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Changes coming to WSN Extra subscription service

01/31/2025, 2:00pm CST
By Travis Wilson

An important update from the WSN team:

WisSports.net has served high school sports fans in Wisconsin for more than 20 years as the go-to resource scores, stats, standings, statewide leaders, news, analysis, and much more. Over that time we've gone through many changes, from different parent companies to different platforms to new design looks.

It's time for another change at WSN, as beginning today, all WSN Extra subscription content will be published ONLY on our WSN extra site at www.extra.wissports.net.

We have utilized the SportsEngine platform for both written content and league management information (rosters, schedules, scores, etc) since we were acquired by the company in 2012. It served as a system to manage all of our information, even after we joined initially the VNN family and now as part of PlayOn, GoFan, and VNN. 

However, SportsEngine has updated its back-end tools and will no longer support recurring subscriptions and paywalls. We previously launched the WSN Extra content site in May of 2023, with any new subscriptions purchased since that time going through that platform.

However, subscribers who had purchased a WSN Extra subscription prior to May of 2023 were still able to renew subscriptions and read content on our legacy site of WisSports.net.

This meant we were publishing all articles twice -- once on the legacy WSN site for those older subscribers as well as on the new WSN Extra content site for more recent subscribers.

Last year, SportsEngine informed us that they would no longer process renewals on the legacy site either. No subscribers who purchased a subscription on the legacy WSN site have been charged since January of 2024. We kept many accounts active well after their subscriptions had stopped being charged in order to reduce the negative impacts and as a thank you for subscribing in the past. Some users got 10 months or more of free access.

However, that time has ended, and going forward all premium, subscription content with be published ONLY on the new WSN Extra platform at www.extra.wissports.net.

We know this is not ideal, as it creates two environments and platforms for users: one for premium content, and another for free content that includes press releases, polls, basic information, non-exclusive content plus the data side for scores, schedules, rosters, stats, etc. These sites and platforms operate separately, and require separate logins. Trust us, we would much rather manage one platform as well, but there are very limited tools that would provide all of the things we need for all parts of our business.

What does this mean for you, the users?

  • First and foremost we want to do everything we can to minimize the impact on our readers and fans, who have helped us become a unique entity in the entire country. 
  • For clarity purposes, we will be referring to the SportsEngine site as the "legacy" site, with the site and platform we are moving to as the "new" site.
  • For those with a WSN Extra subscription purchased on our new content site at extra.wissports.net since May of 2023, there are no changes for you!!!
  • For those with a WSN Extra subscription that was originally purchased on the legacy site prior to May of 2023, you will now need to purchase a subscription on the WSN Extra content site at www.extra.wissports.net. Subscription articles will no longer be published on the legacy site.
  • All league type data (rosters, schedules, scores, box scores, etc) will remain on the legacy site.
  • There are no changes to how and where coaches manage their teams, enter stats, update rosters, etc.
  • Written content that does not require a WSN Extra subscription will also remain on the legacy site (press releases, polls, basic information, non-exclusive content plus the data side for scores, schedules, rosters, stats, etc.)
  • We will be updating both our legacy site and our new site to easily allow users to navigate back and forth between the two sites with ease, including article lists of WSN Extra content on the legacy site as well as links from the new site to view team data on the legacy site.
  • When we publish articles on our social media channels, we will now include "(Extra)" on those articles that will direct to the WSN Extra content site and require a subscription.

Going Forward, and a Thank You

We understand this process will cause some disruptions for our existing subscribers and will result in questions from our users. We will continue to do everything we can to minimize the interruptions, allow a smooth transition, and continue to provide high-quality original content that you have come to know and trust from our dedicated staff at WisSports.net. 

We do not take this process lightly and would not be doing so if we were not required as a result of the changes from SportsEngine.

We thank you for your continued patronage of WisSports.net.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Travis Wilson, General Manager & Football Writer 
Norbert Durst, Content Manager & Girls Basketball Writer
Colton Wilson, Boys Basketball Writer & Events Director
Liz Rudolph, Account Executive


About the Author

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

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