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Up to $80 to park at Obama speech

By James Paton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 29, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Parking on Federal Boulevard near Invesco Field at Mile High Thursday ranged up to $80 for Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech. Several people with passes to the event laughed as they saw signs advertising $60 and $80 prices.

Photo by George Kochaniec Jr. / The Rocky

Parking on Federal Boulevard near Invesco Field at Mile High Thursday ranged up to $80 for Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech. Several people with passes to the event laughed as they saw signs advertising $60 and $80 prices.

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Juan Bonilla, who has managed the parking lot outside Ponce Furniture for more than three decades, set a record Thursday.

Bonilla, wearing a reflective vest with a Barack Obama pin, persuaded several ticket-holders to pay $80 to park in a prime spot near Invesco Field at Mile High.

By 2 p.m., several hours before Obama would deliver his historic speech, Bonilla had collected that exorbitant fee from five people heading to the stadium. A spot for a big Denver Broncos game would probably go for $40.

The Mexico native and 45-year Denver resident repeated a line he has uttered countless times to customers over the years: "It is all based on supply and demand," Bonilla said, grinning broadly.

Several people with passes to the event laughed as they walked by the signs along Federal Boulevard, scoffing at the $60 and $80 prices. Most drivers refused to pay the sum during the early afternoon hours.

Others happily paid top dollar for a convenient spot.

Thousands of people with passes took public transportation, avoiding the issue.

But the parking-lot owners along Federal were bound to succeed Thursday with figures like Rutt Bridges driving to the stadium. Bridges' silver SUV rolled into a lot by Angel's restaurant, and the Democratic donor and software entrepreneur handed the eager attendant $60.

"Yes, $60 is through the roof," he said as he hopped out.

Bridges explained that he is driving elderly relatives home from the speech and "they are up for a short hike, not a long one."

The Cherry Hills Village resident, whose financial contributions helped the Democrats take over the state legislature in 2004, was not thinking much about the price to park.

"This is a turning point in America," Bridges said.

Comments

  • August 29, 2008

    6:22 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    John_Galt writes:

    Even the parking lot guy understands about supply and demand.

    Drill here! Drill now!! Pay less!!

  • August 29, 2008

    7:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    Man, oh man. Talk about highway robbery.

  • August 29, 2008

    9:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cowboy63 writes:

    "The Cherry Hills Village resident, whose financial contributions helped the Democrats take over the state legislature in 2004, was not thinking much about the price to park."

    Cherry Hills Village? Did he carpool with Oprah?

    Limosine Liberals: Obama's core supporters.

  • August 29, 2008

    9:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Heidi writes:

    Wanna make a bet that Ponce Furniture doesn't claim it on their tax return???!!!

  • August 29, 2008

    10:22 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    TheDenverB writes:

    "Limosine Liberals: Obama's core supporters."

    actually, FACTS prove you wrong. of course, you probably don't care to look those up.

  • August 29, 2008

    10:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    treecat writes:

    'claim it on their tax return', (not likely), This will be like the PGA Event in Fort Worth, Texas, where some of the home owners were charging $50 to $100 to park on their lawns. This became an illegal park and walk from these 2.5 to 7 million $ homes . . . forget the IRS the City of Fort Worth Code Enforcement and Sales Tax came round . . . cost more after fines than they took in.

    Juan Bonilla on Federal Boulevard near Invesco Field you have taken advantage of 'dimbulbs', that might even be a crime.

  • August 29, 2008

    11:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Heidi writes:

    treecat,
    Yea, he's so proud of his entrepreneurship that he tells the media. It may come back to bite him!

  • August 29, 2008

    1:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BrandiWine_84 writes:

    Bonilla es muy greedy!

  • August 29, 2008

    3:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mtn__Gator writes:

    "Mexican native," just when I thought "undocumented workers" was the lowest you could go when describing ILLEGAL ALIENS! I can't keep up with these name changes, but I understand...don't want to offend anyone...especially our "guest workers."

  • August 29, 2008

    8:03 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Thewiseman writes:

    IRS you better see if he claims this income!