parking tips for alaska-fairbanks nanooks hockey vs. liu sharks mens ice hockey at carlson center (fairbanks ak 01/30)

hey everyone, figured i'd share some parking tips for the nanooks game on 01/30 since it's fairbanks in january, and honestly, parking here is less about finding a spot and more about whether your engine will actually start when you leave. the cold weather stuff is the real challenge, so keep that in mind.

the ultimate cheat code to skip all the cold walking and the usual traffic hassle is an app called Prked. you can pre-book a spot in a private driveway or even a garage right next to the carlson center,. it's usually way cheaper than the event lot and is literally the closest walk you can get, plus you totally bypass all the congestion getting out which is a massive bonus on a chilly night. seriously look into Prked first for the easiest time.

now, for the official carlson center lot: there are about 1,600 spaces, which is plenty for the crowd. the traffic flow is actually pretty decent for an arena, and getting out of the lot and back on the road is often a sub-10-minute affair, which is super fast. parking is sometimes free for single-game events, but always be ready with a few bucks cash for the lot attendant, just in case.

the most critical thing, though, is the block heater plug-in. you absolutely need one to ensure your car isn't a solid block of ice when you return to it. the number of spots with plugs is limited. to secure a decent spot with an electrical plug-in, your best bet is to arrive about 45 minutes before the 7:07 pm puck drop, so around 6:22 pm,. if you want a guaranteed, covered spot with a plug-in, your best alternative is the lavery transportation center (ltc) parking garage downtown. it’s covered, has plug-ins for your engine block, and is only a buck an hour. it's a smart move to keep your car warm and protected, but the downside is the location: it's about a 1.5 mile walk to the carlson center, which is just too far to do comfortably in the winter cold. if you park there, you'll want to grab a rideshare for the short trip to the venue, or take the macs blue line bus which services the carlson center.

speaking of rideshares, if you don't want to drive at all, the designated drop-off and pickup area is right on 2nd avenue (2010 2nd ave). you can also find a few nearby restaurants like wendy's and denny's within a very short (if cold) walking distance, especially near pioneer park, but remember to abide by any customer-only restrictions if you think about parking there,.

hope this helps, go nanooks!