A Parking Fiasco in the Making?
Got this email from Charlie about the Jets parking situation and the painful lack of mass transit options to the stadium. I thought it was worth sharing with you readers. Thanks to Charlie for this thoughts.
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One issue that I have seen little discussion of yet is the imminent disaster relating to parking and transportation to and from the Meadowlands during the next three years.
Putting aside the tailgating issues, does anyone who attended a Jets (or Giants) preseason game have any doubt that the system, as presently constituted, will be an unmitigated fiasco? With the Jets drawing less than 40k fans to each preseason game, the prepaid stadium/arena lots and Lyndhurst satellite systems were heavily stressed. How do the Jets expect the system to operate smoothly with 76k fans at the season opener against New England (and lets face it, home opener + fair weather + divisional rival = full house; there are going to be few no-shows).
Sure, the prepaid parking passes will speed the stadium/arena parking process somewhat. Any time savings, however, is likely offset by the loss of service roads and entry gates necessitated by the construction zone. Some might say, well what can one do? That there was no other way to go about building a new stadium and rail line simultaneously with an unrelated entertainment center across the road, and not have such problems.
I disagree. While the Jets, Giants, and NJS&EA went to considerable effort to divert autos from the stadium area, they made little effort to eliminate them altogether (probably because of the lucrative revenues derived from the new $25/vehicle fee). Where is the mass transit plan? Why is there no New Jersey mass transit option? Why are there no plans to run buses from the Secaucus Junction to the stadium on game days, as was done during the “Live Earth” concert event (by the Jets’ own operations consultant William Squires, no less)? Many New Jersey attendees live near a NJT rail station, and would welcome the opportunity to use public transportation to avoid the parking issues.
At present, and until the rail link is completed, the only mass transit option to the stadium is a bus line operating our of the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. It makes little sense for New Jersey residents to first travel into Manhattan by bus or train, then back out to the Meadowlands by bus. Even if NJ fans were interested, the PA bus is already very crowded with New York-based fans, and is often delayed due to Lincoln Tunnel and Route 495 traffic. A NJ-based bus route, mirroring the eventual rail connection between Secaucus Junction and the Meadowlands, makes perfect sense. If the teams actually promoted the route and provided incentive for its use, it would be a huge success, and would get fans ready for the rail link in 2010.
5 Responses to A Parking Fiasco in the Making?
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Bent says: I don’t know if there is any precedent in US sports, but big soccer matches in the UK are always delayed if traffic problems mean that the fans are not yet in the stadium. I don’t know if the NFL would be happy with this as they have their early game/late gate schedule, but like Wayne says, if the crowd is not in their seats yet, then this puts a dent in the home team’s advantage.
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Andrew The Great says:
I went to 2 preseason games this summer and it’s true about parking being a disaster….Im never late to games but because of the parking situation I arrived late to both games…
and they charge you $25 to park…can someone plese explain why they are punishing the fans with $25 parking? Im sure I will not attend another game this season unless i get one of those parking permits that lets you park in the stadium lot.
I love my Jets but i would rather watch from home then have to take a school bus and arrive late to the game.
sincerly yours,
One very dissapointed Jets fan -
Kevin Roddy says:
I took my 8-year-old son to the Jets-Giants preseason game — his first pro football game and our first visit to the Meadowlands. What a parking disaster! I am now rethinking my plan to take my 10-year-old son to the Jets-Redskins game. Is there any bus service from Monmouth County, NJ, to the Meadowlands???
For the most important home game of the season the stadium will be empty for the entire first half. Debacle.
I am hearing it is a complete disaster, with all cars routed through one entrance. Prepaid ticket holders go one way, the rest are directed to the satellite lots, where there is a distinct lack of buses.
Be forewarned, get there VERY early if you play to actually watch any of the game.
Conspiracy theorists alert: Why do you think the Jets finally opened Week One at home, for the first time in recent memory? Guinea pigs.