided on the Pasadena Convention Center for the convenient location and large amount of space. However,the process of finding a big enough venue was challenging because ASB needed something that could host many people and was in a reasonable price range.. At the event, there will be churros, ice cream, a movie, several photo booths, a dance floor, and much more.
This is the first year in five years that homecoming is not at the Arroyo Seco Golf Course. Before the pandemic, homecoming was in the gym on school campus after the football game with tickets purchased for $30 or $40.
Years ago, this became a way of fundraising. Since the junior class plans the homecoming dance and prom, if they also fundraise for homecoming, prom prices can stay at a lower price. In the past, they were able to sell prom tickets for $60, instead of the modern price of $70 to $100.
In 2021, SPHS decided to host homecoming off campus at the Arroyo Seco Golf Course. However, once they hosted the dance off-campus, it was difficult to bring it back since people lost interest in on-campus celebrations compared to the dance at the Arroyo Seco.
With the dance remaining off-campus, the cost of the venue is greater,which means student tickets are more expensive. Payments have to go to security guards, restrooms, generators, and the dance floor, which ultimately explains the inflated price. Luckily, the Arroyo Seco Golf Course offers reasonable prices for dances, but everything besides the location is still expensive. As a result of these expenses, ASB did not profit from the event.
This past year, there have been many students saying that they do not want to go to the Arroyo Seco Golf Course for homecoming again and that the prices are too high. Unfortunately, the golf course is currently the most affordable option.
To figure out the new location or price, the junior class advisor, Ben Ku, asked ASB which option was better for the school, and what students would enjoy more. ASB hosted an informal survey among the students asking if they would rather pay more for a better venue or continue to pay the same amount for the same venue. The results of the survey being where people wanted to pay more for a new venue. This is how ASB decided the location for the homecoming dance.
This year, with homecoming at the Pasadena Convention Center, security guards are not included in ASB’s budget since it is not an open space like the golf course. However, the lowest ticket price of $70 is already giving ASB a loss, meaning ASB is losing money because it actually costs $78 per person. To earn back the money that they are already losing, more people must show up so that the event breaks even.
“We’re hoping for a good turnout just because we’re really excited in putting on this event at a new venue, new space. So we’re hoping that it’ll be a good time,” Ku said.
The student bank, located by the Diamond gate, is currently selling tickets for $85 with a SAC card, $95 for non-SAC and $100 for an OOTER ticket for people who do not go to SPHS. OOTER forms can be picked up at the main office.
