To the editor:

Folks who know me know that I was raised in Oklahoma and am a lifelong Oklahoma Sooner football fan. Since I moved to Lawrence in 1971, I have not missed a single Kansas-OU home game, even after the conference was expanded and the number of games reduced to once every four years. But this year I will miss it.

The university management, in their never-ending quest for nickels and dimes, has decided to move this college sports event to a professional venue to supposedly garner even more nickels and dimes for their coffers. The outrageous ticket prices and the anticipated parking and who-knows-what-else extra costs prevent me from attending this love fest with Arrowhead Stadium.

I think this decision, which is a blatant slap in the face of college sports spirit, of the community that has so enthusiastically supported the university and the local fans who benefit from home games, is a disgusting display of greed and disregard of the regular fans. Local merchants who benefit from these games will now see their counterparts in Kansas City profit, and students who live in walking distance from the stadium will have to travel to the “big time” to see this game.

It has always troubled me to see the crass commercialization of what once was a great college sport, but you can always rely on the straight-arrow suits at the upper level college administration to find new ways to trash the traditions of the past to line their pockets with their ill-gotten gain at the expense of the fans.

Fred R. Whitehead Jr.,

Lawrence