By Tyana Williams - bio | email
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - A new plan by LSU to charge fans for parking next football season is the talk of Tiger Town and beyond.
University officials blame the move on budget cuts. However, some fans argue they already pay enough for tickets to the games.
"One game maybe, but when you add it up over a season, adds to money people spending on tickets, concessions, it seems a little too much to me," said Don Ingram.
Parking in the Levee Lot on River Road, the Hayfield Lot on Gourrier Avenue and in the lot on the Old Front Nine will set you back $20 each game. The Highland Road and Tower Drive lots will cost $40 and those who bring a trailer on campus on game days will pay $50.
"You are already paying a lot of money for the tickets toward the Tigers, but this price structure looks like it should be cut in half, I think," Ingram added.
LSU spokesperson Herb Vincent reiterated the fee is due to budget cuts.
"We've heard from sides that say, ‘This was free, why you charging us?'" said Vincent. "We've heard from others say, ‘Bout time you did that.'"
According to Vincent, the athletic department has lost $1.4 million and parking will be a new revenue source. He explained fans who park on the lots have demanded more restroom facilities, so the fees will help pay for some. They will also help with cleaning up after the tailgaters.
Ingram complained paying to park is a reasonable idea, but the price isn't right. Vincent claimed officials looked at what people were paying to park on private property around the university.
LSU representatives will pass out flyers at this weekend's game that show the new parking prices.
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