Paid parking will be implemented at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge beginning Sept. 1, 2022. (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Paid parking coming to the ENMAX Centre in September

May 3, 2022 | 7:07 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Paid parking is coming to the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge.

The City of Lethbridge has announced that starting 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.”

When it is implemented, those wishing to park at the ENMAX Centre will have to pay a $5 parking fee.

Staff at the ENMAX Centre will work and communicate with organizations that surround the venue, like Lethbridge College and the Lethbridge Soccer Association, as well as with the City’s Regulatory Services department in supporting neighborhoods and businesses that could be affected.

The implementation of paid parking was a recommendation from the City’s third-party operational review in 2019. As part of the 2021-2022 Operating Budget, it was originally approved by the previous City Council on December 14, 2020. Then, in August 2021, the previous City Council voted unanimously to delay the implementation of paid parking until Fall 2022. That decision was made partly in response to the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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At its April 26, 2022 meeting, the current City Council voted 5-4 in favour of accepting the ENMAX Centre Parking Update. As part of this resolution, Council also directed administration to proceed with investigating a City Sponsorship Program. That includes the drafting of a policy and an inventory of assets available for sponsors.

The ENMAX Centre parking program will use the current City of Lethbridge parking system. Users can pay through the City’s parking app, which is already used in Downtown Lethbridge, at kiosks in the lot or in the venue, which will be equipped with car tap service.

LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES

Season ticket holders for the Lethbridge Hurricanes will not have to pay for parking. The City of Lethbridge noted that was a decision made to help lessen the impact on the Hurricanes’ organization.

There are about 2,100 Hurricanes season ticket holders. This will leave about 800 people on average to pay for parking, which accounts for approximately 400 vehicles during Hurricanes games.

Game night users will have ample time to pay for parking, as the plan is not to begin enforcement until 30 minutes after a game starts. This will allow fans to go to their seats and still have time to pay for parking from their cell phone app once they are seated.

Lethbridge Hurricanes Governor Doug Paisley said they were not aware that paid parking would be implemented and the organization is opposed to the change.

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

LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE

Lethbridge College students will have to pay for parking at the ENMAX Centre after September 1, 2022. Students currently have to pay for parking on the college campus, as well as at the University of Lethbridge. The fee structure at the ENMAX Centre will be similar to campus in providing daily, weekly, monthly and semester rates. Those rates will be determined in the near future.

The ENMAX Centre parking lots have been used as an overflow parking area, and in other cases to avoid charges. The City said that students who cannot afford parking will have the opportunity to use Lethbridge Transit.

The ENMAX Centre is one of the few venues of its size that does not currently have a parking charge within its operations. Staff at the venue will begin their communication and marketing plan for the implementation of paid parking in June, 2022.