Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jan 15, 2007 18:57:48 GMT -6
Hike! Bears fans paying more for playoff parking
As beer flowed, sausages sizzled and chants of "Da Bears" thundered through the seas of cars, SUVs and vans surrounding Soldier Field on Sunday, the vast majority of the blue-and-orange clad Bears' nation was simply happy to be there.
Before the game, few who crowded around the stadium were thinking about the parking lots where they tailgated, much less how much they paid to be there.
But though they refused to let it ruin their fun, some fans noticed a difference: The fee they forked over to park in certain lots was a bit higher than they remembered.
The Chicago Park District, which owns Soldier Field and sets aside three nearby lots for games, bumped its parking fee to $60 per vehicle for each of the two playoff games at the Bears' home stadium, up from the $40 it charges for regular-season games, a Park District spokeswoman said.
The increase price hike came in the midst of a turf battle between the Bears and Park District officials. Soldier Field has been resodded for the playoff games and both groups say the other should pick up the $70,000 tab.
"The Bears received $600,000 for a number of playoff-related expenses, including field preparation," she said. "I'd compare the raise in parking rates with the raise in ticket prices. The Bears have special-event ticket prices, so there's special-event parking prices."
The parking increase surprised some people, but for others it was worth the cost to see their team perhaps march to a championship.
"I would just as soon pay the money," said Dennis Dobbs, 53, of Plainfield. "To me, it's actually worth that money to be this close to the stadium."
The change was in effect Sunday, during the Bears' divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, at the lots at Northerly Island, Burnham Harbor and the Adler Planetarium, said Jessica Maxey-Faulkner, a spokeswoman for the Park District.
The district also will charge the higher fee for next week's NFC championship game versus the New Orleans Saints.
"It's the same as with ticket prices," said Bill Platt, who tailgated with about a dozen friends in the Burnham Harbor lot about an hour before kickoff. "We're being taken advantage of.
"You expect anything from the Park District. Look at a property tax bill; look how much of it goes to the Park District."
Another reveler agreed.
"For $60 for city parking, you'd think they'd have a decent bathroom situation," said Rick Ryfa, 42, of Griffith, Ind. "Those bathrooms they have out here are terrible."
Still, the higher fee didn't stop them from having a good time.
Source:
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-0701150113jan15,1,1216444.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
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Two issues here. The greedy bastards who charge everyday citizens extortion prices even on non-event days. And the goofs who gladly hand over the cash with a smile.
It curtails museum visitors all around the campus.