Going to NW game; parking suggestions welcomed
For those who are veterans of going to games at Northwestern: where should I park? The NW website mentions "football lots" but then also mentions they're for season ticket holders only. Also, it shows free lots on the NW campus, but I gotta believe those are pretty full by Friday night.
Are there football lots for visitors? If so, how much? Will there be space available in the campus free lots?
Please advise.
October 5th, 2011 at 11:36 AM ^
I live in Evanston, and I know people who live by the stadium sometimes will offer spots for $$. If I were you, though, I'd park in a nearby neighborhood and hop the L train, or park in downtown Evanston, and do the same. There's a big parking structure on Davis street that's pretty reasonable, and it's about a block from the Davis street L. You want to get on the L going towards Wilmette and get off at Central, which is two stops away I believe. Then just follow the people.
Edit: As someone mentioned above, the parking structure is between Bensen and Orrington. You can access it on Davis, which is one way going west, or on Bensen. The L stop is west of the parking structure on Davis. Just go west towards the train tracks, and take a right at the turnaround just before the tracks.
October 5th, 2011 at 8:47 AM ^
Park downtown near Davis Street and hop the El for the two stops - it will be way faster
October 5th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^
Get on at Davis
<br>Foster
<br>Noyes
<br>Central -get off, head west on Central following the crowd.
<br>
<br>You could also walk it in 35 mm or so from the garage downtown, up Ridge Avenue or Green Bay Road
October 5th, 2011 at 8:54 AM ^
For the record, I think some of those free lots are reserved for football parking, with a shuttle bus to the stadium, so you would be able to get into them unless you're arriving within an hour of game time, but I'll echo everyone else who says 'take the El.' It's just a lot less hassle (and getting out of the neighborhoods around the stadium is quite a mess since almost all the immediately surrounding streets are one lane in each direction.
October 5th, 2011 at 8:56 AM ^
I live near Evanston and I have been to almost all the Michigan games at Northwestern during the past 20 years. The free parking is on campus about 20-25 minute walk away from the stadium. Because it is a night game, I'm not sure what time they will open the parking on campus but most likely, it will be Saturday late morning. The lots fill up fast. Wendy's suggestion about parking near the EL station near Davis Street is good. It is three stops to the Central station. I think there are free buses from downtown Evanston also.
October 5th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^
The free lots you speak of - last time we played a night game at NW, these lots were pretty much empty and first come first serve on gameday. Keep in mind that you'll also be sharing the lots with campus workers, students, anyone else parking there. Theres a lot directly across from their business school where we parked at last time that was majority tailgaters. Keep in mind that's a 15-20min walk to stadium from campus. If you're not tailgating, then def do the park and metro it.
October 5th, 2011 at 9:23 AM ^
or do people just bar hop in Chicago and then take the L up to evanston?
October 5th, 2011 at 9:39 AM ^
There's a pretty decent tailgate scene by the stadium, but those lots are limited to season ticket holders.
This is a pretty good resource for gameday:
http://www.gamedayevanston.com/Start.htm
Also note, that, because Evanston was home to the Women's Christian Temperance Union in the late 19th and early 20th century, bars are few and far between (and all attached to restaurants). There's no real equivalent to South U or Main Street in Evanston.
October 5th, 2011 at 9:40 AM ^
Has been a little bit of both. But beware, the Purple Line stop after games is insanely crowded.
October 5th, 2011 at 9:32 AM ^
going to the game and tailgating is a must! Not looking for the urban commuter trains to get to the stadium. I don't mind the walk, so campus lots are OK ... are these lots typically full of tailgates?
I've also read that there are some small lots just west of the stadium that may be available - any info on those?
My plan was to get there early 10a - 11a, find a lot and park, then head into campus for brunch then back to the car and setup the tailgate. Thanks for any help, and ....
Go Blue!
October 5th, 2011 at 10:02 AM ^
Most of the tailgating is around the stadium. However, the parking around the stadium is for season ticket holders only. There will be a Michigan alumni group with a tailgate but they will be civilized and sober. Tailgating at Northwestern is slightly better than tailgating at MIT. There are some very small private lots near the stadium but I have not seen much tailgating at these lots. My recommendation is to park close to the stadium, find a Michigan person who scalped a parking ticket for the stadium lot and tailgate with them. Hope this helps.
Northwestern playing at home is very dangerous on offense. Should be a very good game.
October 5th, 2011 at 9:39 AM ^
Ill be in the RV lot starting friday at midnight, feel free to stop by and get smashed!
October 5th, 2011 at 10:25 AM ^
Is the RV lot close to the stadium? or closer to campus ?
Go Blue!
October 5th, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
I've got a brother who is handicap and we're heading to the game as well. Do any of you have any info on the availability of handicap parking???
I heard there are some in football parking lot west of the stadium, but I wasn't sure if those were also open to NON season ticket holders??
October 5th, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^
Hi Grahamnino:
Attached is the Northwestern PDF on game day at Northwestern. They state that there is a limited number of single non-season ticket # of handicapped parking spots. My recommendation is to get there early or be prepared to drop off.
October 5th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
Thanks for the help good sir.
October 5th, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^
From the NU web site it says that single game disabled parking is available:
Disabled Guest Drop Off
The drop-off area is on Ashland Avenue near gate Q.
Disabled Parking
Single game disabled parking is in the front row of the west parking lot. Season permit disabled parking is located in the southwest and southeast corners of Ryan Field. Entrance is via Central Street in front of the Athletic Ticket Office.
Disabled Seating
Disabled seating is located in rows 1-4 of sections 107 through 109 on the east side of the field, in rows 1-4 of sections 128-130 on the west side, and in rows 36-38 of section 126 on the west side.
October 5th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^
How often do the trains run? Also what crossroad is the parking structure on Davis close to?
October 5th, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^
Sorry, I didn't answer your question about the cross streets. The EL station in downtown Evanston is located on Benson Avenue which is between Davis Street and Church Street.
October 5th, 2011 at 5:38 PM ^
For all the great information!
October 5th, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
Hi Homesick Alien:
There are two trains with stops near the stadium. One train is the EL and the other is the Northwestern or Metra train. The EL runs every 10 to 30 minutes on the purple line (last stop is the next stop to the north). The EL is the primary public transportation from Evanston to Chicago. The Metra runs about once per hour (north south). Both trains are about 0.2 miles from the stadium.
Attached is the Northwestern game day guide from their website.
October 5th, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
I went to the game a few years ago and I'm going this weekend. From what I remember I parked in a public lot that was a fairly sizable, but manageable walk to the stadium. There's little to no tailgating, at least not in the Ann Arbor sense. I imagine there will probably be even less since it's yom kippur. The best environment before the game is definitely around the stadium, but for those of you who have never been to a game at NW, don't expect the time of your life before kickoff.
October 5th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
We have a sizeable group going, and are thinking about bringing a keg up with us. Is this allowed in the campus lots? I ask because it is not allowed at Iowa. I looked in the game day guides provided on the NU website, and didn't see it mentioned, but want to be sure.
Thanks in advance!
October 5th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
Says they're "officially" prohibited in all B1G campus lots. Cans it is!
October 5th, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^
We're thinking about trying to tailgate at the golf course. I was told it's $20 per car? A grad student there told us that's where a lot of UM fans will be.