The city of Pittsburgh and city parking authority "forgo tens of thousands of dollars each year because the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins aren't required to pay for metered parking spaces that are taken out of service for games and concerts," according to Joe Smydo of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Meanwhile, dozens of other organizations, businesses and individuals are "required to pay when they take metered on-street spaces out of service for festivals, fundraisers and other events." Officials said that the city, not the parking authority, "decided to forgo the meter revenue for games." From Jan. 1, 2010, through March 6, 2013, the "city and parking authority took in more than $577,000 by renting metered spaces for periods ranging from one day to several months." Records showed that "none of that money came from the Pirates, Steelers or Penguins ... even though the city repeatedly blocked off meters for the teams' events." Police officer Chrissy Gasiorowski, who helps handle special events, said that the "suspension of on-street parking was incorporated into traffic-management plans for the venues." While other groups "pay 50 cents for each 'no parking' sign and post the signs themselves, the sports teams do neither." Officials in Baltimore and Cleveland said that those cities also "bag meters around sports venues without charging teams for lost revenue." The Pirates this season will play 67 home games, "held Monday through Saturday and affect the public's use of about 77 metered spaces around PNC Park." The city and authority "would make $128,975 by requiring the Bucs to pay for spaces blocked off for games." The Penguins have "played 16 home games that were held Monday through Saturday and affected the public's use of 41 metered spaces around Consol Energy Center." The team has "one more weeknight home game and two more Saturday home games before the regular season ends." The city and authority "would make $7,790 by charging the Pens for use of those spaces" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/14).
