Parking Cluster

I believe that the West Lot is partially shared with Evanston Hospital (Northshore, Endeavor, whatever - I can't keep hospital names straight, they change too often). If this is correct, I wonder if some of the logistics problem is due to unpredictable use by hospital staff.

But yes, parking during basketball season continues to be an issue. Leaving the West Lot last night took longer than it usually does. I blame the Illini fan base for not knowing how to drive.

A friend of mine who has season tickets but NO parking pass, told me that in previous games (not including Illinois) he has entered the West Lot early. And by slipping some cash to the “parking staff” he gains entry. Don’t know if that happened last night, though. So Northwestern.
And don’t get me started about post game exiting WRA on foot. Through the cattle chute to Ashland is the only route I know of, and it’s a nasty one.

Purple Pile Driver said:

For smart school, NU logistics has trouble counting. I want to emphasize that there were dozens of people BEHIND me in line. I realize with no shows they probably intentionally over sell, but the number of parking passes sold were way over capacity. I can’t even imagine where they are going to put all the cars for football or concerts.

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This has consistently been game day experience at Welsh-Ryan and Ryan Field. Poor parking and crowd management, especially for sellouts. I've also heard many stories of paying of parking lot and stadium ushers to get into lots and gaining re-entry.

Purple Pile Driver said:

Thanks to the generosity of a long time board member, I had a parking pass for the West Lot. I arrived on Isabella at about 7:05 only to encounter a line about 4-5 blocks long before turning on Ashland. I usually get there earlier but was running late and thought I was safe with the pass, due to the lot being at least partially empty most games.

I crawled down Isabella getting to Ashland about 7:20. Turned in Ashland and got to the entrance only to be told they were only allowing Wilson Club in the lot. Got jammed up again on Ashland, and was told by Police, you got to find somewhere else to go.

it was a cluster all the way around. I ended up in Hospital parking and took the bus to the game. Missed the first 5 minutes of the game. I bring this up to warn folks that if it is a sellout, you better get there around 45 minutes before tip.

For smart school, NU logistics has trouble counting. I want to emphasize that there were dozens of people BEHIND me in line. I realize with no shows they probably intentionally over sell, but the number of parking passes sold were way over capacity. I can’t even imagine where they are going to put all the cars for football or concerts.

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My experience was last year at the DePaul game. Got there 45 minutes ahead of time and could not get into the lot for similar reasons, And that is when they started restricting (ticketing street parking in the area. I luckily had an emergency plan that worked out but vowed never again. Supposedly they then tried to adjust things so less of that would happen but hard to trust them. Issue is during construction of the Stadium they wiped out about 600 E lot parking spaces and they over sell and were also trying to sell day of passes,

I had a couple people going with me and the one thing I insisted on was that we had to be there at least an hour ahead of time. They thought I was nuts. (I really wanted at least 45 minutes but told them an hour just because if you are not 15 min early, you are late) They thought I was nuts saying well you have a parking pass right... We ate in the area and got there about 50 minutes before. The traffic jams on Central...but got through and got parked about 40 min before game time. But got into lot and they were saying plenty of spaces. A friend who sits behind me got there about 10-15 minutes later and it took him 30 minutes from Green Bay to the stadium on central and they were not gonna let him in but then opened it up for few more so he did not get to his seats till after 16 minute TO.,

While it might be better next year after the stadium is complete and they open up those other parking spaces, Central will remain a problem. Best to just get there an hour early.

rogerkim said:

I believe that the West Lot is partially shared with Evanston Hospital (Northshore, Endeavor, whatever - I can't keep hospital names straight, they change too often). If this is correct, I wonder if some of the logistics problem is due to unpredictable use by hospital staff.

But yes, parking during basketball season continues to be an issue. Leaving the West Lot last night took longer than it usually does. I blame the Illini fan base for not knowing how to drive.

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I think it depends on time of day game is, During day it is used by hospital and there may be still some left in the lot. But real issue is no E lot during stadium construction, blocking off street parking, overselling and maybe some selling of day passes (which should not happen for a sold out game).

ubercat said:

A friend of mine who has season tickets but NO parking pass, told me that in previous games (not including Illinois) he has entered the West Lot early. And by slipping some cash to the “parking staff” he gains entry. Don’t know if that happened last night, though. So Northwestern.
And don’t get me started about post game exiting WRA on foot. Through the cattle chute to Ashland is the only route I know of, and it’s a nasty one.

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Or if they get there before parking staff is set up. Not sure how much before game time they open

I don’t understand all the hullabaloo. I arrived at the West lot with my pass at about 7 PM. I was given a mai tai and a coupon for a free chicken sandwich, and escorted to my parking spot by a woman who resembled Salma Hayek.

Hungry Jack said:

I don’t understand all the hullabaloo. I arrived at the West lot with my pass at about 7 PM. I was given a mai tai and a coupon for a free chicken sandwich, and escorted to my parking spot by a woman who resembled Salma Hayek.

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And then you woke up.

I got there 6:45 and had no issues at all. Police were doing a goid job handling traffic at Central/Ashland. Exit was actually easier than normal, I leave through south entrance by Mustards. I was on my couch for 10:30 Seinfeld.

Timing is of the essence…
Rolex

ubercat said:

A friend of mine who has season tickets but NO parking pass, told me that in previous games (not including Illinois) he has entered the West Lot early. And by slipping some cash to the “parking staff” he gains entry. Don’t know if that happened last night, though. So Northwestern.
And don’t get me started about post game exiting WRA on foot. Through the cattle chute to Ashland is the only route I know of, and it’s a nasty one.

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After the morass post-game vs. OSU I had the bright idea of turning left out of W-R and exiting to the east side of the stadium. Unfortunately, that route was blocked by construction fencing. Wish I was still drinking . . I could just sit in my seat for 30 minutes after the game and drink a cold one.

Smolmania said:

After the morass post-game vs. OSU I had the bright idea of turning left out of W-R and exiting to the east side of the stadium. Unfortunately, that route was blocked by construction fencing. Wish I was still drinking . . I could just sit in my seat for 30 minutes after the game and drink a cold one.

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If Mustards could just get a liquor license…

Never mind. It’s Evanston.

Hungry Jack said:

I don’t understand all the hullabaloo. I arrived at the West lot with my pass at about 7 PM. I was given a mai tai and a coupon for a free chicken sandwich, and escorted to my parking spot by a woman who resembled Salma Hayek.

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That was actually Salma

Salma mater, Praise be thine

Update on West Lot cluster:

I just talked to my neighbor who has ST’s but no parking pass. He gets there early enough before tip-off, before the lot is full and asks the staff: how much for game day parking.
Forty dollars they answer. And he’s in like Flint. It seems to be a sanctioned ticket office protocol.
Moral of the story: get there early with or without a parking pass. I plan on doing some cardio laps on the upper level concourse pre-game.

Do they take bitcoin?

its_the_sauce said:

I got there 6:45 and had no issues at all. Police were doing a goid job handling traffic at Central/Ashland. Exit was actually easier than normal, I leave through south entrance by Mustards. I was on my couch for 10:30 Seinfeld.

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45 min ahead and no problem, 15 min later and everything changes and not for the better

For tonight's game, I see that you can pre-pay for parking at the hospital garage. Any experiences with that - in particular, ease of leaving? I'm debating that vs trying to pay cash to park in the West Lot. Game shouldn't be too crowded tonight.

Darren72 said:

For tonight's game, I see that you can pre-pay for parking at the hospital garage. Any experiences with that - in particular, ease of leaving? I'm debating that vs trying to pay cash to park in the West Lot. Game shouldn't be too crowded tonight.

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Assuming you get there by 630 I don't think you'll have any issue paying for west lot.

Hospital lot is a cold walk down central. I park there for football games. Bundle up it is supposed to be colder tonight