The prices of gameday parking passes will rise this year, but only in four of the lots near campus.
A recent article in The Advocate reported the prices of non-renewable passes for gameday lots around campus will increase as much as 90 percent in one area.
Though one lot will in fact see a 90-percent spike in cost, the price increases aren’t as widespread as reported, according to Adam Smith, parking manager with the Athletic Department.
“There were a lot of inaccuracies in that article,” Smith said.
The only passes that will be affected are for four lots where passes are nonrenewable, meaning they can only be purchased on a yearly basis because potential construction projects and other uncertainties mean the department doesn’t know how the lots will be used in the future.
“It’s not like we’re increasing prices across the board,” Smith said. “Ninety-three percent of lots won’t be affected.” The four lots facing changes include:
Thomas Boyd Hall
This lot is the site of the 90-percent price increase. Formerly, passes at this lot were sold on a game-by-game basis for $40. With six home games last season, parking in this lot each game would have cost a total of $240.
But this season will include eight home games, not six, meaning parking in the lot under the former pricing would have totaled $320.
Instead, fans will now pay $600 for a season-long pass, a nearly $300 increase.
Lot M
This lot near the PMAC was formerly used for handicapped parking. Handicapped fans could park for free in Lot M by presenting a valid state-issued hang tag. Now handicapped parking will be moved to a lot west of Alex Box Stadium. Season ticket holders can now buy passes for Lot M at $800 for an entire year.
Alex Box West
The new handicap lot will be moved to this lot west of Alex Box Stadium. Smith said Lot M had a 120-car capacity, while the new handicap parking area will hold more than 200 cars. This lot will also provide people who park there with a shuttle to campus, he said.
In the past, Smith said handicapped parkers would be turned away from Lot M because it would fill up so quickly and patrons would be directed to public parking around the area that didn’t offer the option of transit to campus.
Now the Athletics Department will be able to provide the parkers with a shuttle to campus, he said. Smith said there will be four transit buses available in the lot that hold about 55 passengers each.
Old Alex Box lot
This lot across Nicholson Drive from Tiger Stadium will remain largely unchanged. Last season, passes cost $600 for cars and $3,000 for RVs and could only be purchased for the entire year. Passes for the upcoming season will cost $800 for cars and $4,000 for RVs.
 
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