Greeks, Co-Ops Stand to Gain On Parking Fees for Game Day

Amidst cheers and barbecues celebrating this Saturday’s football game against the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the Greek and co-op communities will be making some extra money by renting out parking spaces to the public.

This Saturday, many fraternity chapters will raise extra funds by renting out their open lawns and backyards as well as existing lots to provide parking services to the public, said Grahaeme Hesp, the campus director of fraternity and sorority life.

“Parking can be huge because fraternities and sororities are so close to the stadium,” said Jay Willis, rush chairman of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. “We can make $250 dollars on a small game day.”

On a major game day like tomorrow’s match-up against the Volunteers, parking can go for $75 to $100 a spot, Willis said.

The money raised by parking services during game day often goes toward helping the respective chapter’s alumni, said Aashin Nagpal, the programming chair for the Interfraternity Council.

Nicole Mann, president of the Panhellenic Council, said she estimates that her sorority, Delta Delta Delta, raises approximately $550 per game from parking services, amounting to about $3300 throughout the football season.

“Throughout the season, it definitely raises a significant amount of money,” Mann said. “It’s kind of a nice miscellaneous income for the chapters that do have parking spaces.”

Mann said individual chapters can choose where to invest the funds raised from parking services, but that her chapter will be using the funds to renovate the study room of the sorority house.

Though fraternities and sororities can raise substantial funds during football games, most fundraising events held during the semester go directly towards individual philanthropies, Mann said.

Fraternities and sororities are not the only student organizations who rent out parking spaces. Several co-ops in the University Students’ Cooperative Association, such as the Sherman Hall co-op located just outside Memorial Stadium, will be renting out parking spaces as well, said Jennifer Heller, spokesperson for the USCA.

Other co-ops, such as Casa Zimbabwe even provide valet services, Heller said.

“Sometimes we let the members sell parking,” said Tom Meagher, house manager for Cloyne Court. “Residents keep the money.”

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