Parking Tips for 2012 Big Ten Tournaments
Planning a visit to Indianapolis for the 2012 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament or the 2012 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament? Both tournaments will be played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse (formerly Conseco Fieldhouse) in downtown Indianapolis. Visit our Big Ten Tournament Parking page for tips and information about parking during the college basketball events.
Tips for Indiana Pacers Parking
The Indiana Pacers are off to a strong start this season. Now that Super Bowl festivities have wrapped up, more fans will flock downtown to check out the young team. Of course, you'll need parking. Check out our Indiana Pacers Parking page for tips. To book a spot in advance, click here.
Super Bowl 2012 Parking Tips
Finding a parking space in downtown Indianapolis during the Super Bowl week will be a tough task both for local residents and out-of-town visitors. Many garages and lots will be set aside for use by the NFL and corporate sponsors. Most meters will be closed. Other spaces will be replaced with tents for parties or other events. Traffic restrictions surrounding Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center could make it difficult to access the remaining lots.
The Super Bowl Host Committee has designed a transportation plan, including a map showing recommended travel routes. Additional road closures are planned from Feb. 3 through Feb. 5. Here are some tips for those making parking plans for Super Bowl festivities:
Reserve your 2012 Super Bowl game day spot in advance
Several parking garages and lots allow you to make a parking reservation (book now) before you head downtown on gameday. Booking early means you can plan your route into the city and know exactly how close you'll be to Lucas Oil Stadium for the big game, or the Indiana Convention Center for the NFL Experience. It won't come as a surprise that parking spaces closest to the action are most expensive, up to $495, but that allows you to set up a tailgate and stick around for several days. If you do plan to tailgate, make sure the lot where you're booking allows it.
Book with the NFL
The league has agreements in place reserving hundreds of spaces around downtown for use by game attendees. The spots are available for $60 per space plus the cost of Fedex shipping and will only be sold to verified and approved ticket holders. The NFL-controlled spaces in some cases are several blocks from the stadium and are pricier than some privately managed lots, so depending on availability it could be a better bet to opt for a private lot. Reservations are recommended (See above). More information on permits for NFL-controlled spaces is here.
Hoping for a metered spot? Wear comfortable shoes
Downtown has hundreds of metered street parking spaces that typically are the best option for visitors. But all of the spots within several blocks of Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center will be closed during Super Bowl activities due to traffic restrictions and reserved parking. Plan to arrive very early and willing to walk if you want to park using a meter. Meters are free on Sunday.
Parking for non-game Super Bowl festivities
Checking out Super Bowl Village or NFL Experience? You can reserve a spot in advance for one of downtown's numerous parking garages or lots. Another option is Circle Centre mall, which plans to charge a $20 event rate for up to 8 hours of parking and $40 for 8-12 hours, starting Jan. 27. If you opt for Circle Centre, make sure to have a back-up plan since the garages tend to fill up fast. The mall is planning to charge an $80 flat rate on Super Bowl Sunday.
Park and ride to the NFL Experience, Super Bowl Village - SOLD OUT!!
The Super Bowl Host Committee has arranged a special park-and-ride option for downtown visitors. Shuttles will run from Friday, Jan. 27, to Saturday, Feb. 4, picking up at the parking garage at 327 N. Illinois St., the old airport's long-term parking lot at 2155 S. High School Road, and the Market District Garage at 101 N. New Jersey St. The $2 park-and-ride spaces are sold out.
Additional transit options
During weekdays, the Indy Express Bus runs from Carmel and Fishers to Indianapolis for $5 each way. The service also plans to add Saturday service on Feb. 4. Details are here. And starting Feb. 2, the Super Bowl Host Committee plans to offer a shuttle service to downtown from several area shopping malls, including Greenwood Park, Clay Terrace, The Fashion Mall at Keystone and Metropolis Mall. Pick-up times and locations are here.
Still have questions? See our Super Bowl Parking FAQ.
Editor's note: Links have been updated to provide information on parking in New Orleans for Super Bowl 2013.
Big Ten Football Championship Parking
- Book a spot in advance. Several local parking garages and lot owners allow you to make a parking reservation before you head downtown. The upside is you can plan ahead exactly where you're going and how close you'll be to Lucas Oil Stadium.
- Choose a metered spot. The spots fill up fast, so plan to arrive early to get within walking distance of the stadium. How much will you have to pay? Check out our Parking Meter Fee Schedule.
Post updated Nov. 28, 2023.
Indianapolis Colts Parking Tips for Game Days
- A metered spot could make the most sense, particularly for Sunday games, when the spots are free. Not a Sunday game? Check out our Parking Meter Fee Schedule. The spots fill up fast, so plan to arrive early to get within walking distance of the stadium.
- Park at Circle Centre mall. The mall typically charges a $20 event rate on Colts game days, but if you spend $20 at a mall merchant (including the Colts Pro Shop), you get the regular rates. Check out the details at our Circle Centre Mall Parking page.
- Book a spot in advance. Several local parking garages and lot owners allow you to make a parking reservation before you head downtown. The upside is you can plan ahead exactly where you're going and how close you'll be to Lucas Oil Stadium.
- Surface lots near the stadium provide convenient access, but prices can be steep depending on game-day demand. Some lots including the Indy Blue Crew lot offer season parking passes and a festive environment for tailgating. If you park close, plan to grab a beer or a bite after the game and let the traffic dissipate.
- Several nearby garages also are a good option for parking on game days. Many of the city's more than 72,000 parking spaces are in covered garages. Make sure to check for event rates and find out what time your garage closes. The garages that sit farther from the stadium and are not attached to hotels tend to have the lowest rates. Check out our full list of Indianapolis Parking Garages and Lots.
- Wherever you choose to park, check out our Downtown Parking Tips before you go. Go Colts!
Indy Express Bus Routes from Carmel and Fishers to Indianapolis
The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority and Miller Trailways have partnered to offer two weekday commuter bus routes between Fishers and downtown Indianapolis, and between Carmel and Indianapolis. The buses also stop at IUPUI. The cost is $5 each way or $150 for a calendar-month pass and includes Wi-Fi during the trip. Here are a few of the details:
Fishers route
- Departs from the northeast corner of 106th Street and Lantern Road at Prairie View at Crosspoint (west side of Interstate 69).
- Departures from Fishers begin at 6:25 a.m.; with the first bus arriving at Pennsylvania and Ohio streets downtown at about 7 a.m. and at IUPUI's University Place by about 7:10 a.m..
- Weekday evening departures begin at 3:40 p.m. at IUPUI, with pick-ups at Pennsylvania and Ohio streets starting at 3:50 p.m.
- Indy Express Bus also offers a reverse-commute option with a $3 fare per trip.
- Departs from Meijer at Pennsylvania Street and West Carmel Drive.
- Departures from Carmel begin at 6:25 a.m.; with the first bus arriving at Pennsylvania and Ohio streets downtown at about 7 a.m. and at IUPUI's University Place by about 7:20 a.m.
- Weekday evening departures begin shortly after 3:30 p.m. at IUPUI, with pick-ups at Pennsylvania and Ohio streets starting at 3:45 p.m.
- Indy Express Bus also offers a reverse-commute option with a $3 fare per trip.
Free Parking in Downtown Indianapolis
Parking for the most part is affordable and abundant in downtown Indianapolis when no major event is underway. However, you can do better than affordable if you play your cards right. Here are a few tips to snag free parking downtown:- Street spaces in areas with new digital meters are free after 9 p.m. and on Sundays and holidays. Spaces with old meters are free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends. Make sure to look for signs and read instructions on your meter for exceptions. *
- Parking at Circle Centre Mall? Catch a flick at the United Artists Theater or buy a gift card there, and you can get up to four hours of free parking. Remember to bring your parking ticket to the box office for validation.
- Some downtown retailers and banks offer parking validation for customers. Check in advance to see if such an offer applies to your visit.
- A limited number of free street parking spaces are available if you're willing to park on the edges of downtown and walk. Make sure to check for no-parking signs.
* Updated May 2011 for installation of new parking meters.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)