Louisiana college sports venues could soon be forced to accept cash

[Cajunrunner]

Cashless concession stands at college football stadiums could soon be a thing of the past under a bill advancing in the Louisiana Legislature.

The House Education Committee Tuesday advanced House Bill 5 by Rep. Charles Owen, R-Rosepine, that would require public colleges and universities to accept cash at events, including sporting events. The bill passed on a 11-2 vote, with Reps. Barbara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, and Kim Carver, R-Mandeville, opposing the bill.

Most college sporting venues have gone cashless in the past few years, inconveniencing some attendees, primarily teenagers and older fans who primarily rely on cash in their day-to-day lives.

“We have these big events where families may have to save up a lot of money to go get a ticket to go to a ballgame or to a concert or to a speaking event or something like that… but when they get there they want to buy some water or a hamburger or a T-shirt, and they can’t use their cash,” Owen told committee members.

Some universities have raised concerns with the bill.

Lenny Kopowski, a lobbyist representing the University of New Orleans Foundation, said UNO opposes the bill.

Kopowski said UNO athletics switched to cashless facilities after somebody stole $3,600 in cash from the athletic department. The university would consider withdrawing its opposition to the bill if it permitted just some concession stands to accept cash or instead required reverse ATMs, which allow somebody to deposit cash and receive a temporary debit card. Such ATMs are common at professional sports venues that are cashless.

LSU reported in a fiscal note that Owen’s bill could lead to a $75,000 annual loss of revenue for its third-party game day vendors and could slow down concession lines.

Owen’s bill will next be discussed by the full House of Representatives.

https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/...h/73273238007/

[cajun_lannister]

https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/...h/73273238007/

Lol... didn't UL lose 10s of thousand in cash from the pay parking lot on campus.

[RedTails]

I see our legislator from Vernon Parish is taking care of the big issues facing our public education system.

[KajunKrazy]

Good for these legislators. Anyone who sees this as just a bill about sporting events is crazy. Our government has slowly been trying to make us a cashless society one step at a time. The more you do electronically the more they can monitor you. The big picture here is down the road little Johnny wont be able to pick up 4 or 5 yards in neighborhood and put 40 bucks a pop in his pocket. My friend Joe Blow who works for EP Breaux won't be able to come change my light fixture on Saturday for some side cash money. Or a guy who works as a plumber at Vermillion Parish school board won't be able to change out a neighbors toilet for some cash on Saturday. This is all about a trail and government knowing every penny you spend and every cent you earn.

This college sporting event thing is just some common sense legislators throwing a monkey wrench in the master plan.

[Esqueleto]

Good for these legislators. Anyone who sees this as just a bill about sporting events is crazy. Our government has slowly been trying to make us a cashless society one step at a time. The more you do electronically the more they can monitor you. The big picture here is down the road little Johnny wont be able to pick up 4 or 5 yards in neighborhood and put 40 bucks a pop in his pocket. My friend Joe Blow who works for EP Breaux won't be able to come change my light fixture on Saturday for some side cash money. Or a guy who works as a plumber at Vermillion Parish school board won't be able to change out a neighbors toilet for some cash on Saturday. This is all about a trail and government knowing every penny you spend and every cent you earn.

This college sporting event thing is just some common sense legislators throwing a monkey wrench in the master plan.

Amen

[CajunVic]

KK is spot on

[Duggie35]

Good for these legislators. Anyone who sees this as just a bill about sporting events is crazy. Our government has slowly been trying to make us a cashless society one step at a time. The more you do electronically the more they can monitor you. The big picture here is down the road little Johnny wont be able to pick up 4 or 5 yards in neighborhood and put 40 bucks a pop in his pocket. My friend Joe Blow who works for EP Breaux won't be able to come change my light fixture on Saturday for some side cash money. Or a guy who works as a plumber at Vermillion Parish school board won't be able to change out a neighbors toilet for some cash on Saturday. This is all about a trail and government knowing every penny you spend and every cent you earn.

This college sporting event thing is just some common sense legislators throwing a monkey wrench in the master plan.

Amen X 2

[Million$Mullet]

Pretty sure all of our venues accept cash

[cajundiehard]

Good for these legislators. Anyone who sees this as just a bill about sporting events is crazy. Our government has slowly been trying to make us a cashless society one step at a time. The more you do electronically the more they can monitor you. The big picture here is down the road little Johnny wont be able to pick up 4 or 5 yards in neighborhood and put 40 bucks a pop in his pocket. My friend Joe Blow who works for EP Breaux won't be able to come change my light fixture on Saturday for some side cash money. Or a guy who works as a plumber at Vermillion Parish school board won't be able to change out a neighbors toilet for some cash on Saturday. This is all about a trail and government knowing every penny you spend and every cent you earn.

This college sporting event thing is just some common sense legislators throwing a monkey wrench in the master plan.

Amen x 3

Bingo x 1

[Ragin9221]

This is very simple solution to this problem.

We need to be setup like Festival International. If I wanted to put cash or if i want to use a card i can put it on a rfid wrist band. You could pay for concessions, or any gameday activities .

I would even propose that we have tailgating outside the stadium open to the public, and a stage where people can come and put money on there wristband, that way you can pay for drinks, food, etc. outside and inside the stadium!

Probably be the first of its kind in the entire United States when it comes to big time sporting events.

You can reuse your wrist band for all home Cajun Football games.

[Esqueleto]

This is very simple solution to this problem.

We need to be setup like Festival International. If I wanted to put cash or if i want to use a card i can put it on a rfid wrist band. You could pay for concessions, or any gameday activities .

I would even propose that we have tailgating outside the stadium open to the public, and a stage where people can come and put money on there wristband, that way you can pay for drinks, food, etc. outside and inside the stadium!

Probably be the first of its kind in the entire United States when it comes to big time sporting events.

You can reuse your wrist band for all home Cajun Football games.

Frickin awesome idea. Just scan and go

[JamesTheJeweler]

Good for these legislators. Anyone who sees this as just a bill about sporting events is crazy. Our government has slowly been trying to make us a cashless society one step at a time. The more you do electronically the more they can monitor you. The big picture here is down the road little Johnny wont be able to pick up 4 or 5 yards in neighborhood and put 40 bucks a pop in his pocket. My friend Joe Blow who works for EP Breaux won't be able to come change my light fixture on Saturday for some side cash money. Or a guy who works as a plumber at Vermillion Parish school board won't be able to change out a neighbors toilet for some cash on Saturday. This is all about a trail and government knowing every penny you spend and every cent you earn.

This college sporting event thing is just some common sense legislators throwing a monkey wrench in the master plan.

Yep!