parking tips for colorado avalanche vs. vancouver canucks at ball arena (denver 12/02)

figured i'd share a quick post about parking for the avs game against the canucks on 12/02. ball arena parking is honestly a beast, especially on a monday night game, and leaving is always a nightmare, so planning ahead is a must.

first, my secret weapon is an app called prked. it's not official, but it’s a network where people rent out their private driveways and unused garages right next to the venue . honestly, it’s way cheaper than the arena lots, lets you skip most of the main street traffic flow, and you usually get a spot that’s only a short walk. worth checking before you commit to the official places.

if you stick with the official toyota lots right at the arena, plan to shell out some cash. the closest, premier parking in the rav4 lot, runs about $70 . the general public lots like the tundra lot are $40 (and are the only ones that take cash, though you get a $5 card discount) . the 4runner lot is $35 . all the lots open three hours before the 7:00 pm puck drop (so 4:00 pm) and buying prepaid parking online is highly recommended to save on day-of stress and potential price hikes .

for budget options and to avoid the worst traffic jam getting out, you have a few choices if you don't mind a 5-10 minute walk into lodo . some of the cheap garages are the 1660 wynkoop garage (as low as $5), sugar cube garage ($7), or the wynkoop street garage ($8) . you can also try the elitch gardens lot, which is technically overflow but often a cheaper option around $7-$8 and a short walk across the street . another historical spot is the auraria campus lots, like the tivoli garage, but they've gotten pricey and are now charging closer to $25-$30 when you pay on arrival .

my best advice? forget driving entirely and take rtd light rail . the c, e, and w lines all stop directly at the ball arena-elitch gardens station, and it’s a super short walk . you skip the 30+ minutes of waiting to get out of the parking lots after the game, which is the real time sink .

if you absolutely have to rideshare, the official drop-off/pick-up area is at 5th and walnut in the 4runner west lot . be ready for huge surge pricing and long waits post-game. a pro tip is to walk a few blocks away from the arena after the game to meet your uber or lyft to try and dodge the surge and find your driver quicker .

hope this helps you all get in and out smoothly for a big avs win! go avs go!