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Parking fee hike may go to Bolts

Tampa agrees to revisit the agreement that gives money to the team only if garage and lot receipts top $750,000.

By JANET ZINK
Published April 18, 2006

TAMPA - In an effort to direct more money to the Tampa Bay Lightning, city officials have agreed to reconsider their 11-year-old parking agreement with the team.

Lightning president Ron Campbell said he has repeatedly asked Mayor Pam Iorio to reconsider the arrangement so the franchise can have a share of parking revenues generated by city garages and lots during events at the team's home, the St. Pete Times Forum.

Iorio previously balked at the idea. But at a meeting last week, she agreed to take a look at the agreement.

Possible changes include adding a surcharge for the Lightning onto the city parking fee, or raising rates and giving the team a share of parking fees.

Under the agreement, crafted in 1995, the Lightning can get a cut of parking money only if it tops $750,000, which is the city's annual debt payment for a city parking garage built next to the Times Forum.

The parking revenues rarely pass that mark, Campbell said.

Iorio threw out the possibility of a $2 parking surcharge, which would bring about $600,000 a year to the forum.

"It has to meet a market test of what people are willing to pay," Iorio said.

Fees to park in city lots and garages can't top $12.

But people pay much more than that to park in privately owned lots near the forum, said Campbell.

"I've seen people charging $40 and $50," he said.

It's all about supply and demand, Campbell said. If it's raining and it's game seven of the Eastern Conference finals or a Paul McCartney concert, Campbell said, people are willing to pay top dollar for one of only 4,500 spaces near the arena, which seats more than 20,000 people.

A sold-out event can bring 8,000 cars to the neighborhood, Campbell has said.

The forum was one of the world's busiest concert venues in 2005, according to Pollstar magazine.

"We keep busy," Campbell said.

But the venue is still facing the prospect of an $8.8-million loss for the fiscal year ending June 30, he said.

"We want to make a commitment to being here a long, long time. We can't do it if we're staring at losses," he said. "We're appreciative of the city talking to us."

The Lightning has also been lobbying state legislators to find a sponsor for a bill to give the Lightning a $2-million tax break each year.

Campbell has said the forum needs the money to upgrade the venue, which will help keep the defending Stanley Cup champions in Tampa and attract big-name concerts, college sports tournaments and other special events to the arena.

--Janet Zink can be reached at 813 226-3401 or jzink@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 18, 2006, 06:38:48]