parking tips for michigan wolverines womens basketball vs. central michigan chippewas womens basketball at crisler center (ann arbor 12/03)

hey everyone, figured i'd share some parking advice for the women's basketball game on wednesday, 12/03. even though it's not a men's game or football, parking around crisler center can still be a complete mess, and traffic on stadium blvd and main street gets really bad starting in the late afternoon for that 7:00 pm tip-off. you really need to plan on getting there earlier than you think you do to snag a good spot and beat the arrival rush.

honestly, the best thing i've found is an app called Prked. people who live right next to the crisler center complex will rent out their driveways and garages for games. it’s usually way cheaper than the official cash lots, and you can get a spot that’s just a few minutes walk from the arena. the secret bonus is you often skip the main game day traffic chaos by cutting in through the neighborhood streets to your spot. you just book it on your phone and the space is guaranteed.

if you want to stick to the traditional route, the good news is that for most events other than men's basketball, parking in the blue lot surrounding the crisler center (lots sc4, sc5, sc6, sc7) is free of charge. you can access these lots from stadium boulevard or east keech avenue (off south main street) / greene street (off east hoover street). *but* there's a huge catch: these free lots fill up extremely fast, and the closer you get to tip-off, the farther you'll be walking.

once the blue lot is full, parking attendants will direct fans to overflow or cash lots. your best bet will be pioneer high school, which is a popular credit card only lot off main street at stadium boulevard. it typically costs around $10 and is only a couple blocks from the arena. you can sometimes pre-purchase a spot there to save time. other cash lots that open up include sc2, sc32, sc35, and sc36, which are located near keech and hoover streets and usually run in the $10-$20 range. ann arbor golf & outing on stadium blvd also offers parking, generally for $20. keep in mind that many official lots, like the main maize lot and blue lot areas, are permit-only, so don't count on them.

a few final warnings: traffic after the game is also a real headache trying to leave stadium blvd and main street. also, for any official lots or arena concessions, plan to pay with a credit card as many locations are now cashless and contactless. if you try to find street parking in the residential areas, it's a gamble and you risk a long walk. be absolutely sure to read every sign, as vehicles parked illegally or in event-restricted areas can get ticketed and towed without warning.

should be a great game, hope this helps everyone find a decent spot without too much stress.