Cashing in on game day: Local businesses, residents charge for parking

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- As tens of thousands of football fans descend on South Bend this weekend, some local businesses and residents take the opportunity to capitalize on the influx of people. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will face off against The Ohio State Buckeyes in one of the biggest games of the year.

At Parisi's Ristorante near Notre Dame's campus, staffing levels will be doubled, if not tripled, according to Travis Parisi, director of operations.

“You prepare as best as you possibly can, and you pray and you wish and you hope, and hopefully, everything goes well,” he said.

But on game day, what fans want more than a place to eat is a place to park.

“We have been doing it as long as this has been here, since 1981, we’ve been parking cars in the lot,” Parisi said.

And big games, particularly ND vs. OSU, parking spaces are a hot commodity.

“I anticipate it will be double our normal rate, which is $50, so I’m thinking it’s going to be the $70-$100 range tomorrow," Parisi said. "It’s that crazy.” 

Beyond local businesses, local residents are also banking on the opportunity, like LuElla, or "Lou," Webster. 

“And I just thought, if I could help somebody out, a little bit cheaper than what the university charges, I can make a little profit myself, I can meet a lot of people,” Webster said. “You know, people say, the house on the corner, that’s the party house, if you want to have fun, go to Lou’s garage.”

Webster has been letting cars park in her front yard near campus for 15 years.

She said it is a great side hustle, good enough to make it worth buying city permits for the enterprise.

“The city had this big issue with lawn parking. They didn’t want us to do it," Webster said. "We said it was our property, we pay taxes, we should be allowed to do it, but they denied us. And so, they put a price tag on us and so we have to purchase a permit for every game.” 

And comparatively speaking, those that park at Lou's garage get a pretty good game day deal. According to Webster, she charges $30 per car, and can fit 30 cars on her yard, located near St. Louis and Howard in South Bend.