Saturday's Parking Fiasco

hear here. I left Clark and Harrison, about a whopping 1 mile from the stadium, at 2:20. Would have walked but we had a lot to carry. Anyhow, it took me 40 minutes to get turned away from the Waldron deck, even though I had a parking pass for that lot. I bitched my way into that same north lot they were turning people away from, and also noticed there was a lot of free space in there. What a jok.e

 

Parking was terrible. I got there really early and got into the Waldron but some friends got caught late and didn't make it until a few minutes into the SECOND game. I don't have a clue how they do it for the Bears.
Other then the parking though it was an incredible day for soccer. One of the best soccer EVENTS that I've seen in a while.

 

Parking and traffic are always bad! Deal with it, leave earlier, a lot earlier. You should have learned by now.

Parking at Bears games is all pre-paid for lots immediately around the stadium. You have to have a parking pass.

 

With the Bears, there is Zero cash parking. All spots in the north garage, Waldron Deck, and the open lot south of Waldron are doled out to season ticket holders well in advance of the season. So, everyone who goes is a regular and they know exactly how many cars will be going to each lot.



Basically, it's apples and oranges.

 

That's fine for all of us who ought to expect it by now, but it sure is a wasted opportunity for the team. Here we had 50,000+ for a doubleheader, and this poor management probably turned off a lot of potential new Fire supporters. 'Deal with it' is for sellers markets; when we're still battling to get 10,000 for a typical game, we should be bending over backwards to make it the best experience possible for first timers.

 

Was stuck on 90 in dead stop traffic, after much bitching and discussion, opted for blue line.
Talk about fiasco, it was absolutely packed, sweaty and unpleasant. You'd think there would be more inbound trains running.
Next time I am leaving waayy earlier, stragglers and excuses be damned.
Other then the nightmare traffic and el ride, the walk to and from SF was great, and we had a great time at the match. So it was worth it.
(Although I too would like a dollar back from Ronaldo Maradona.)

 

You can't blame the fire for parking. The park district has control over the parking. Every big game we have these complaints. If you don't want headaches take the CTA or Metra. Park near the redline or green line and get off at roosevelt. I left at 1:45-2pm, got on the redline at belmont and was in the stadium at 2:30. When I lived in the west suburbs I parked at harlem grren line and took the train in. Moderator, please put an end to the gratuitous I hate soldier field parking threads.

 

I'm a Moderator, not God. I can't stop people from whinning. That's what they do.

On big game day's I always arrive at least 2 hours early. Sometimes even earlier. Pack a cooler and a grill and enjoy the day. No hassles going in and if you hang out for an hour after there are no hassles going out. No biggie.

 

I had no problem at all, parked in north garage but of course I got there at 1:00pm for the Fire camera day. Anyone else go to this. Not many people seemed to be there. Players sat there most of the time with only a few people taking pictures.Then they wouldn't allow my wife to bring in her knapsack so she had to drop it off in the car before getting back in.

 

To be fair, I saw Park District personnel in the underpass trying to warn people about this before they got to the actual gates.

And I got down to the field around 1:30 or 1:45 with no problems whatsoever.

Later,
COZ <-- fair and balanced

 

I parked in Chinatown and walked. So eat it.

 

I street parked in the Loop and rode my bike the rest of the way. It was an awesome way to go.

 

To play devil's advocate, I saw tons of people walking around inside with bags/backpacks. Monterrey Security is as consistent as an MLS referee.

 

I'm surprised to hear about all the parking problems. I got off Lake Shore Dr at around 2:40 to enter SF parking and was in S8 before the game started.

About bringing backpacks inside... I saw a couple that rode the train and brought a backpack. Security DID NOT let them in with it. I wasn't surprised at that but I was surprised that there are no lockers where they could leave it. I'm guessing that there are lots of people that this happens to. I don't think it's a very good idea to make someone's first visit to a Fire game so incredibly annoying. They should definitely have lockers where people can store the stuff they can't bring in. Heck, charge them $10 for it. It can't be as bad as having to decide between throwing your stuff away and going home.

 

I took the CTA train and had no problem, it was awsem day.

 

yeah, the blue and red lines were fine... as was the #12 bus.

 

The METRA train into Union Station and then my bike over the the Stadium. Wow it was great! Finally METRA allows bikes on the Saturday trains.

 

Metra works for me. Of course, I get a healthy amount of exercise walking to the stadium, but that's fine with me. No way I'm driving on a day when the cubs are playing, too (or even if they aren't).

 

the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a new result. Therefore, use the collective experience of other fire fans and if you intend on driving leave extra early or take public transportation.

 

So then why was Fanaddict's wife not allowed to bring her purse into the game? If she'd brought it before, why would she expect any different?

I know, I know, London and all that, I agree, I just ask for consistency from security personnel.

As for lockers, the reason they don't allow you to bring backpacks in is b/c they are worried about explosives, so giving you a place to store your bag full of fun and leave it is just as bad.

 

It doesn't really make much sense because they search the bags anyway so if they see there are no explosives in it why can't you bring it in. Are they afraid you're going to throw the bag on the field?

 

Take public transportation is good advice...if it works. It no longer works for Soldier Field, at least for a big crowd. Before the England game we waited a total of about 1 hour for the 146 and the 12...which never came. My wife and I had to carry our two children with baby gear from 12th and Michigan. As the crow flies it is not far, but it is a hike when you factor in the long detour north and round and round. It took 46 minutes to the South Lot and we arrived exhausted. Soldier Field allows wheel chairs but no strollers and they are deliberately nasty about it. On the way back I did not see a single 12 or 146 bus. The busses used to wait in front of the Field Museum but they don't anymore or if they do (for some Fire games) they all wait for about 20 minutes and leave together.
So I had to take a pass on seeing Real Madrid.

 

That's just it. I left earlier than I usually do, allowing for the increased attendance. I didn't just do it the same as always. I don't understand how they can issue X number of parking passes for a specific garage, and then overfill it to the point that the people holding the passes are unable to use them. This is akin to Bears season ticket holders showing up with their parking passes and being turned away because the park district sold all the spaces more than once.