Parking

I have see Major League Baseball played live in 17 ballparks, I have seen NHL hockey played in 4 arenas, I have seen NBA basketball played in 2 arenas, I have seen NFL football in 1 stadium—sorry not much of a football fan—as well as having seen Swedish Elite League hockey games in 3 arenas and Minor League and Spring Training baseball in various locations. What is my point you may ask? My point is that I have paid an awful lot for parking over the years.
More than anything, parking is a team’s monopoly to do what they want with. If a person is investing to go to a game and they buy their ticket and such, they will not get to the venue parking lot and turn away because they don’t like the price. That is just absurd. So really, fans are willing to spend whatever a venue tells them that they are going to spend. Fans are really at the mercy of the price-makers.
There are stadiums such as Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park with independent parking lots that operate near the stadium. And by independent, I mean there is no official stadium parking lot; just a series of random scattered parking lots which offer a price of there own choosing. In those places, a fan can hypothetically search for the best price available.
But while there are some places with this system, most stadiums have the Shea Stadium/Dodger Stadium system which basically consists of the stadium being surrounded by one huge parking lot. In places such as these, there is one universal price for parking. However, this universal price is determined by the team and as there is no alternative, fans are forced to pay the fee. And in most venues, the fee is not reasonable in any way.
Besides Nassau Coliseum which offers parking for $5.50 in a lot that is so easy to access from the roadways and which offers such short walking distance to the arena itself that it is a gratifying experience to park, in most venues, parking is sold at an absurd price. Prices have gone from $12, to $13, and even up to $20 at many venues and based on what is being sold—just parking—this is in my opinion is completely ridiculous. Every time I park at one of these venues, I feel my dignity being sucked directly out of me.
But if teams have a stranglehold, what you may ask can you do to save your dignity? Well, with the exception of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, ALL of these venues offer some form of mass transit to access the venue.
I come from New Jersey. I know all about people who are OBSESSED with taking their cars out of their suburban homes and driving to their destination wherever they may be, regardless of how difficult to reach their destination may be. What can I say, Jersey folk like their cars. I know what I am proposing is a tough sell. But seriously, taking mass transit to games is a simple, money-saving venture which based on the surroundings of many venues—Wrigley Field for example—which are so festive that passing through them is an enjoyable experience in itself, taking mass transit can even be a fun thing to do. Mass transit saves money, time, energy, and lessens road traffic near venues before and after games, and in many cases, as I said, is a very enjoyable experience. So really, consider taking mass transit to you local stadium or arena. Even if you have never ridden a subway or a bus before, just try it. You have nothing to lose—no you probably will not get mugged on the 7 train—and so much to gain—or retain in this case.
There are some places as I said such as the Meadowlands Sports Complex to which there is no form of mass transit system to access the facilities. Well, considering that the Devils have now vacated the Meadowlands, considering that there are plans for the Nets to vacate the Meadowlands in the next 3 years, and considering that there are proposals which would move the Jets and Giants out of the Meadowlands in the next few years, I think my point is proven. Facilities without the benefit of serviceable mass transit systems nearby are failing facilities which are unable to survive in the long run. As NFL teams, the Jets and Giants have maintained solid attendance over the years, but as for the Devils and Nets, despite tremendous success over recent years, they have never been able to maximize attendance in the Meadowlands and in my opinion, the lack of mass transit has hurt those teams. I mean, to access the Meadowlands, you MUST drive. Considering that New York City is a nearby potential source for spectators, considering that many people in New York City do not own cars, the Meadowlands becomes unreachable.
My point today is that I am suggesting that all fans try and take mass transit the next time you go to a game. It benefits you, it benefits the teams, and it benefits Jersey people like me who as I drive to games, will now have less traffic on the way out!