dforde wrote:The traffic situation was really frustrating. I understand it's going to be a big crowd. I turned onto Mercer at 6:40, got to the parking lot turn at 7:15 only to be directed over to the Field House. Falcon Club parking permit didn't do anything. Parked in Perry Field House lot and walked back. On the way into the arena I counted at least 20 empty parking spots in the Ice Arena lot. Got into the arena with 9 minutes left in the first period.
Last season's OSU game, we turned onto Mercer from Wooster at 6:15. Finally parked at 7, went through back door to get in and made it to our seats as puck dropped. Not surprised to see things haven't changed.
Oh, and while waiting in line at Mercer, we watched every single vehicle that pulled up from the north, or from Merry, get the line immediately stopped so they could be waved onto Stadium.
apollo wrote:Everyone jumped all over me when I just stated the truth about our schedule at break...apparently I know more than some of you think I do. So far I've been right...our schedule and the WCHA stink. We're an average college hockey team...which is fine and certainly better than we've been.
Our schedule is not the problem. Having 18 guys lazily skate around watching Chris Nell stand on his head is the problem.
I also knew parking would be an issue with a larger than average crowd, so I came in from Merry Street to avoid the backup on Mercer. 6:42 arrived at the corner of Merry and Mercer, 5-6 cars ahead of me. Sat in the exact same spot for 14 minutes, never a single car from Merry Street allowed to move. Neither north or southbound bound traffic on Mercer was not being allowed to turn on to Stadium Drive. Saw several TRY, and a couple succeeded, despite the mis-guided efforts of the traffic cops. who kept yelling "Lot is full." North bound traffic was being directed to Perry Field House, where they had to turn left across the line of traffic coming south from Poe...result total gridlock, as that southbound traffic was held up at Stadium/Merry...as they tried to figure out where the hell they were supposed to go.
People started blasting horns, I heard several drivers yelling at cops. One driver on Merry actually got out of his car and was screaming "when are you going to let THIS lane go?" She finally let us thru. I turned south on Mercer, went to the other end of Stadium Drive, and went around the back side of the stadium. Remember, for the past 14-15 minutes I've been hearing traffic cops shouting "LOT IS FULL"...I assumed that meant the grass overflow lot east of the arena was also full, and was prepared to park at the north end of the stadium.
When we saw that the grass lot was nearly empty, I about crapped myself. There were 3-4 lot attendants there, probably wondering why nobody is coming. There couldn't have been more than 40 cars in that lot, I'm sure it would hold 3-400. At first intermission I walked out into the main lot, I stopped counting at 30 empty spaces.
Parking has been a problem for YEARS. I've commented on it, made calls about it, written letters about it to the point that I'm just sick of it. In fairness, I thought it had been much improved this year, until this game. Those traffic cops at that main corner either:
1. Had ZERO training
2. Were given BAD information
3. Have no capacity for rational thought
4. Some combo of some/all of the above.
The GOOD news; we got there for puck drop.
The BAD news; we got there in time for the national anthem, but that's another issue.
I left my house at 6:40pm, listen to a little 88.1 pregame on the way and saw the line and wondered what the heck was going on. Came in off of Poe road and turned South on Mercer. Waited for about 7 - 10 minutes, turned left at stadium drive got into the lot using my parking pass, parked, walked in and still had 7 minutes before face off.
It was like this nearly every home series in the old CCHA especially when the team was really good for those of you not old enough to remember.
Leave early, plan ahead, parking issue is not that big of deal. One suggestion I've thrown out is making Mercer road a one-way from both the North and South on game days post and pre game.
unfalconbelievable wrote:Yes a larger then normal crowd was expected.
I left my house at 6:40pm, listen to a little 88.1 pregame on the way and saw the line and wondered what the heck was going on. Came in off of Poe road and turned South on Mercer. Waited for about 7 - 10 minutes, turned left at stadium drive got into the lot using my parking pass, parked, walked in and still had 7 minutes before face off.
It was like this nearly every home series in the old CCHA especially when the team was really good for those of you not old enough to remember.
Leave early, plan ahead, parking issue is not that big of deal. One suggestion I've thrown out is making Mercer road a one-way from both the North and South on game days post and pre game.
The problem is, the line from Wooster street is much longer than from Poe. That 7-10 minute wait for you can be closer to 30 minutes for those that come from Wooster street. My thoughts are all traffic should enter from Wooster Street. If for some reason traffic backs up, that direction is better suited to handle the traffic than Poe Road is.
For exiting, blocking southbound traffic at Stadium/Merry and northbound traffic at Ridge is the proper way. Biggest problem in the past has been the students crossing Mercer. They would stretch out from Mercer to the Ice Arena, and the police would hold traffic until they all crossed (most walking slowly). This season, they have been holding students up until there is a large group ready to cross, which is nice.
Probably won't be a popular opinion, but the days of being able to get to the arena ten minutes before and make it in on time might be over, as the attendance gets better. I've only had an issue once (watched a friends throwing meet at the fieldhouse, lost track of time), but I always get there early enough to watch warmups and boot people out of my seats
unfalconbelievable wrote:Yes a larger then normal crowd was expected.
I left my house at 6:40pm, listen to a little 88.1 pregame on the way and saw the line and wondered what the heck was going on. Came in off of Poe road and turned South on Mercer. Waited for about 7 - 10 minutes, turned left at stadium drive got into the lot using my parking pass, parked, walked in and still had 7 minutes before face off.
It was like this nearly every home series in the old CCHA especially when the team was really good for those of you not old enough to remember.
Leave early, plan ahead, parking issue is not that big of deal. One suggestion I've thrown out is making Mercer road a one-way from both the North and South on game days post and pre game.
I did leave plenty early. As I said in my earlier post, I was at the corner of Mercer and Merry at 642, just 2 minutes after you say you left your house. Apparently, sometime between 656 (when I was finally allowed to turn south on Mercer) and when you arrived at that corner, they had begun to allow cars to turn east on Stadium Drive.
Did they change this pattern because the lot at Perry Field House was now full, or because they finally figured out that the grass lot east of the arena existed? Either way, it shows that somebody had no idea what they were doing.
pdt1081 wrote:I hate leaving games feeling like the stripes played way too much into the outcome.
It has been established that I am blind, but even I saw a huge holding-the-stick penalty that was not called on Miami in the 3rd. We had a loose puck and a open net.
