The Coyotes' new parking plan "depends partially on the far-fetched scenario that hockey fans will pay $10 to $30 to park in lots controlled by the team, rather than access free parking in adjacent lots -- some of which are closer to the arena," according to Paul Giblin of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The Coyotes manage "about 5,500 parking spaces," while the Westgate Entertainment District "manages about 3,000." Previously, "most parking for Coyotes games was free." Parking fees are "critical to the Coyotes' new management-agreement with Glendale" to run the city-owned Jobing.com Arena. The deal calls for the city to pay the team $15M annually for 15 years to run the arena, with the team "reimbursing the city" a projected $9M a year "using revenue derived partly through parking fees." Coyotes co-Owner, President & CEO Anthony LeBlanc said, "The reality is that most fans understood that paid parking was a requirement that we had with the city of Glendale during our negotiations. The city needed to recoup some of their revenues, and obviously, we as a franchise need to increase our revenue base to make this a going concern here in Glendale." Giblin notes the Cardinals, Suns and D-Backs "have charged for parking for years." Teetsel Properties Principal Jeff Teetsel, whose company manages Westgate, said that the Coyotes' intention to charge for their lots "has no effect on Westgate’s intention to keep its lots free." Cardinals VP/Media Relations Mark Dalton said that team execs are "considering whether to open the lots and charge for spaces" they control during Coyotes games. The Cardinals expect to "discuss the matter with Coyotes management" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/29).
