Wichita State's game day changes are causing outrage among the cheer and dance teams

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The backlash stems from a recent decision by Wichita State University to move some of its cheer and dance team members from the court to the stands during basketball games.

In an effort to bring in more revenue, WSU has introduced premium courtyard seating, which now takes up some of the space previously occupied by members of the cheer and dance teams.

Under the new plan, half of the cheer and dance teams will remain on the field during games, while the other half will be moved to the first two rows of the student section. Spirit team members may only enter the field during halftime and timeouts.

This decision has caused confusion and frustration among current and former team members, who argue that the energy and enthusiasm they bring to the game is essential to the fan experience.

“Spirit squads play an important role in your marketing,” says former WSU cheerleader Mason Pitts. “They create your entire gameday experience. It’s more than just cheering; it’s about setting the energy, leading the crowd and making the game feel alive.

Pitts also expressed concerns about the feasibility of the changes.

“(I’m) a little confused how it would work if they’re in the student section because there’s a lot of running to the court,” Pitts said. “I didn’t know how they would facilitate that.”

WSU defends its changes

WSU athletic director Kevin Saal discussed the changes in an interview on KHF Radio, emphasizing that the decision was ultimately about financial sustainability. He acknowledged that while the move may be unpopular with some, it is a necessary step to ensure the university remains competitive with other programs.

“There are decisions of the head and there are decisions of the heart,” Saal explains. “Sometimes the two can conflict.”

Saal highlighted the growing financial pressures facing college sports, including the rising costs of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals, scholarships and the increasing need for schools to generate additional revenue.

“We need about $7 million to stay competitive here for the next nine to 10 months,” Saal said. “We will have to make some incredibly difficult decisions and certainly not communicate that this is the least difficult decision, but in the end we have not cut back on funding.”

Saal said the introduction of premium seating would generate an additional $220,000 in revenue for the WSU athletic department. He said the money could support not only the cheer and dance programs, but also the university’s 16 varsity sports.

Comments from other schools

To better understand how WSU’s decision compares to other schools, FactFinder contacted universities within the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Four schools responded and provided insight into their game day lineups.

Florida Atlantic Ocean has two rows of first-class seats, but the spirit team remains on the field in front of them.
UAB keeps its squads on the field during games, with the school emphasizing that moving the squads to the stands eliminates their ability to fully engage with the crowd.
Eastern Carolina And Memphis have a similar format to WSU, with members of the cheer and dance teams on the field and in the stands. However, Memphis officials warned that any changes to the spirit team’s lineup would likely draw strong reactions from fans.

Wichita State’s basketball season has already started. The Shockers will take on Montana State on Saturday, November 9 at 6:00 PM