A pair of city businesses have teamed up to cover the cost of outstanding parking tickets issued during this past weekend's Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament.

Extra 90.5 FM and FCI Windows made the announcement Wednesday morning before issuing a letter to coaches and managers of teams that played at Northcrest Arena containing the offer and thanking them for their participation.

"Unfortunately, due to limited space in the parking lot, a number of visitors to that arena were forced to park on nearby streets and a number of families received a ticket as a result," Extra 90.5 and Oldies 96.7 FM general manager Jef Dueck wrote.

"Obviously this is frustrating for the families and teams involved, and please understand that our parking enforcement officials were simply doing their job. Hopefully with better communication and planning, issues like this can be avoided in the future."

Some 27 tickets ranging from $25 to $30 were issued, causing many to take to social media to share their feelings for making visitors pay after spending their money in the city. Most infractions were for parking in designated no parking zones.

Parking enforcement officers were subjected to insults, had cigarette butts thrown at them and were even spat at, city parking operations co-ordinator Lynn Todd said.

The partners made the offer because of how important the tournament is for local hockey organizations and the local business community, Dueck wrote.

"With that in mind, as our way of saying thank you for coming to Peterborough, if you received a ticket and have not already paid for it, we will be happy to pay your ticket on your behalf!"

Information about tickets issued can't be shared because of privacy laws, so those ticketed between Jan. 10 and Saturday near Northcrest Arena are asked to provide the infraction number as soon as possible to jefd@mbcmedia.ca.

The deadline to submit them is Monday at noon. Representative from the partners will then go to City Hall and pay for the infractions, Dueck stated. "Thanks again for being part of this tournament and visiting our great city - we hope you'll come back again soon!

jason.bain@peterboroughdaily.com