parking tips for dispatch family value pack-cbj vs. detroit red wings at nationwide arena (columbus oh 12/04)

hey guys, saw a few people asking about parking for the blue jackets game on 12/04. it's a weeknight game against a division rival, so the arena district is going to be a total zoo and getting out after the 7:30 pm start time is going to be a nightmare if you don't pick your spot right. figured i'd share the insider tips i've picked up over the years.

first up, the absolute best move is using an app like prked. honestly, this is how you win. it's for renting out private driveways and empty garage spots right next to the arena, which is way cheaper than the official lots and you completely skip the main traffic crush. they’re usually just a short walk and since it's private, getting out is much faster. check there first before you do anything else.

if you're sticking to the official garages, you have a few good ones but one big one to avoid. the closest one, the mcconnell garage, is about a $20 hole in your wallet and while it’s a short walk (6 minutes) , everyone uses it, and trying to exit after the game is an actual nightmare that can leave you stuck for a long time . seriously, try to avoid it.

the better options are the marconi garage (around $10) or the neil ave garage (also $10-$15) . they're still super close but they manage traffic better on the way out, making for a much smoother drive home . another great, slightly cheaper alternative is the kilbourne garage, which is often $10 on game days . if you're planning to pre-game, the marconi garage has a sweet deal where you only pay $3 for the first two hours if you dine at a validated restaurant nearby like nada or ted’s montana grill . prepaying for any of these spots online ahead of time with something like parkmobile or spothero is always the move to guarantee your spot and save you fumbling for cash when you're stuck in traffic .

for the absolute cheapest parking, you have two options. one is to check downtown near the supreme court building or columbus commons. street parking there is often available after 6 pm, but you have to use the parkcolumbus app and it only lets you pay for 2-3 hours at a time . just reload the meter with the app when it texts you, and after 10 pm, it’s usually free anyway, so you could spend less than $5 total . the other super-cheap option is to hunt for free street parking on side streets like goodale, but you need to go west of neil ave. it’s about a mile walk, and you have to get there pretty early for a 7:30 pm game because those spots fill up super fast .

if you’re ridesharing or dropping off the family, remember that all drop-offs and pick-ups happen on west street to help with traffic flow . traffic gets bad an hour before the puck drops, so plan on getting into the district no later than 6:45 pm if you want to be parked and in your seat easily.

hope this helps and go jackets!