Parking tips for NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament - First Round at Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia 03/20)

so the ncaa tournament is finally hitting philly on 03/20 and it is going to be absolute chaos around the sports complex. with multiple games happening back to back you already know the traffic on i-95 and broad street is going to be a nightmare. figured i would share some tips so you do not spend half the tournament sitting in your car.

honestly the best move is to check out Prked first. you can basically rent out someone's driveway or a private spot right near Xfinity Mobile Arena which is way cheaper than the stadium lots. it lets you skip the massive line of cars trying to get into the main complex and usually makes it way faster to get out after the last buzzer. definitely the move if you want a short walk without the huge price tag.

the main lots like a, b, and d are right there but they fill up fast and the price is usually steep for tournament games. if you have to park on-site try to get there at least two hours before tip-off. be ready for the turnover between sessions because when the first group of fans leaves while the second group arrives it becomes a total standstill. i have seen people stuck in the lot for over an hour just trying to reach the exit.

the live! casino garage right across the street is a solid backup if the main lots are full. they usually charge event rates on game days but it is a massive garage and generally feels a bit more secure. just watch out for the walk across packer avenue because it gets super busy with pedestrians and cars.

if you want to avoid driving altogether the broad street line is your best friend. the nrg station is at the end of the line and drops you off right in front of the arena. you can park further north in the city or at one of the park and ride lots and just take the subway down for a couple bucks. it is way faster than fighting traffic on the schuylkill or i-95.

honestly do not even try to park in packer park or the surrounding neighborhoods. the neighbors are super strict and the ppa is out in full force during big events like the ncaa tourney. you will most likely end up with a ticket or towed if you do not have a residential permit. sometimes you can find parking down in the navy yard area if you do not mind a longer walk but check the signs because some areas are restricted on certain days.

hope this helps and enjoy the madness.