ENMAX Centre. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Canes uninformed of new paid parking at ENMAX Centre, will impact attendance

May 3, 2022 | 3:48 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes are speaking out after this week’s announcement that patrons of the ENMAX Centre will soon have to pay for parking.

The City of Lethbridge announced that effective September 1, 2022, paid parking will be introduced at the venue “as a fair and equitable way to generate revenue from users,” and “to reduce the ENMAX Centre’s reliance on support from Lethbridge taxpayers.”

Drivers will have to pay a $5 parking fee while Lethbridge College students who park at the arena will have to pay a daily, weekly, monthly, or semester rate. Lethbridge Hurricanes season ticket holders will be exempt from the paid parking provision.

Lethbridge Hurricanes Governor and Board Chair Doug Paisley issued a statement in response, saying that they were not aware that the new parking system would be implemented.

“We feel compelled to respond to an online statement issued by the City of Lethbridge yesterday through its website and set the record straight. The release implied that the Hurricanes have been well informed of the changes to parking and that negotiations had taken place. This simply is not true. While our lease contains a provision for revenue sharing from any implementation of paid parking, the City has engaged in no such negotiations to date.”

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Paisley believes that the city’s decision will have a “profound impact on the game day experience of fans and, consequently, the revenues of our operations.”

Outside of Calgary and Edmonton, Lethbridge will be one of the WHL’s few clubs to have paid parking.

He notes that other WHL facilities, including Red Deer and Medicine Hat, have done away with paid parking due to the negative impacts it was having on revenues and operations.

“The Hurricanes have been transparent and clear in all past communications with city officials with respect to paid parking. Paid parking is a detriment to our fans and will have negative impacts. We have welcomed the opportunity to discuss alternatives but have yet to be consulted directly.”

While Paisley continues to state that he is disappointed in the paid parking decision, he hopes to reopen discussions with the city.

“It is our hope that City Council will immediately reconsider their decision and commit to working with key stakeholders like the Hurricanes to seek mutually beneficial solutions and appropriate business models based on the best available evidence and industry practices.”

Currently, there are about 2,100 Lethbridge Hurricanes season ticket holders. They will not be required to pay for parking.

READ MORE: Paid parking coming to the ENMAX Centre in September