Free parking downtown will encourage locals to want to enjoy the downtown area. When it comes to night life and atmosphere it's quite apparent that people prefer going out to Old town Scottsdale or Westgate. I've been to Cityscape downtown a few times and envision it being a happening place for nightlife and entertainment. I have also been to many sporting events downtown and every time shell out 5-10 bucks for parking each time. That money adds up! I would rather see that money going to the bars, restaurants, and workers downtown not some scoundrel that wants to make money off where my car sits. In conclusion, downtown has competition from Westgate and Oldtown, places where I consistently find free parking. It's a no-brainer phoenix planners, buy up all those empty lots and old buildings and create free parking. This will help in the short term, in a down economy. Stop acting like parking should be at a premium because phoenix is not like other cities...i.e. beach cities where land is expensive and hard to come by.