Ardmore City Schools Replaces Tickets Over Alcohol Coupon
Ardmore City Schools Replaces Athletic Tickets After Alcohol Coupon Discovered
Ardmore City Schools has pulled and replaced athletic event tickets after discovering an advertisement on the back included a coupon for an alcoholic beverage. District officials apologized for the oversight and said the tickets containing the promotion are no longer being distributed at school sporting events.
The Ardmore City Schools athletic tickets raised concerns because they were being handed out at events involving students and families. Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Josh Newby said the athletics department does not directly obtain the advertisements printed on the tickets, but acknowledged the district has final responsibility for approving materials distributed through its programs.
Ardmore City Schools Athletic Tickets Pulled From Distribution
The issue involved an advertisement printed on the reverse side of tickets being distributed for Ardmore athletic events.
The advertisement included a coupon connected to an alcoholic beverage.
Once school officials became aware of the promotion, the district removed the affected tickets from circulation and replaced them.
Newby explained that outside advertising associated with the tickets is not directly sourced by the athletic department. However, he said that does not remove the district's responsibility for reviewing what ultimately reaches students, parents and other spectators.
Ardmore City Schools maintains an official athletics calendar covering football, softball, cross country and other middle and high school sporting events throughout the academic year.
The district said it does not condone or promote alcohol use, particularly when it is associated with students or school-sponsored activities.
School officials also apologized for allowing the advertisement to appear on the tickets in the first place.
The concern was not that alcohol was being sold or distributed by Ardmore City Schools. The issue was the inclusion of an alcohol-related promotional coupon on material distributed at a school athletic event.
District Says Approval Process Will Be Strengthened
The district's response goes beyond replacing the existing tickets.
Ardmore Athletics plans to strengthen its review and approval procedures for future tickets and promotional materials to prevent a similar advertisement from making it through the process.
That means materials produced with outside advertising will receive additional scrutiny before being distributed at school events.
The incident highlights a challenge that can arise when schools use advertising or sponsorship arrangements to help support athletic programs.
Local businesses frequently advertise through scoreboards, programs, signs, tickets and other materials connected to high school sports. Those relationships can provide financial support to athletic departments, but they also require districts to determine whether individual advertisements are appropriate for a school setting.
Ardmore City Schools already maintains policies addressing alcohol and controlled substances involving students. The Ardmore Board of Education considered updates this year to its policy for reporting students under the influence of or possessing alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.
The ticket issue is separate from student possession or consumption of alcohol, but district officials said the advertisement did not align with the standards expected for materials associated with Ardmore schools.
By removing the tickets and tightening the approval process, officials are attempting to address both the immediate problem and the review failure that allowed it to happen.
Ardmore Athletic Events Continue as Scheduled
The ticket replacement does not affect Ardmore's athletic schedule or the operation of upcoming games.
The district continues to post athletic schedules, school announcements and other information through its regular communication channels.
Josh Newby, who serves as both Ardmore City Schools athletic director and head football coach, oversees an athletics program spanning multiple sports at Ardmore High School and Ardmore Middle School. The district's official Ardmore City Schools website also provides calendars, athletics information and updates for families.
Ardmore's fall schedule includes football, softball, cross country and middle school competitions, making tickets and other event materials a regular point of contact between the school system and the community.
The district has not indicated that the alcohol coupon resulted from an intentional decision by school officials to promote the product. Instead, officials characterized it as an oversight in the approval process.
The affected tickets have now been completely removed from distribution.
Moving forward, the athletics department says promotional materials will receive a more thorough review before reaching fans.
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