Parking and Transit officials don’t expect any considerable parking problems to stem from the Thursday’s football game traffic, despite the clash between classes on the Tempe campus and the time of kickoff.
Large crowds are expected, but tailgating and other pre-game festivities will have time and space to occur because public parking lots will be open several hours before the 7:00 p.m. kickoff time.
Though tailgaters will make it difficult, Parking and Transit Services will be working with ASU permit holders to ensure that there will be sufficient parking available for students attending classes during the season opener, Parking and Transit spokeswoman Leona Morales said in an email.
However, fans and students should still plan for extra traffic during game day, Morales said.
The timing of the game has created some misfortune for some students who have class during game time.
Psychology junior Chelsea Spaulding won’t be able to attend the game since her developmental psychology class doesn’t end until 7:30 p.m.
“There is no way my professor would even consider the idea of canceling class or letting us out early to get to the stadium,” she said.
Spaulding said she was disappointed because this would have been her first ASU football game and she hoped to enjoy the season opener.
Morales said current ASU parking permit holders may display the 2011-12 permits to park in certain locations free of charge, but must check these locations on the Parking and Transit website.
Many students, including film junior Jade Gonzales, avoid the parking situation all together by using the light rail or walking to the stadium.
“It’s easiest just to meet up at a friend’s place and go to the stadium all at once,” Gonzales said. “That way there’s no risk of us being separated or unable to sit with our friends during the game. It’s only a 15 to 20 minute walk and parking is too much of a hassle anyway.”
Reach the reporter at mjgordo1@asu.edu
