By Jolène Savoie
The days of hassle-free entertainment at the Civic Centre are over.
Ottawa 67’s fans will now have to shell out loonies and toonies to pay for parking at Lansdowne Park.
The new system, which began Jan. 2, means event parking will cost $3 and other parking is $1 an hour, with a daily maximum of $6. All revenue will go to the City of Ottawa.
Patrons will now drive through one of the eight tollbooths and gates. They pay on the way in when there’s an event and on the way out all other times. On non-event days the parking operates from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., but times may vary depending on the event.
Jeff Hunt, owner of the Ottawa 67’s, says although pay parking isn’t a positive change, it’s necessary.
“It’s a fact of life,” he says. “Three years ago we thought they were going to put a bulldozer to the building. The Region (now the City of Ottawa) stepped in and saved the day, and if they were gonna take over they had to bring in revenue.”
Hunt says he hasn’t received many complaints from fans about having to pay and he doesn’t think it will be an obstacle.
Rick Haycock, Lansdowne Park coordinator, says most of the complaints he’s received were from people frustrated with being stuck in their car at the first game, not with having to pay the fee.
“I think the majority of people understand and accept the need for pay parking,” he says. “But at the same time it has to be done well.”
Ottawa 67’s fans were caught off guard at the first game of the new year. Faulty equipment and bad organization caused traffic jams along Bank Street and at the entrance of the park. Fans complained about having to wait in their cars to get in the park, and to leave after the game.
But things ran smoothly for the next game. There were no lineups, no traffic jams, and police-directed traffic to facilitate traffic flow to and from Bank Street.
Patrick Desrosiers, event coordinator at Lansdowne Park, was directing traffic on game night. He says now that parking is fully set up and ready, there won’t be any more problems.
“Today, I see smiles,” says Desrosiers. “People don’t mind paying because it’ll help improve the condition and value of the park.”
Ken Kehoe attends Ottawa 67’s games periodically. He says he agrees with the new pay parking. “It’s a user fee,” says Kehoe. “I’m here, I’m at the games, I should help support the team and the people who work at the games.”
But Dave York, a 67’s season-ticket holder, says it’s a hassle. He says he doesn’t mind paying a reasonable amount so long as it’s quick and easy.
“Two dollars would be easier,” he says. “You just have to pull out a toonie. Make it easy on the people and they’ll pay it.”
This year season ticket holders get free parking. Hunt says although they will have to pay for parking next year, to compensate for this year’s free ride, there will be no increase on season and game tickets.