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Starting this weekend, Ft Worth is going to start charging for public parking. No more free parking in the Cultural District. The city has been talking about this for a while and it was reported on local news it begins Saturday.

article here

Will Rogers is hosting the Original Fort Worth Gun Show this weekend, an event that easily draws more than 12,000 people and strains the entire Cultural District's traffic system. "How's that for a kick in the butt?" joked Michelle Finucane, who with her husband, Tim, is the owner and promoter of the gun show. "You just have to laugh at the timing of this."

Oy! So does anyone have a map of where we can find parking?

Does this affect the big parking lot a block away (to your left when you exit the show), or is it just for parking on the streets?

The Annoyed Man wrote:Does this affect the big parking lot a block away (to your left when you exit the show), or is it just for parking on the streets?

Good question TAM ! You have to read very carefully AND between the lines to try & figure out what's going on.

MY take is that parking $5.00 fees commence this Sunday , and it includes all parking lots in the Will Rogers Memorial Complex, INCLUDING the areas just west of the cattle barns. I'd think that would also include the parking lots behind(south of) the National Cowgirls Hall of Fame.

Honestly, I'm not surprised to see this happening.

i applaud the reporter in putting The Original Fort Worth Gun Show, in the same category as the Equestrian Center(which is a nationwide draw unto itself), the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, The Amon Carter Museum of Western Art, and The Kimbell. And it was just another venue for the Cultural District that draws at least 12.000 people on a weekend(read that to mean a substantial revenue generator for the city, and the complex).

For a gun show to be just another event , to me, is a victory. Because in truth, it's no big deal. It's just another "trade show" if you will.

With that said.....do I like it? Of course not!! I think it will hurt their business. BUT....EVERY business that holds events in the Cultural District will be hurt. The gun show is not being singled out. it's EVERYBODY who puts on events there will realize decreased revenues because of it. *sigh* It's another sign of the times.

<gets off soapbox>

$5.00 for parking + $8.00 at the door + 1 mile walk = Mesquite Big town and Rodeo

Yep, tis true. when I went to set up DCSA table today "security" people passing out little brochure about it. Effective May 1, $5.00 for all garages and lots except "Harley" (Street) lot, which is $3. Details and "purchase in advance customer service" at http://www.culturaldistrictparking.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have been to my last Ft. Worth Gun Show. I will not pay to park so I can pay to go in somewhere and SPEND my money. It was bad enough to have to pay to spend my money, but this ads insult to injury.

STI Shooter wrote:I have been to my last Ft. Worth Gun Show. I will not pay to park so I can pay to go in somewhere and SPEND my money. It was bad enough to have to pay to spend my money, but this ads insult to injury.

My feelings exactly.

Gotta love the final statement "rates are subject to change." Also, no in and out privileges.

Well, I don't like the fee; but from where I live in Grapevine, I'll spend more than that in gas to go to the Mesquite Big Town show, so Fort Worth it is. Besides, I have a need to fulfill, and this Sunday afternoon is pretty much the only time I have to get it filled... ...so Fort Worth it is.

The thing is, I'm so used to having to pay for parking back in California, no matter where you go practically, that I was pleasantly surprised to not have to pay until now.

Gun Shows even with parking and entry fee are still cheap entertainment!

STI Shooter wrote:I have been to my last Ft. Worth Gun Show. I will not pay to park so I can pay to go in somewhere and SPEND my money. It was bad enough to have to pay to spend my money, but this ads insult to injury.

There was nothing there I needed or could not live without and found most prices to be high.

Example, a S&W Commemorative that was the same model another forum member here had for sale for 800.00 and never got a bite on this forum.

Not saying it was that exact gun, just another one of them. In the display box and did not look near as good as the one the member posted here.

I asked the guy how much as there was no price on it and he hummed and hawed and finally said "that will be around 950.00 since it is the Commemorative model".

Keep in mind the one that was on this board was NIB and listed at 800.00 and the seller never even got an offer that I know of. Someone could have had that new in box one for a good price and no parking, entrance fees and NO TAX!

CompVest wrote:Gun Shows even with parking and entry fee are still cheap entertainment!

It's what happens AFTER I pay for parking and entry that gets expensive for me.

We have always had to pay like that in Houston, 10$ to park 8$ to get in 4 hours of walking around. It's not that big of a deal guys. There isn't much I can find to do in the Houston area on a Saturday morning for 4.50$ an hour. Everytime I buy a gun at the gun show I get the vendor to pay me back for the parking and entrance fee or it's a deal breaker. I always pretend it's like a redneck flee market I guess

Keith B wrote:

CompVest wrote:Gun Shows even with parking and entry fee are still cheap entertainment!

It's what happens AFTER I pay for parking and entry that gets expensive for me.

Bingo. I walked out of there this afternoon with a VLTOR stock and a MIAD grip kit for my carbine, a fanny pack holster for my wife, $28 worth of Jerkey Hut beef jerkey, and some totally tactical rice crackers. Better yet, I talked the missus into coming with me - a rare event when it comes to gun shows.

It was a good day.