Rain dripping on high schools' revenue

VANDALIA, Ohio (WDTN) - Another Operation Football Friday played in the rain.

It's not just the fans that get wet, but the schools who lose money when no one fills the stands.

Some of the best runs this year in high school football have been by fans rushing to get to their cars as a storm hits.

Most teams have already had two games rescheduled or cut short by the weather and those gray skies can cost a lot of green.

"It affects the crowds coming out. How many people come to the games to support the kids," said Ryan Rogers, Vandalia-Butler Athletic Administrator.

So far, the clouds have been kind to Vandalia-Butler. It was on the road for those two stormy games.

But, the forecast is for another aerial assault by Mother Nature.

With only four home games scheduled this year instead of the normal five, a single night of soggy stands could prove costly.

"That revenue helps drive other sports too. When we don't get the crowds out it hurts our economics and our athletic department."

Even with good weather, Rogers says it's getting harder and harder each year to fill the stands.

"There's so much to do nowadays. Home theaters. All kinds of other situations for kids and parents to go to that seems to be driving our population down at our games."

Those Friday night lights still have a way of drawing people in as long as Mother Nature doesn't send them rushing home.

"It's going to be a big game. Would love to see the crowd out there. Rain or shine. We're going to play. As long as there's no lightning we're gonna play."