Southern California - Twilight races in So-Cal, do you pay?

Our local club puts on a pretty snazzy spring/summer series and in years past it has been about $6 a race which I found Ok. This year they are requiring a $20 licence and $8 a race with is a pretty big jump up. Just trying to get a feel for other areas as I hear So-Cal twilights are mostly free, right/wrong?

Our El Dorado Park Tuesday night series is pay to play. $8 if you hold a CBR license, $12 without. This is on a closed course in a large regional park. The unsanctioned twilight races (training rides) like The Rosebowl are free.

Rose bowl is free tues and thurs that a great training ride.
Bud's is free on wed's too and is awesome. We are lucky..
Makes me wonder why people pay to do crits!

I pay $8 a week because it's a cool way to spend an hour and the people putting it together deserve the money. The park isn't free. They pay to rent it. They organize the numbers. They score the race. They keep track of the points totals. They make sure the Eldo series happens every year. What do they net? I'd say Chris and Vera probably make $100 a week and probably put 10 hours a week into it. Yes, they could probably make a better wage working at a fast food joint, but they love the sport and put a bunch of work into it. It's the best money I spend all week.

There is also the World Champoin's ride @ Fiesta on thursday night 6pm sharp.

If the race is actually sanctioned by any org (USAC, CBR, ATRA), you're going to end up paying something.

I race at the SD Velodrome, Tuesday Nights, $5 for SD Velodrome Association members, $10 for non-members, no license.

For yours, what is this $20 "license"? Is this their own license?