Paying for Parking at PHP for Youth Tournaments

I am curious how many of you think it is complete BS that FC Dallas charges for parking at Youth Soccer Tournaments. They try to give the BS that it is for Field maintenance, but that is not right. At the Plano Labor Day cup they were playing on figure 12fields at all times, and they made $10,000 a day on parking figure 15 cars parked per team.
This is not right and i wonder who we can complain too that will listen.

TxHunter wrote:I am curious how many of you think it is complete BS that FC Dallas charges for parking at Youth Soccer Tournaments. They try to give the BS that it is for Field maintenance, but that is not right. At the Plano Labor Day cup they were playing on figure 12fields at all times, and they made $10,000 a day on parking figure 15 cars parked per team.
This is not right and i wonder who we can complain too that will listen.

PHP charges for parking, not FC Dallas.

Just dont park in their parking lots... drop your kid off and park your car down the street. You get a little exercise walking a couple of blocks and you dont give them any extra $

$7 bucks for 1.5 hours....This was a complete kick in the teeth. We had the first game, we parked and then had to wait 30 minuts for them to unlock the gates to acces the fields. They made sure the parking lot attendant was on-time but not so much for the security guys. The only solution is stop using the fields for tournaments but unfortunatley those fields will continue to be used. How about hiding the parking cost in the tournament fees, same deal but easier to digest or better yet we all find a way to get a bus and shuttle parents and kids from Ikea.

The part that bothers me about paid parking is that Grandparents wanting to watch the game are stuck dishing out $7 for one game. I would rather they get $7 per player through the registration fee. That way if you invite friends and family out to a game, they don't have to fork out $7.
I feel the same way about school sports. The kids enjoy playing games with a crowd in the stands. I hate to see kids playing their game without their parents or siblings watching just because of the admission.

mrclean wrote:The part that bothers me about paid parking is that Grandparents wanting to watch the game are stuck dishing out $7 for one game. I would rather they get $7 per player through the registration fee. That way if you invite friends and family out to a game, they don't have to fork out $7.
I feel the same way about school sports. The kids enjoy playing games with a crowd in the stands. I hate to see kids playing their game without their parents or siblings watching just because of the admission.

or even worse when your friends from the SAME school have to pay admission to watch you play.

So exactly what matches charge for parking? We played a handful of games there for Classic League last year (when only a few fields were open), and have played in a few tournaments there as well over the years, and I don't think we've ever paid for parking. I think we paid during the Dallas Cup. That's about it.

Another grand gesture to the soccer community from MLS/PHP/FCD......will be watching SMU -vs.- Yale this Sunday morning at 11:00....muche better deal....much better soccer....10 minutes from the Casa......

swindler wrote:So exactly what matches charge for parking? We played a handful of games there for Classic League last year (when only a few fields were open), and have played in a few tournaments there as well over the years, and I don't think we've ever paid for parking. I think we paid during the Dallas Cup. That's about it.

The Classic League negotiates as part of their deal with PHP that they will not charge for parking. As far as I know, any other event there can and will charge for parking. But, bizarrely enough, the FCD MLS games are actively promoted to have "always free parking".

This has been a gripe for years and I am sure it will never go away. That they are now charging $7 for parking is truly a kick in the teeth. It was offensive enough when it was $5.

It has always been my wish that tournaments, leagues, teams, of whatever sport would simply calculate whatever amount of money you want to suck out of me for the whole year, let me write one check, and be done with it. The constant nickle and diming is ridiculous and maddening.

Late Friday, our first Saturday game was moved from Highpoint to PHP. I'm sure it was to make sure that our $7 x 18 was collected. My wife arrived at game time, so they got $14 from us. They couldn't let us have 2 games there and pay once, or let us get away with no games there. Field was in awesome shape though.

nearpost95 wrote:Late Friday, our first Saturday game was moved from Highpoint to PHP. I'm sure it was to make sure that our $7 x 18 was collected. My wife arrived at game time, so they got $14 from us. They couldn't let us have 2 games there and pay once, or let us get away with no games there. Field was in awesome shape though.

Richland college fields are even in better shape and they don't charge for parking. I'd bet the fees are lower also than what PHP is charging also.

$7 doesn't sound like much, but it is the principle. That is a 40% increase in one year over fees that were already too high. Ridiculous - my BB's teams will both avoid playing there (outside of classic league games) in the future - hopefully others will as well just to send a message.

PHP is not a non-profit.
Perhaps if they charged $7 a ticket for the FCD pro games instead of milking the tournament families, they could encourage a fan base, support the pros playing, and still turn a profit.

tbitb wrote:PHP is not a non-profit.
Perhaps if they charged $7 a ticket for the FCD pro games instead of milking the tournament families, they could encourage a fan base, support the pros playing, and still turn a profit.

Pizza Hut Park is managed by FC Dallas. FC Dallas Youth is owned and managed by FC Dallas. Thus, Pizza Hut Park = FC Dallas Youth = FC Dallas. How they count the $ that go into different pockets is somewhat irrelevant, at the end of the day all of those $ are in the pockets of FC Dallas.

eredivisie wrote:

tbitb wrote:PHP is not a non-profit.
Perhaps if they charged $7 a ticket for the FCD pro games instead of milking the tournament families, they could encourage a fan base, support the pros playing, and still turn a profit.

Pizza Hut Park is managed by FC Dallas. FC Dallas Youth is owned and managed by FC Dallas. Thus, Pizza Hut Park = FC Dallas Youth = FC Dallas. How they count the $ that go into different pockets is somewhat irrelevant, at the end of the day all of those $ are in the pockets of FC Dallas.

To be honest, I don't have a problem with FC Dallas, FC Dallas Youth, or Pizza Hut. All organizations are doing good things for the community and all that. I'm just pointing out that a) they are the only ones charging for parking; b) they have compounded their problem by raising parking rates 40% in one year while the economy is tanking, and c) these are not even the best fields in the area. If they were far and away the best fields around the parking charge might be more justified.

That being said, I'm sure PHP will continue to enjoy heavy bookings and lots of parking receipts as most people in the DFW are don't seem to really care about parking charges (at least it doesn't seem to be a problem at Jerry-World in Arlington)...

cornerkick96 wrote:

eredivisie wrote:

tbitb wrote:PHP is not a non-profit.
Perhaps if they charged $7 a ticket for the FCD pro games instead of milking the tournament families, they could encourage a fan base, support the pros playing, and still turn a profit.

Pizza Hut Park is managed by FC Dallas. FC Dallas Youth is owned and managed by FC Dallas. Thus, Pizza Hut Park = FC Dallas Youth = FC Dallas. How they count the $ that go into different pockets is somewhat irrelevant, at the end of the day all of those $ are in the pockets of FC Dallas.

To be honest, I don't have a problem with FC Dallas, FC Dallas Youth, or Pizza Hut. All organizations are doing good things for the community and all that. I'm just pointing out that a) they are the only ones charging for parking; b) they have compounded their problem by raising parking rates 40% in one year while the economy is tanking, and c) these are not even the best fields in the area. If they were far and away the best fields around the parking charge might be more justified.

That being said, I'm sure PHP will continue to enjoy heavy bookings and lots of parking receipts as most people in the DFW are don't seem to really care about parking charges (at least it doesn't seem to be a problem at Jerry-World in Arlington)...

Lets solve the problem and let the girls have PHP and leave the boys to Richland..like it should be!

No, we like having the girls at Chinn Chapel and Railroad

Hunter this has been an ongoing discussion that we will never win, we always get shafted!! The only thing to do is park outside the parking lot and walk a little, PHP Sucks and the fields are Sorry, i would much rather play at Russell Creek or Colleyville.

TxHunter wrote:I am curious how many of you think it is complete BS that FC Dallas charges for parking at Youth Soccer Tournaments. They try to give the BS that it is for Field maintenance, but that is not right. At the Plano Labor Day cup they were playing on figure 12fields at all times, and they made $10,000 a day on parking figure 15 cars parked per team.
This is not right and i wonder who we can complain too that will listen.

rcamber09 wrote:Hunter this has been an ongoing discussion that we will never win, we always get shafted!! The only thing to do is park outside the parking lot and walk a little, PHP Sucks and the fields are Sorry, i would much rather play at Russell Creek or Colleyville.

TxHunter wrote:I am curious how many of you think it is complete BS that FC Dallas charges for parking at Youth Soccer Tournaments. They try to give the BS that it is for Field maintenance, but that is not right. At the Plano Labor Day cup they were playing on figure 12fields at all times, and they made $10,000 a day on parking figure 15 cars parked per team.
This is not right and i wonder who we can complain too that will listen.

you obviously have not played there lately (or you're too bitter), as they look great and are in better shape than RC.

No matter how good the fields are it is not worth paying to park! Especially when you can go to other parks that are as good or just slightly below PHP and not have to pay a dime to park.

I maybe to bitter but I think your just way too happy!! My son practiced there before we went back to out original practice spot, and no they aren't in great shape (maybe a couple of fields are but no all). By no means am I a groundsman but I thought RC is better at this point in time. The turf in 2 of the fields is already coming apart and fields 14 and on have started to brown out. This is just my opinion and they are not worth the 7 bucks they stiff us with. The fact that you have to walk all the way to the center by the concession stand to take a LeAk is also stupid, I guess porta potties are not an option!!

happyfeet wrote:

rcamber09 wrote:Hunter this has been an ongoing discussion that we will never win, we always get shafted!! The only thing to do is park outside the parking lot and walk a little, PHP Sucks and the fields are Sorry, i would much rather play at Russell Creek or Colleyville.

TxHunter wrote:I am curious how many of you think it is complete BS that FC Dallas charges for parking at Youth Soccer Tournaments. They try to give the BS that it is for Field maintenance, but that is not right. At the Plano Labor Day cup they were playing on figure 12fields at all times, and they made $10,000 a day on parking figure 15 cars parked per team.
This is not right and i wonder who we can complain too that will listen.

you obviously have not played there lately (or you're too bitter), as they look great and are in better shape than RC.

Parking fees are the norm in most of the other states and even at regionals and nationals. It was usually 5 for the entire weekend. One tourney we played in Jackson TN went the extra mile and turned the parking pass into a raffle ticket and posted the winners at the score tables. That was a nice change. Maybe the reason it is looked at like a scam here is because of the enormous fees the clubs are charging for the kids to play a sport in the first place. We complain about $7 to park but have no problem shelling out 2500 to 3000 in club fees not to mention overpriced uniforms, coach travel fees, league fees, hotel rooms, 200.00 soccer shoes,food,gas, have I forgot something ? Oh yeah the 12 pack of Monsters, Red Bull, Amp that I watch most of these kids pound down like a college kid on a bender whats that cost 50 bucks and wired kid who couldn't relax if he wanted to. Not passing judgement I'm there with my kids everyday of the week to just an observation. Hope everyone has a great year!