DPS students lose out on free tickets to 'Monster Jam'

Students given vouchers for showing up on district's Count Day

DETROIT – Detroit Public Schools students who were given Monster Jam vouchers on Count Day as an incentive to show up were turned away at the door Saturday.

Earlier this month, DPS students were given an incentive to come to school: a free pair of tickets to a Monster Jam event at Ford Field. But the incentive came with a catch -- tickets were first come, first served, and as it turned out, there weren't enough available to get students into the event.

Mackail Whitticker, 6, was looking forward to the Monster Jam Rally all week, but the family won't get to go.

"From the program's inception, it has been communicated that tickets were available on a first-come, first-served basis, in addition to other standard restrictions," the promoter of the event, Feld Motor Sports, told Local 4. "We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion at the box office that anyone may have experienced."

One family was also told that their vouchers wouldn't be honored. So Tyrone Carswell paid $76 for tickets -- an extra challenge on a tight budget.

"This program was organized and conducted by Feld Motor Sports, Inc., and DPS has expressed its strongest concerns regarding any inconvenience caused to parents," Detroit Public Schools officials said in a statement.

It was obvious that if every child and guardian showed up Saturday that there would not be enough seats at Ford Field. Local 4 asked the promoter how many vouchers would be honored. The promoter said it didn't know the specific number, but its best guess was several thousand.

DPS did not return Local 4's calls.


About the Author:

Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. Education: B.A. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism