parking tips for st. john's high school hockey vs. springfield at huntington center (toledo oh 01/30)

hey everyone, figured i'd share some parking tips for the st. john's vs. springfield high school hockey game on 01/30 at the huntington center. even for a high school matchup, parking downtown can still be a bit of a pain, and it's on a tuesday which changes the street parking game.

first, if you want the absolute easiest experience and don't mind a little walk, check out Prked. honestly, i think it's the best hack for downtown events. it's an app where you can rent out private driveways or empty garages right next to the venue. you skip a bunch of the event traffic gridlock, it's typically way cheaper than the event-rate garages, and it's just a super short, easy walk.

for the standard options, the most convenient place is the glass city center parking garage. it has a covered walkway straight into the huntington center, which is a lifesaver especially if it's cold or windy outside. another great choice is the port lawrence garage at 227 n saint clair st, which also has a connecting walkway on level 3-south. the superior garage is a third major public option nearby.

a really important warning for these major garages (port lawrence and superior) and most other private lots: event parking rates vary widely, from around $10 up to $40 sometimes, but the big thing is they **do not accept cash** for special events anymore. you'll have to use a credit or debit card on-site, or pre-purchase a spot ahead of time using the parkmobile app or the parksmart website to guarantee a spot and maybe save some stress.

if you want to try and save money, look for the private surface lots a few blocks away. spots like packo's lot (a 7 minute walk) or the lot on 1108 adams st (about a 13 minute walk) are often much better deals, sometimes under $10. check spothero or parkwhiz for these options too.

now for the street parking warning: since the game starts at 6:00 pm on a tuesday, the metered parking is in effect right up until the puck drops. metered hours are monday through friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.. if you arrive at 5:00 pm, you only need to pay for one hour (until 6:00 pm), and after 6:00 pm, it is free. however, the tricky part is the two-hour time limit on most meters. if you park before 4:00 pm, your time limit will run out before 6:00 pm and you risk a ticket. use the parkmobile app for payment- it will send you a text alert 5 minutes before your meter expires which is crucial for managing that pre-6:00 pm window. look for street spots further north on adams street for an easier time.

to beat the traffic, you should aim to arrive by 5:00 pm - 5:15 pm at the latest. the huron street entrance is always the most congested, so try using the covered bridge entrance from the glass city center or the madison entrance to get inside the building quicker. also, keep an eye out for construction near the mlk jr. bridge, which can still be messing with traffic patterns if you're coming from that side of the river.

hope this helps everyone save some money and stress so you can just enjoy the game! go titans, or springfield- whoever you're rooting for.