[Mpls] Parking at the new ball park

[Mark Snyder]

On 5/2/05 4:19 PM, "Clark C. Griffith" <ccgpa at ccgpa.com> wrote:

> I know someone can answer these questions. First, who gets the revenue
> from the parking lots.

The city of Minneapolis likely would be a big beneficiary, since they own
and operate the existing ramps next to where the ballpark would be located.
Revenue from any privately-owned surface lots near the new ballpark would
obviously go to the owners of those lots, just like now with the lots around
the Metrodome.

> Second, has anyone looked at the ramps to see if
> they can handle baseball crowds that all arrive and depart at the same
> time. The prospect of 5, 000 cars starting up in the same fifteen
> minutes and heading for the few exits is scary.  The Baltimore Orioles
> looked into building a parking ramp at Camden Yards but found that they
> would need exit ramps from each level to make it work. The Minnesota
> Orchestra was told that the chief complaint from attendees was
> congestion in the parking ramp after concerts.  So, what's the answer?

Since the existing ramps seem to handle the load from Timberwolves games
pretty well, I don't see why they wouldn't handle Twins games too, though I
would hire some folks to direct traffic each game night. Also consider that
many fans will arrive and depart using the Hiawatha LRT (like they do now
for events at the Metrodome) and, hopefully some day, the Northstar Commuter
Rail and Central Corridor LRT lines, instead of by car.

The Orchestra Hall ramps are over by the Convention Center where freeway
access is much more difficult than it is from the ramps between Target
Center and the ballpark location - in other words, not a very valid
comparison.

Mark Snyder
Windom Park