I recently read the the city is considering raising the cost of event parking from $2/vehicle to $5/vehicle. I am writing to ask that is item NOT be approved.
I feel that by rasing the price of event parking, you will be limiting the amount of people who attend the events downtown. Afterall the majority of people at these events have already paid $20-$50 for the event, and will be supporting the city in purchases in the concession area of the facility which is attended. Also there are the volunteers, that are at these events, it would be a great amount more to pay to volunteer to help our, and raising the rate would be a punishment for offering your service, or for deceiding to attend the event.
For example, There are 33 Games played by the Guelph Storm, at the Sleeman Center in a season (2010-2011), at $2/game a person would pay $66 to park in the event parking, which is acceptable, however at $5 per game a person would be required to pay $165, nearly $100 more to attend. This is not acceptable. And is restrictive to some people. I sure know that an extra $100, would stop me from being able to volunteer at the Sleeman center, something I very much enjoy. We are trying to draw people to the downtoen core, and give them reason’s to come downtown, not provide reasons not to come downtown.
I firmly believe that raising the price of event parking will deter folks from coming to events in the downtown core.
I always hear that the city is just adjusting things to agree with others cities,However if your gonna use that EXCUSE, you must remember the most cities DO NOT CHARGE FOR PARKING. For example Kitchener, and Brampton have FREE parking at OHL games.
I propose that for once we stand on our own feet as a city and do it a little different. How are we to have our own identity if all we do is just do what others do? After all we are Guelphites, and we have our own way of doing things.DG