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Message: [QUOTE="BlazeOrange, post: 699191, member: 683"] Here are some parking options and associated problems: - Permit lots: close to the Dome, but you need a permit. Money aside, it's not an option for someone who decides to go to a game that week. - Fraternity houses: also close, relatively cheap, and there may be hot coeds running around. But they fill up fast - and by that, I mean absolutely full. If you get there early, you'll have to wait for every car behind you to leave because you are boxed in. - Adams/Harrison lots: a bit of a hike, but doable. The price goes up every year and will shock those who rarely attend games. They have decent amount of space, but there are multiple lots that aren't easy to describe if you want to meet someone there (I'll elaborate on this issue at the end). - Parking garages: variable distances away, still doable though. Not sure which are truly "public" and which are reserved for guests/employees/etc. Expensive - people don't like to pay more for parking than their ticket cost. Can't grill in a covered garage (or you at least have to worry about getting caught). - Manley/Skytop: lots of space and you should be able to locate any friends in the lot, making for good tailgates. Problem is you have to bus to/from the game. Getting there is no problem, hop an a bus when you're ready. Getting back is a hassle as everyone is trying to crowd into the limited number of buses at the same time. Cramped quarters full of lowd/profane drunken college kids (and adults too) can make some with younger kids uncomfortable. I also understand that they stop running relatively soon (maybe an hour to 90 minutes?) after the end of the game, leading to pressure to get there (maybe even leave the game early) and on board when you might want to linger around the Dome or on campus for a bit. - Underneath 81: don't see it highlighted on the map, but people park there. Its a long uphill hike and many aren't comfortable leaving their vehicles in that area. None of these issues are dealbreakers by themselves, but they are negative experiences that people associate with going to games. Combine them with a couple other hassles or issues and folk will opt to just stay home. To draw in more casual fans, it needs to be easy to plan an outing to a game. Right now, if a group decides to meet up and tailgate, finding each other is a big concern if they don't drive down in a big caravan. If the lot you plan to meet everyone at is full when you arrive, you have to come up with another plan on the fly. Skytop seems to be the easy answer, it just needs some promotion and some improvements to the busing situation: - let the public in the tavern instead of just reserving it for private parties or open a new place, even if it's just a gameday bar under a tent. - have some outdoor events going on during tailgate time - build a small stage for a band, have Otto &/or the cheerleaders make an appearance, etc. - establish multiple bus stops around the Dome so the crowds don't all congregate on College Pl. after the game. - run the buses longer and have some post-game festivities in the quad to limit the waiting, pushing, and shoving to get onto a bus right away. - market whatever changes are made to encourage people to make a day of it. Make the outside experience part of the adventure instead of something you just have to deal with to get in & out of the game. [/QUOTE]

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