parking tips for akron zips womens basketball vs. buffalo bulls womens basketball at james rhodes arena (akron oh 01/31)

hey zips fans, figured i'd share some parking tips for the buffalo game on saturday 01/31 at the jar. campus parking can honestly be a little confusing if you don't know the drill, but for women's games it's actually pretty straightforward and usually free, which is a huge bonus.

the easiest way i've found to skip the traffic heading right into the main deck is using an app called Prked. it's where local folks rent out their driveways or private parking spots, sometimes literally right next to james rhodes arena. it's usually way cheaper than private lots and you get a guaranteed spot right up front with just a short walk, which lets you bypass the backed-up lines completely. check it out first, honestly.

if you're going to use the official university lots, the main spot for all single-game ticket holders is lot 1, which is the east campus parking deck right on carroll street. parking for women's basketball is generally included with your ticket and free in this designated lot. this is your primary spot, and since it's a saturday, campus traffic should be way lighter than a weekday rush hour.

just a huge warning: other lots right by the arena, like lot 2 and lot 8, are strictly reserved for season ticket and permit holders only, and they are super strict about enforcing the passes, so don't even try to park there unless you have the permit. you will get towed or ticketed.

if lot 1 is full, your next best bets that are still just a short walk away are the overflow spots like lot 10 (along spicer st), lot 14, or lot 15 (along buchtel ave). these are usually easy alternatives. for anyone needing accessible (ada) parking, you can find designated spaces in lot 2 (spaces are limited) and lot 8 with a disability placard. you can also use the carroll street loop right in front of the jar for a quick drop-off.

if you absolutely have to park off-campus and don't mind a half-mile walk, you can try one of the downtown decks like the polsky parking deck or the summit county parking deck. since the game is on a saturday, the city meters won't be an issue like they are during a weekday, but the decks themselves will still have their regular weekend rates.

the key is honestly just to aim to get there maybe 45 minutes before tip-off so you get a good spot in the deck and aren't rushing in.

hope this helps, go zips!