The price of playing: A closer look at the cost of sport at Warwick

With prices continuing to rise and students struggling to make ends meet, it is perhaps unsurprising that the number of people taking part in university sport has hit a stumbling block.

What is more surprising, however, is that the number of students participating in on-campus sports clubs looks set to fall, not just below last year’s levels but to their lowest level since before the pandemic.

A joint investigation by The Boar’s Sport and News team has found that 3849 students have purchased a Warwick Sport On-Campus Sports Pass, which allows access to individual sports club memberships, so far this academic year. That marks a fall of over 150 from last year (4,013) to its lowest since the 2020/21 academic year – when sports clubs, like all other aspects of university life, were hit by Covid restrictions. Whilst the academic year is not yet over, a low uptake of student sports over the next five months could mean that participation in on-campus student sport falls to its lowest level since pre-pandemic.

The decline in students taking part in student sports coincides with a sharp increase in the cost of student sports memberships in recent years

The findings come amid growing concern among students over the cost of memberships, with a recent survey by The Boar News finding that 91% of students think that the cost of a Sports Club Pass is too high.

The decline in students taking part in student sports coincides with a sharp increase in the cost of student sports memberships in recent years. Whilst the Sports Federation fee has decreased by 25%, the On-Campus Sports Club Pass – which, this year, costs £71.50 – has increased 30% in the last five years from £55 in the 2019/20 academic year.

Off-campus sports have not faced such an increase in costs, with the Off-Campus pass increasing only 23% in the same period – from £26 to £32. Perhaps that explains the quirk in The Boar’s findings that the number of people taking part in off-campus sports, which includes Riding and Sailing, has reached its highest number (717) at the same time as on-campus sports reaches a low.

Of those who participated in a recent poll by The Boar Sport, 63% are currently members of a sports society, 25% are not, and 12% used to be.

When asked if cost was the reason why respondents were not members of sports societies, 75% said it was the sole reason why and 25% said it was a factor in them not joining. Further to this, 75% of people said that the reason for them leaving a sports society was because it was too expensive, and the remaining 25% said that cost contributed to their decision to leave.

A spokesperson for Team Warwick told The Boar Sport that they “are currently unable to offer a termly membership”

One solution to this is a restructuring of the current fee-paying system. Currently, sports membership is paid upfront, however, instead the cost could be split termly. Some respondents would prefer this method of payment and the majority of those who are not currently in a sports society would be more likely to rejoin if these termly payments were not a yearlong commitment.

Perhaps, the way to get students into sport is to give them the opportunity to try membership for a term without having to commit to the full year; this way they have time to decide whether the club is for them instead of being forced to stop participating or purchase a yearly membership a couple weeks into term once taster training sessions are over.

In response to this suggestion of a restructuring to payments, 87.5% of those who have never been in a sports society said that they would join if they could pay membership termly and opt out if necessary. 100% of those who were once in a sports society shared this sentiment.

However, a spokesperson for Team Warwick told The Boar Sport that they “are currently unable to offer a termly membership”. Although, they do “offer a significantly discounted rate for students who wish to purchase a Sports Club Pass after term 1, as well as a half-price offer for students who are only attending Warwick for a single term”.

70% of respondents who are currently sports club members pay extra fees in addition to their membership

Even after a sports club membership has been purchased, the costs continue to fly in for student-athletes. 70% of respondents who are currently sports club members pay extra fees in addition to their membership. A respondent described the way that these added costs can spiral as “extraordinary”. These costs can be for training sessions, coaches, kit, and competition entry and one respondent described the way that they can spiral as “extraordinary”. A member of Warwick Futsal told The Boar Sport that mandatory kit for games ends up costing at least £100.

Team Warwick explained that the introduction of the ‘Sportswear for All’ fund allows students to apply for individual grants for kits and equipment. This initiative is an addition to the Sports Officer Bursary which gives Sports Club Passes to students who are financially struggling.

Another provision offered at the University is the Rock Up and Play programme. According to Team Warwick, an expansion of this provision “now delivers over 60 hours of zero-cost sport for Warwick students every week”. When asked if they participate in Rock Up and Play sessions, 88% of respondents said that they do not. This suggests that students are either unaware of or not willing to attend, these free sessions.

The cost of student gym memberships at Warwick has been steadily increasing since the new Sports and Wellness Hub opened six years ago

Some non-sport societies have sports secretaries on their executive committees who organise participation in intramural leagues and relaxed training sessions for lower costs. One respondent explained that the cost of hiring pitches acts as a “huge barrier” when trying to carry out this role as “it’s just infeasibly expensive”. This makes it difficult for these cheaper sporting provisions to be supplied and makes it hard for those who don’t want “the commitment or intimidating nature of clubs” to be a part of group physical activity.

Those who do want to stay active without getting involved in sports clubs can find that the gym is the perfect alternative. Team Warwick informed The Boar Sport of the recent investments in the Sports and Wellness Hub, including a £1 million gym renovation. Although, a gym membership at the Hub too can come at a cost – and an increasing one at that.

The cost of student gym memberships at Warwick has been steadily increasing since the new Sports and Wellness Hub opened six years ago. In the 2019/20 academic year – the first since the Hub’s opening – an annual inclusive Warwick Sport membership cost £299. This year, that same membership cost £356.

That increase hasn’t been met with an increase in students joining the gym. Sports memberships are back in line with post-pandemic levels and falling by over 600 since their peak in 2022/23. A total of 3421 students bought an annual Warwick Sport membership, as of the end of November 2024 – compared to a peak of 4030 in 2022/23.

For many students who live off-campus, other options prove more viable to them than attending the Sports Hub gym

For many students who live off-campus, other options prove more viable to them than attending the Sports Hub gym, perhaps suggesting that the University’s offering of sports may not be the most affordable option.

Residents at student blocks like The Oaks or Vita Student, for example, have free access to the accommodation’s gym spaces. Leamington residents also have the choice of local gyms such as Puregym, where memberships cost £28.99 a month, working out at £347.88 a year. Whilst Puregym may not offer the same options as Warwick Sport, with some memberships including swimming and climbing access, the monthly payment plans and ‘leave anytime’ option mean students can pause memberships when they go home.

Talia, a second-year student who swapped her Warwick gym membership for a Puregym membership this year, said: “One big factor was that, even though, Puregym is overall not dissimilar in price to the Sports Hub, you can pay monthly unlike a huge sum in one go at Warwick, helping cash flow.”

More must be done to ensure that, regardless of their financial situation, every student can join a sport club if they wish to

In response to queries regarding gym memberships, and sports club costs, from The Boar Sport, Team Warwick said: “We are always working to ensure that our sporting environment is as accessible as possible for our student population and that we deliver maximum value for money.” It seems, however, that despite these efforts, students are finding university sport too “expensive” and that, therefore, more must be done to ensure that, regardless of their financial situation, every student can join a sport club if they wish to.