Monday, June 08, 2009

Things We Thought We'd Never See: Free Parking at Dodger Stadium

Happy Monday morning! Need some good news to get your week started off right? Here it is. From a Dodgers press release:

As the school season closes and spring turns into summer, the Los Angeles Dodgers will provide Free Parking in the general lots at Dodger Stadium for the three-game series June 16-18 versus the Oakland Athletics. Gates open at 5:10 p.m. and game times are 7:10 p.m.

Fans will be able to enter all Dodger Stadium gates, where the $15 parking fee will be waived for entrance into the general lots. Fans who have purchased preferred parking will still park in their sections.

"This gesture is our latest initiative to help ensure that all of our fans can enjoy our National Pastime at Dodger Stadium," said Dodger CEO Jamie McCourt, who helped create the Commissioner's Fan Initiative at the beginning of this season. "With the conclusion of the school year, we want to make it even easier for families to spend their summer evenings with us."

A classy gesture to Dodger fans, to be sure. Completely unnecessary, completely unexpected and a fine way to gain positive publicity while increasing attendance.

But — smokers know there's always a but! — what of those poor unfortunate souls who have already had to pre-pay for parking? Does this mean the Dodgers have essentially picked $45 from the pockets of every season-ticket holder?

Since this free parking promotion favors the common fan, I'm all for it. But it also proves there's no pleasing everybody. And there's no crying in baseball. Somehow it proves that too.

2 comments:

Brandon said...

Monopoly was the first thing I thought of too.

Steve Sax said...

As a season-ticket holder who pre-paid for parking back in January-- I feel like I've gone directly to jail.