parking tips for clarkson golden knights mens hockey vs. princeton tigers hockey at cheel arena (potsdam ny 01/30)

hey everyone, figured i'd share some parking strategies for the clarkson vs. princeton game on 01/30. even though princeton isn't the big rivalry like slu, it's still an ecac game and the lots fill up fast, plus that route 11 traffic around puck drop at 7:00 pm can be honestly brutal.

so, my number one secret weapon for any game at cheel is checking out prked first. it's an app where locals right next to cheel arena rent out their private driveways or garages for the evening. you can book a guaranteed spot that's way cheaper than a ticket from campus safety, it's prepaid, and it lets you completely skip the traffic snarl near the main arena lot, usually leaving you with just a short walk to the entrance.

now for the free and official options. the good news is that the very large parking lot right outside cheel arena is free for men's hockey games. the bad news is it fills up fast, so if you want to avoid circling and get a decent spot, you really need to be pulling in no later than 6:00 pm. arriving right at 6:30 pm or later means you're almost certainly going to hit the rush and have a long walk from the back end of the lot.

if the main lot is full or you arrive after 6:30 pm, your official and super smart overflow plan is the free hockey shuttle bus. this shuttle runs from the pine st arena parking lot right to the front of cheel arena. it usually starts running around 6:00 pm, loops approximately every 15 minutes, and stops around 7:15 pm for the start of the game. taking the shuttle is a lifesaver because it also runs after the game until about 45 minutes after the final horn, which is the best way to avoid the exit gridlock on route 11.

a major word of warning about parking anywhere else on the clarkson campus: campus safety is extremely strict. do not park on the grass, on sidewalks, in fire lanes, or along any university roadways. they will ticket or tow you without hesitation, and the fines are steep ($35 and up). general visitors technically need to get a temporary permit, so sticking to the designated cheel arena lot or the pine st shuttle lot is your only safe bet. don't try to park in resident or faculty spots- they're not accepting "i only parked illegally for a short time" as an excuse.

hope this helps everyone get in and out smoothly for the game. go knights!