Buried in a Saturday ABH article about tailgating was this note:

Athens-Clarke officials voted to hike city parking fees and fines this spring, doubling the price for football parking in the city’s downtown deck from $20 to $40. Some private lots have followed suit and raised prices.

Sure enough, as I drove along Hancock Street coming through downtown, I saw lot after lot operated by Prestige Parking charging $40 for a day’s worth of parking. The first move in this doubling of rates came from Athens-Clarke at the suggestion of the Athens Downtown Development Authority. The $40 game day rate approved by the city for the College Avenue Parking Deck is just $16.25 less than the monthly rate for that deck.

They can charge what they like of course, and there are ways to park in or near downtown for less if you’re early/resourceful enough. Due to the actions of the ADDA, I’ll avoid spending money in the downtown central business district during the season. It’s not a lot, but it certainly would be more than the $240 they’re asking for a season’s worth of downtown parking.