In the world of competitive cheerleading, parents expect to invest in their athlete’s passion—uniforms, travel, and gym fees all come with the territory. But for families competing at major cheer events, one additional cost has sparked controversy for years: Stay-to-Play.
Stay-to-Play policies require cheer teams to book hotel accommodations through designated travel providers to be eligible to compete. In most cases, Families cannot choose to stay with relatives, use reward points, or seek out cheaper alternatives. Instead, they must stay at preselected hotels—often at inflated rates and sometimes 45 minutes or more from the competition venue—with hidden rebates funneled back to the event producer.
For years, this practice has frustrated cheer parents and gym owners who feel trapped by expensive lodging fees. While event producers claim Stay-to-Play ensures fair pricing and a streamlined experience, parents argue they could book accommodations for significantly less on their own. Some event producers may offer the best rate for a specific hotel, but families who shop around said they always find cheaper alternatives.
A lawsuit filed in Tennessee exposed the financial burden these policies place on families. The suit alleged that a major cheerleading event producer, Varsity, collected millions in hidden hotel rebates—money that came straight from parents’ pockets.
Some of the largest cheerleading event producers have enforced Stay-to-Play policies for years. Internal company documents, revealed during litigation, showed that executives acknowledged the practice was unpopular. In response, they rebranded the requirement to Stay Smart, but the core issue remained unchanged. As part of the settlement, Varsity agreed to limit stay-to-play requirements but did not eliminate the practice entirely.
Court records showed that Varsity was making as much as $4 million annually from hotel rebates. Some agreements included event producers receiving up to $20 per booked room or a 30% cut of the booking agent’s commission. This meant parents were unknowingly paying extra fees, while being told they were getting the best deal.
Traveling to cheerleading competitions is already a major financial undertaking. Between flights, gym fees, competition entry costs, and uniforms, families often spend thousands each season. Stay-to-Play policies force them into an even tighter corner, removing their ability to budget effectively.
For example, a family attending a major competition may be required to book a three-night stay at a designated hotel at $189 per night. If they had the option to stay with family or find a more affordable room at $120 per night, they could save hundreds of dollars. However, those savings are lost under Stay-to-Play.
Some other sports tournaments offer a buyout option, allowing teams to pay a flat fee to avoid the lodging requirement. But these fees can run as high as $2,400 per team—yet another financial hurdle for families already stretching their budgets.
Stay-to-Play policies are coming under increasing scrutiny. Legal experts argue that these policies may violate antitrust laws by forcing families into transactions they wouldn’t choose otherwise. While some event producers have settled legal disputes over their pricing structures, Stay-to-Play remains in place at many major competitions.
Not every youth sports tournament requires a hotel stay. But according to the Sports Events & Tourism Association, a nonprofit that tracks the business of traveling to watch or play sports, nearly 40% of tournament destinations did in 2023, down from 60% in 2021.
Sports travel is a huge market for hotels. According to Sports ETA, 63% of destinations in 2023 said sports are their largest generator of room nights. U.S. sports travelers booked 73.5 million room nights in 2023 and spent $10.9 billion on lodging.
Some parents are calling for more transparency, demanding that event producers disclose exactly how much they’re receiving in rebates from hotels. Others believe that Stay-to-Play should be eliminated altogether, allowing families the freedom to book accommodations that fit their needs.
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