Jack Gatecliff PARKING

[GoDogsGo]

So i'm sitting here thinking..... where is everyone going to park...for lets say the home opener..... I know when my tyke team has games there, there is barely any parking....never mind parking for an OHL game at capacity.

Here is my thought... open up parking at the parking garage downtown (for free) and have a shuttle running to the arena every 10-15 mins.

I know on Friday nights during the Falcons games... trying to find a spot within 15mins of the area is a chore and a half....

Anyone have any other ideas....?

[AlphaDog]

I doubt the shuttle idea would work because 1: they'll never get that lot for free, especially when people at the lot have to clean up garbabe from drunken hockey fans after :) Plus even if a shuttle holds... say 40 people... that's a LOT of trips to get people from the parking lot to the arena only moving 40 at a time.

I really can't figure it out. There really is NO parking. I mean, there's SOMe spots on side roads, but anyone not getting there at least half an hour early is going to have a good 20 minute walk to get to the arena from their parking spot. The only thing I can think of is the lower level lot. But even that will be a bitch of a walk when it's all icy in January.

That lot is just wasted land. The city should have cleared it out, leveled it flat, put up maybe a 6 story parking garage and a nice arena right next to it.

... of course in my dreamworld nothing costs anything either :D

[trooper]

I really don't care about the parling issue. I think OHL hockey is the best junior hockey in Canada and i would have to say thats it is worth a 10-15 minute walk to the arena.

[RioBravo]

I'm going to go scout out some spots later on this week. There are a few plazas around there I believe.

[GoDogsGo]

and some secret spots... I'd tell ya...but then they wouldn't be so secret...LOL

[RioBravo]

You know you could always send a nice little PM:)

[GoDogsGo]

that would be nice of me eh.....LOL....

[GoDogsGo]

so at last nights game there was about 400 fans... and the lots and area streets where full.... whats gonna happen when we hit 1000 + people....

[AlphaDog]

so at last nights game there was about 400 fans... and the lots and area streets where full.... whats gonna happen when we hit 1000 + people....

I just said the exact same thing in another thread on here...

I think that's a HUGE reason why it's hard to keep a small 3000 seat arena full - people have no way to get to it!!! You can't walk 10 miles down icy sidewalks in the winter, and you can't drive and just leave you car in the middle of the road. THere sure as hell aren't any spots to put it in. So what do you do? Rely on unreliable cabs that can take 30 minutes to show up to your house, miss half the first period, then stand around freezing to find one to take you home? I guess the bus is an option (but not for me).

I'd REALLY like to meet the brainless zombie that thought "yah, lets build an arena with 3000 seats and put in in an area of town where there's no parking!"

Of course, the arena could very well have been built before people had cars...

[SlapShot]

I really don't care about the parling issue. I think OHL hockey is the best junior hockey in Canada and i would have to say thats it is worth a 10-15 minute walk to the arena.

Not so sure about those winter nights though.:eek:

[GoDogsGo]

I'd REALLY like to meet the brainless zombie that thought "yah, lets build an arena with 3000 seats and put in in an area of town where there's no parking!"

Of course, the arena could very well have been built before people had cars...

I would love to meet them too.... great minds HARD at work... i'll call the ice dogs on Monday and ask some questions about parking etc.... It would be nice if Boston Pizza supplied a shuttle from their locations....or even the city to show team support...supply some busses to shuttle people.... fat chance on that one eh

[Canuck311]

I would love to meet them too.... great minds HARD at work... i'll call the ice dogs on Monday and ask some questions about parking etc.... It would be nice if Boston Pizza supplied a shuttle from their locations....or even the city to show team support...supply some busses to shuttle people.... fat chance on that one eh

Boston Pizza wouldnt supply ****.... i hate that resturant with the passion **** food.. over priced beer ....

[SlapShot]

Boston Pizza wouldnt supply ****.... i hate that resturant with the passion **** food.. over priced beer ....

Boston Pizza?

Ya i agree they won't help with parking.

And i also agree their ribs don't compare to the ribs you can get at the Burlington Ribfest this weekend.:D

[DogFan]

Just a quick thought on parking from all the arguments I have heard. I keep hearing about the parking garages and lower lots being fine until the snow flies and its - 10 out. That may be true but what everyone forgets to mention is that we live in Niagara not Sudbury. We usually don't get snow until around Christmas or just after (hell I'm still golfing in November) and it's usually gone by the middle of March. Beside that the cold temps are usually January and February. That would be 12 games that weather could be a problem for January and February. Seven of those twelve games are on a Sunday afternoon. That means there are five games where you may have a long cold walk to your car.

[IceDogArmy]

Just a quick thought on parking from all the arguments I have heard. I keep hearing about the parking garages and lower lots being fine until the snow flies and its - 10 out. That may be true but what everyone forgets to mention is that we live in Niagara not Sudbury. We usually don't get snow until around Christmas or just after (hell I'm still golfing in November) and it's usually gone by the middle of March. Beside that the cold temps are usually January and February. That would be 12 games that weather could be a problem for January and February. Seven of those twelve games are on a Sunday afternoon. That means there are five games where you may have a long cold walk to your car.

well said, and there is nothing wrong with a ten min walk a few times a week

[strohs]

Just curious, is the ten minute walk from the parking lot downtown which is falling apart? it must be.

some whisky would keep one warm on the way to and from the car, on those cold winter walks.

ps. I love the analysis of the weather and the schedule...good job...unfortunately, humans are creatures of habit, and lazy, and I think this will keep people away from attending, which is too bad.

[GoDogsGo]

Just curious, is the ten minute walk from the parking lot downtown which is falling apart? it must be.

some whisky would keep one warm on the way to and from the car, on those cold winter walks.

ps. I love the analysis of the weather and the schedule...good job...unfortunately, humans are creatures of habit, and lazy, and I think this will keep people away from attending, which is too bad.

I agree... people are lazy and want convinient things to happen especially if theyare paying $500 for season tickets...food, beer, shirts, programs...to support the team.

I dont mind a little walk...but you'd be suprised on how many do...and will not attend a game just for that reason...

[trooper]

I agree... people are lazy and want convinient things to happen especially if theyare paying $500 for season tickets...food, beer, shirts, programs...to support the team.

I dont mind a little walk...but you'd be suprised on how many do...and will not attend a game just for that reason...

And that is why St.Catharines is known as the fattest city in Ontario.

[GoDogsGo]

good point

[RioBravo]

Isn't there a large plaza by the arena? I plan on parking there and walking.

[Ref]

Closest one is at Geneva and Welland but it's a small plaza and I don't think that the store keepers will take kindly of anyone parking there while the game is on

[Canuck311]

We'll one thing is for certain.. its definatly going to be a gong show.