Inside Iowa State

Aug. 24, 2007

Football fan demand for the parking lots surrounding Jack Trice Stadium the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 30, will put some pressure on campus lots for the day. Photo courtesy of Athletics Communications.

Cyclone football opener will present parking challenges on campus

by Annette Hacker, News Service

For the second year, Iowa State will kick off Labor Day weekend early with a Thursday evening (Aug. 30) football home opener. The Cyclones take on Kent State at 7 p.m. for head coach Gene Chizik's debut in Jack Trice Stadium.

Alumni and fans, students and locals, the loyal and forever true will begin streaming into the stadium parking lots the minute they open at 1 p.m.

"On normal game-day Saturdays, donor lots open at 7 a.m. or six hours prior to kickoff, whichever is earlier, and general public lots open six hours before kickoff," said senior associate athletics director Steve Malchow. "We want to emphasize that for the season opener on Thursday, all stadium lots - donor and public - open at 1 p.m."

As they always do, people who normally park around the stadium and in commuter lots will have to move their cars. But Thursday still is a regular class and work day on campus, and that means campus parking spots will be scarce.

Next Thursday will require a few hours of cooperation and patience for campus parkers.

The following tips will help you to know where to safely and legally park on Aug. 30 and get to work or class on time:

Commuters

Motorists who normally park in the Iowa State Center lots will be directed to any of these locations:

• Kmart/Staples parking lot, 1405 Buckeye Ave. (east side only, along Buckeye)
• Lot 29, north of the Communications Building and Molecular Biology
• Lot 29B, across Stange Road from Frederiksen Court
• Memorial Union Parking Ramp (regular hourly rates apply)

Commuters will receive fliers with this information on Aug. 28 and 29, and signage will be posted in and around the Ann Campbell Transit Station.

Commuters may use CyRide's Orange Route free from the east side of the Kmart lot to campus. Pickup from the Kmart/Staples lot will run every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Aug. 30. Look for the bus stop signs.

Stadium permits

Those who usually park at Jack Trice Stadium will be asked to move their cars between 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, and 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 30. They'll be directed to:

• Iowa State Center (grass areas south of the Scheman Building and north of Center Drive). Staff will be on hand from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday to direct traffic.
• Lots 61A and 61B at the Towers
• Lot 100, Lied Recreation Center
• Lot 29, north of the Communications Building and Molecular Biology
• Southwest Athletic Complex (near Cap Timm Field)
• The former Ames Middle School site on State Avenue

All stadium permit holders must move their cars by 12:01 a.m. Aug. 30 and should return their cars to the stadium before noon on Friday, Aug. 31. The approximately 1,000 people who park at the stadium - primarily students - will receive an e-mail with this information early the week of Aug. 27.

Reserved (red) permits

It's business as usual in reserved lots on Aug. 30. These parking spots will not be up for grabs. Reserved spaces will remain available only to those with reserved permits for a particular lot.

General staff (gold) permits

General staff lots will be open to the public after 11 a.m. on Aug. 30. If you have a gold permit, you'll have plenty of time to tackle a parking space first thing in the morning - but if you leave for lunch or an appointment, you may lose your spot. Walk to your favorite ISU Dining café or brown bag it for lunch.

Disability, 24-hour reserve permits

Parking in spaces for holders of these permits will remain strictly enforced.

At day's end:

Head to the game! But if you can't make it, avoid tailgaters and traffic near the stadium:

• Leave earlier or later than 5 p.m. if your schedule and supervisor allow.
• Take routes other than Elwood Drive or Beach Avenue.

A Thursday night football opener means campus parking will be challenging. Stadium lots open to fans (public and donors) at 1 p.m., moving students and commuters to alternate parking locations.

More information, maps:
www.dps.iastate.edu