Canberra Stadium general manager Neale Guthrie has defended the decision to increase parking fees by 40 per cent from $5 to $7 for Raiders and Brumbies games this year, adamant it was unavoidable as management costs increase.
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While it is the first increase in about 15 years, the move may prompt a backlash from fans who have long complained about the rising cost of a day at the football.
Guthrie said parking fees remained comparable or better than other Australian sports venues, and insisted fans would benefit from improved facilities at the ground.
''We've benchmarked what other venues were doing and they were all sitting about the 10-buck mark, some were seven,'' Guthrie said.
''We did initially look at going a bit higher, but in consultation with the Brumbies and Raiders they asked it to come back a little bit.
''We do have a change issue, but we also recognise it's a big jump to go from five to 10 in one hit.''
Guthrie said the increase was necessary to cover car park management costs.
''We've gone 15 years without a price increase, the last several years we've been effectively losing on the management of car parks and we've come to a point where we really need to put it up,'' he said.
''I know parking fees are a sensitive issue, but to get people off the roads and into those areas we need to manage it, that comes at a cost.''
Spectator numbers in the NRL have dropped slightly at many venues, and ticket, food and transport prices have been highlighted as reasons by some fans.
In a bid to boost crowds, the Raiders have slashed their cheapest adult ticket price at the turnstiles this year from $38 - one of the highest general-admission prices in the NRL - to $25.
''I understand all those price issues but we've maintained consistent catering prices the last two seasons, and have recognised people's disposable income has been challenged,'' Guthrie said.
''We're doing what we can but we're still required to run a business out there, maintain a stadium and provide the services people expect.
''We don't make a profit, everything we make gets invested back into the venue.
''We're about to open the new ticket boxes next week, which will improve patrons' entry experience.''
Guthrie encouraged fans to take advantage of the shuttle-bus service to and from games wherever possible.
''It's obviously not a 100 per cent alternative, people are still going to need to drive their vehicles, but we do encourage people to use the buses to make it easier for people.''
