Hello and welcome to another fun FOIAball. At least, I think it’s a fun one. This post is packed with records from tons of schools on a topic I bet you’ll love.
Who spent the most on fireworks in 2025?
When Virginia Tech went into halftime down 28-0 against Old Dominion in Week Three, pretty much everyone in Blacksburg was okay with paying the $6 million it would take to get Brent Pry off the sidelines.
But he wound up costing the Hokies a few more bucks on his way out.
With just 19 minutes to go in his head coaching career, Tech finally found the end zone. In the fourth quarter, they strung together three more touchdowns.
The final score? A slightly more respectable 45-26.
Not enough to save his job. But score during a college game in 2025, and no matter the deficit—yes, we’ll get to that one incident—the home team is shooting off fireworks.
Pry’s garbage time rally added $4,000 to the Hokies’ tab, a grand for each inconsequential touchdown.
Heading into that game, VT was already reeling at 0-2. But it was still an in-state, sunset showdown at Lane Stadium. Which merits a full production.
As the team charged through the tunnel while Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” blared, fireworks ringing the stadium blasted into the sky. On the field, towers shot out flames as CO2 cannons spewed cold fog.
The cost for one of college football’s most iconic intros? $25,500.
The total pyrotechnic bill that night: $31,740.
This season, the Hokies went 2-5 at home. Across those seven games, the school spent a total of $120,620 on fireworks.
That sum was good for third-most… in its own state. Up I-81, JMU dropped $124,850. Further down I-64, UVA paid $128,737.
To see whose pre-game and post-score fireworks displays cost the most in 2025, FOIAball obtained spending for teams across the country, ranging from playoff contenders to bottom-feeders.
The biggest tab? At the time of publication, the top spender surprised us. Rutgers. But apparently, they put on an extravagant show for Blackout Friday.
Then we got more results after this post went live. Let’s just say, the SEC can’t handle anyone stealing its football glory.
