Pigskin parking tips for students, faculty, staff

AMES, Iowa -- For the fourth year, Cyclone fans will kick off the weekend early with a football home opener at Jack Trice Stadium. So before the burgers and brats hit the grill, it's important for everybody on campus to know the drill when it comes to parking.

The Cyclones take on North Dakota State at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3. Fans will begin streaming into the stadium parking lots the minute they open at 1 p.m.

As they always do, people who normally park around the stadium and in commuter lots will have to move their cars. But Thursday is still a regular class and work day on campus, so campus parking spots will be scarce.

Squeezing an extra 3,000 cars into the 16,000 or so parking spaces on campus requires a little cooperation on everyone's part. Department of Public Safety and Athletics Department officials expect the process to go smoothly, based on the patience and courtesy people have shown in past years.

Here's what you need to know before Sept. 3:

Commuters

Motorists who normally park in the Iowa State Center lots will be directed to any of these locations on Sept. 3:
• Kmart/Staples parking lot, 1405 Buckeye Ave. (east side only, along Buckeye)
• Lot 29, north of the Communications Building and Molecular Biology
• Lot 29B, west of Frederiksen Court across Stange Road
• Memorial Union Parking Ramp (regular hourly rates apply)
• General Staff lots (designated with gold signs) on campus after 11 a.m.

Commuters have been provided this information several times, and signs will be posted in and around the Ann Campbell Transit Station.

Commuters may ride Cy-Ride's Orange Route free from the east side of the Kmart lot to campus. Pickup from the Kmart lot will run at least every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 3. Look for the bus stop signs.

Stadium permits

Those who usually park at Jack Trice Stadium will be asked to move their cars between 5 and 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2. They'll be directed to:

• Iowa State Center (north of Center Drive; limited availability)
o Staff will be on hand from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday to direct traffic to designated areas.
• Lots 61A and 61B at the Towers
• Lot 100, Lied Recreation Center
• Lot 29, north of the Communications Building and Molecular Biology
• Lot 29B, west of Frederiksen Court across Stange Road
• Southwest Athletic Complex (near Cap Timm Field)

All stadium permit holders must move their cars by 11:59 p.m. Sept. 2 and may return their cars to the stadium before noon on Friday, Sept. 4. The approximately 1,000 people who park at the stadium - primarily students - have received an e-mail with this information.

Reserved (red) permits

It's business as usual in reserved lots on Sept. 3. These parking spots will not be up for grabs. Reserved spaces will remain available only to those with reserved permits for a particular lot.

General staff (gold) permits

General staff lots will be open to the public after 11 a.m. on Sept. 3. If you have a gold permit, you'll have no problem tackling a parking space first thing in the morning, but you may lose your spot if you leave. Consider lunching on campus or walking to appointments if at all possible.

Disability, 24-hour reserve permits

Parking in spaces for holders of these permits will remain strictly enforced.

At day's end