Game Day Sticker Shock: Michigan Families Are Paying More Across the Board for Fall Sports

Football season in Michigan should be a time for family fun and celebration, but with tailgating food, streaming services, and sports equipment becoming increasingly expensive, it’s getting harder and harder to enjoy fall sports. 

Tariffs that the Trump administration put on Canadian goods are projected to increase the cost of hockey equipment like sticks and helmets. Congress has taken multiple votes to try and rein in these and other tariffs. Congressmen Tom Barrett (MI-07), John James (MI-10), and Bill Huizenga (MI-04) voted five times in support of tariffs. Tailgating foods have increased 10% since 2025, with a pound of ground beef up 14.8% and hamburger buns up 8.8%. 

“Tailgating used to be the cheap way to take part in fall football season. Now, between the food, the streaming subscriptions just to watch the games, and gas, it's turned into a real expense for my family,” said Michael, who lives in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District. “With tariffs making everything so expensive, I’m worried I won’t be able to host as many tailgates or have friends and family over to watch a game on the weekends.”

Now that the school year is here, parents driving to sports practices are feeling the pain of high gas prices driven up by the Iran War. In Lansing, gas prices jumped 60 cents a gallon in just one week. Michigan families deserve to enjoy football season without breaking the bank, but between grocery costs, sports equipment, and gas prices, they can’t catch a break.