RAC Parking Advice

gmattle

Senior
Dec 15, 2007
607
792
0
Been to a lot of football games but never basketball. Taking my two boys next Sat. We have all caught the b-ball fever! Any advice on parking? Thanks
 

Ronnie_B

Heisman
Dec 30, 2011
9,932
10,477
113
If you can walk don't park to close to the RAC and you'll be fine getting out.
 

Rhuarc

All-American
Jul 25, 2001
6,473
7,011
113
Don't even bother trying another lot, there's a good chance you'll get a ticket. We learned this the hard way and just broke down and got season parking or pay the 10 bucks a game fee.
 

Joey Bacala

All-Conference
Aug 12, 2005
3,673
1,703
0
Come very early - the traffic pattern is a nightmare and the combo of paying/scanning parking passes has brought things down to a crawl starting at LEAST 30 mins prior. Get there an hour before tip.
 
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bac2therac

Hall of Famer
Jul 30, 2001
247,841
177,538
113
Don't even bother trying another lot, there's a good chance you'll get a ticket. We learned this the hard way and just broke down and got season parking or pay the 10 bucks a game fee.


during break you can park anywhere but there are places that during school hours during the week, you are at risk for a ticket
 
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BigLou

All-Conference
Jul 25, 2001
11,569
2,877
63
Best entry is from Daviddon/Avenue E. Pay the $10 for yellow lot. Arrive in the lot 40 minutes before game
 

ScarletKid2008

Heisman
Sep 8, 2006
8,039
10,543
113
Been to 5 games at the RAC this season, both weekday and weekend. Mostly the biggest games we’ve had and literally have had 0 trouble or complaints about parking. In fact , I actually commented to someone that it’s a pretty pleasant experience.

(arrived to lot each game ~45min prior coming from Rt 18 side )
 
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RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
65,217
44,292
113
If you can walk don't park to close to the RAC and you'll be fine getting out.
Absolutely. There are lots you don't have to pay for, but more importantly, you won't get stuck in traffic in, if you're smart. Coming in the back way (via School St/Ethel from Stelton or Cedar Lane from HP or Kilmer from Plainfield) eliminates any waiting before or after. I drive up every game about 10 minutes before tip off and never see any traffic before the game (or after). It does help having access to daily faculty lot parking passes for the last 30 years, so I don't have to worry about parking in any RU lot, but if you don't mind walking there are lots other than 102 and 105 which you can get ticketed in. I can't stand waiting in line for anything and don't understand why so many do when they don't have to, just to have a shorter walk.
 

willisneverrana43

All-American
Jul 26, 2001
10,960
6,918
113
Absolutely. There are lots you don't have to pay for, but more importantly, you won't get stuck in traffic in, if you're smart. Coming in the back way (via School St/Ethel from Stelton or Cedar Lane from HP or Kilmer from Plainfield) eliminates any waiting before or after. I drive up every game about 10 minutes before tip off and never see any traffic before the game (or after). It does help having access to daily faculty lot parking passes for the last 30 years, so I don't have to worry about parking in any RU lot, but if you don't mind walking there are lots other than 102 and 105 which you can get ticketed in. I can't stand waiting in line for anything and don't understand why so many do when they don't have to, just to have a shorter walk.
Have they ticketed in that lot by Beck Hall?
 

ColonelRutgers

All-American
Dec 15, 2003
7,106
9,298
113
School's back in session Tuesday so if you come to more games, realize that it won't be as "easy" as today. Weeknight games can be a bit hairy getting in with students coming/going and using a lot of the spaces along with normal Central Jersey rush hour traffic. Next weeknight game is 8:00 so it will be a little bit easier than for the 7:00 tipoff times.
 
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RU-ROCS

All-American
Feb 5, 2003
12,439
7,646
113
Come very early - the traffic pattern is a nightmare and the combo of paying/scanning parking passes has brought things down to a crawl starting at LEAST 30 mins prior. Get there an hour before tip.

Exactly. Scanning tickets is idiotic when you only have one entrance to each lot. (They do it at some pro stadiums when they have dozens of entrance booths). The team is awesome; the parking experience is probably the worst in college basketball!
 

koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
37,372
58,719
113
Exactly. Scanning tickets is idiotic when you only have one entrance to each lot. (They do it at some pro stadiums when they have dozens of entrance booths). The team is awesome; the parking experience is probably the worst in college basketball!
What I don't understand is why do they have the cash lot entrance and season parking pass entrance right next to one another. Once the cash lot entrance backs up you can't get into the season parking pass entrance, this happens all the time now.

Open the closest entrance to the RAC and the problem is solved. It's just so simple yet too complicated for Rutgers to comprehend.
 

kcg88

Heisman
Aug 11, 2017
10,862
17,230
0
Been ticketed only once in my secret lot on Livingston. Cost me $20. Much better deal than $10 every game.
 

RU-ROCS

All-American
Feb 5, 2003
12,439
7,646
113
What I don't understand is why do they have the cash lot entrance and season parking pass entrance right next to one another. Once the cash lot entrance backs up you can't get into the season parking pass entrance, this happens all the time now.

Open the closest entrance to the RAC and the problem is solved. It's just so simple yet too complicated for Rutgers to comprehend.

Exactly. Also, find some money in the budget to widen hospital rd to make it 4 lanes.
 
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G- RUnit

All-American
Sep 13, 2004
14,373
7,976
113
What I don't understand is why do they have the cash lot entrance and season parking pass entrance right next to one another. Once the cash lot entrance backs up you can't get into the season parking pass entrance, this happens all the time now.

Open the closest entrance to the RAC and the problem is solved. It's just so simple yet too complicated for Rutgers to comprehend.

In an amazing season of good will, you would think RU would get it right but no... and the double secret green lot. Smh
 

Rhuarc

All-American
Jul 25, 2001
6,473
7,011
113
Exactly. Also, find some money in the budget to widen hospital rd to make it 4 lanes.
I stopped taking Hospital road. Coming off 18, go to the circle by the business building and enter on the other side of the lot. Much better. Parking on that side makes it easier to get out too.
 
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Rhuarc

All-American
Jul 25, 2001
6,473
7,011
113
during break you can park anywhere but there are places that during school hours during the week, you are at risk for a ticket
Good point. I was just thinking of when students were in session. After years of successfully avoiding tickets, my friend got 3 during wrestling season even though he tried 3 different lots. Maybe it was just a bad streak of luck. He ended up saying screw it and just got a pass.
 
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BigLou

All-Conference
Jul 25, 2001
11,569
2,877
63
Never ceases to amaze me how dedicated RU fans wantto beat the school out of $10 parking fess. Pay up and support the team.
 
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Upstream

Heisman
Jul 31, 2001
35,284
10,251
113
In theory they ticket in that lot as it's a faculty lot, but like I said I have a supply of day parking passes, so not 100% sure.
Does it really count as a "secret lot" that other can park in, if you have parking passes that allow you to park there?
 
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RUBigFrank

All-Conference
Jun 9, 2003
2,865
1,785
113
RU could do a better job with parking and travel patterns. They do a good job with football - not sure why it is an epic fail and such an inconsistent pattern.
 

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
65,217
44,292
113
Does it really count as a "secret lot" that other can park in, if you have parking passes that allow you to park there?
Look on any map - there are places to park on/around campus that are a bit of a walk, but which are not faculty lots. I park in 105 because I can with a pass. It's also not about saving $10 a game, as I spend/donate plenty on RU sports, it's about saving significant amounts of time and angst.
 

koolraddad

Senior
Mar 13, 2010
743
643
93
The key for all games it to arrive early. Weekday games, with school in session, should be at least an hour early. Weekend games, should be less, but i saw some tailgaters yesterday, so let's start a new tradition.