parking tips for notre dame fighting irish hockey vs. wisconsin badgers hockey at compton family ice arena (notre dame, in 12/05)

hey everybody, figured i'd share some parking tips for the irish vs. badgers hockey game this friday, 12/05, since parking near compton family ice arena can be a massive headache, especially when you hit the rush right before the 7:00 pm puck drop.

first off, if you want the absolute easiest in-and-out, check out **Prked**. it's an app for renting driveways and private spots right in the residential neighborhoods next to campus. honestly, it can be way cheaper than a lot of paid lots and you skip a ton of campus traffic by walking straight through the neighborhood. short walk, quick exit, much less stress.

for the official route, the good news is that parking for home hockey games is **free** on campus. since it's a friday night, that's the general rule anyway (parking is free after 4:00 pm on weekdays and all weekend). your best bet is the **compton lot** itself or the **innovation park lots**. the **band lot** is also recommended, and the **library lot** is a solid option if the closer ones are full. keep your eyes peeled for construction because that is always changing the parking landscape around there. also, make sure to follow the directions from the parking ushers, as they'll guide you to the correct spot.

here's the key: **timing**. inbound traffic patterns start 1.5 hours before the event, so that's around 5:30 pm. parking attendants are out there as early as 5:00 pm to help. arrive as close to 5:30 pm as you can manage to beat the main wave and avoid the worst congestion on the roads near campus. for accessible spots, the **bulla lot** is where you'll find ada parking with a state-issued placard.

if the on-campus lots are packed or you're nervous about traffic, a good alternative is the **eddy street garage**. it's only about a 10-minute walk from the arena, and you get two hours free before their hourly paid rates kick in. you can also try other parking reservation apps like spothero or parkwhiz to see if any local businesses or remote lots pop up with cheap reservations.

just a final heads up, **tailgating is strictly prohibited** at compton for hockey games, so don't try to set up a grill. the outbound traffic after the game will be controlled for about an hour, so don't rush out of your seat unless you want to sit in a line of cars for a bit.

hope this helps you score a great spot and enjoy the game! go irish!