Lawrence will turn into tailgate city once again Saturday afternoon around Memorial Stadium as football season arrives.
But fans also have several options if they don’t park at the stadium for the 6 p.m. Kansas University game against Northern Colorado. For them, there is the park-and-ride shuttle bus.
“There really is no change (compared to last fall),” said Danny Kaiser, KU’s assistant parking and transit director.
The only major difference is that the shuttle buses to the stadium from downtown Lawrence will cost $1 round-trip per passenger this season. Rides were free last year.
The city started the shuttle service aimed at reducing parking demand in neighborhoods and bringing more people downtown before games.
City commissioners implemented the $1 fee to help cover some costs this year. In 2008, the service cost the city $13,720 while KU Athletics Inc. kicked in $7,000. This year, city officials estimated the service will cost $10,961 after including revenue from the fees.
Here’s how to catch the shuttles downtown:
• Free parking is available in the garages in the 900 block of New Hampshire Street and on the lower level and on the ramps of the Riverfront Garage in the 600 block of New Hampshire Street.
• The shuttle buses that display “Downtown/Football Shuttle” will pick up passengers beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday near the two garages.
• Buses will drop off passengers on the east side of Memorial Stadium before the game, and passengers will be picked up there after the game and taken back downtown.
KU officials expect a large crowd for Saturday’s opening game.
Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said Thursday KU had sold about 36,000 season tickets, about the same amount at this point in 2008. Also, Marchiony said Saturday’s game was nearing a sellout.
That means plenty of tailgaters will be preparing for the game Saturday afternoon. Parking lots near the stadium are reserved for Williams Fund donors.
Other campus lots are designated for tailgating, and KU Parking and Transit will offer a free stadium shuttle buses starting two hours before the game that will pick up passengers on Irving Hill Road near the Burge Union and near the tennis courts on Naismith Drive.
Like last year, spaces will cost $20 in parking lot 90, across from Allen Fieldhouse. Also, some spaces in lot 72 between the Fieldhouse and the Burge Union will cost $20, Kaiser said.
Comments
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gsxr600 (anonymous) says…
It's not American to walk. It is considered too physically straining and should be avoided at all costs.
notwhatyouthink (anonymous) says…
Why does the City have to pay for the busses. Make the deep pockets of KU Athletics pay. It is their game.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
hmm, the city gives free parking in the city garages but charges to ride the bus, so who was the economic genius in this matter ?
booze_buds_03 (anonymous) says…
Because carrying my two coolers filled with copious amounts of alcohol and food would be pretty heavy.
Vinny1 (anonymous) says…
notwhatyouthink (Anonymous) says…
Why does the City have to pay for the busses. Make the deep pockets of KU Athletics pay. It is their game.
--KUAC doesn't need the shuttle bus system. The city put it in. Not KUAC. Its the city that doesn't want the sidestreets filled. The city wants people downtown before the game. The city wants people downtown after the game.
Not sure if you catch it there, but all of that has nothing to do with KUAC. Everything has to do with people supporting local businesses before and after the game.
If you remember that is why there was such an outcry from businesses when the Mizzou game got moved to Arrowhead. The city will do about as much as they can to accommodate people going to the game so more games don't get moved.
LarryNative (anonymous) says…
Vinny,
That sounds to pro-business for Lawrence. There has to be a catch.
G_E (anonymous) says…
We just park at Douglas County Bank and walk the few blocks to the stadium - it's really not bad at all, especially when the weather is decent.