2024 NFL draft parking: You better have a plan if you're coming to downtown Detroit
If you're used to slipping downtown for a game and finding street parking near the venue, you'll need a different approach if you're coming to NFL draft events this week.
Parking spots will be at a premium anywhere near the draft footprint, which is why Detroit city officials and others involved in planning for the event have been advising folks to consider public transit and park-and-ride options instead.
The draft, which runs this Thursday through Saturday, is expected to attract about 300,000 people to Detroit, and getting around in a private vehicle will be significantly more challenging than normal because of street closures. Street parking won't be allowed in many areas.
But don’t let parking paralysis dissuade you. Just make a plan.
The Free Press spoke with Sam Krassenstein, Detroit's chief of infrastructure, about parking options and gathered answers to some common questions readers might have.
Here's a guide to avoiding the worst of parking downtown during the NFL draft:
Make a plan
We already said to have a plan, but it bears repeating. Lots of streets will be closed, and parking rules will be strictly enforced, according to Krassenstein.
What happens if you park improperly?
More: Detroit streets you can't drive on, cross or use for parking — you will be towed
Tickets and towing are what's in store for parking violations. Krassenstein said to watch for the signage, which should be very clear in announcing a "tow-away zone."
But you're not going to get away with just a $45 ticket (Detroit residents might be able to qualify for a discounted fine if they pre-register), "we're going to tow your car," Krassenstein said.
So tack on a couple of hundred dollars and the extra hassle.
Krassenstein said he expects some folks who regularly try to push their luck with parking during games and events to try it again as the draft gets underway, but this is likely to be the week that luck runs out.
To find available off-street parking, try the Park Detroit or Park Whiz smartphone apps, where you can find and book parking ahead of time. Be prepared to pay more than you normally would. A quick search of the Park Detroit app for a couple of hours in downtown Detroit on Thursday showed some lower-price offerings in the area, $30 and $40, but others that were higher, at $75, even $125.
Beware of scams
The Office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued an advisory on Tuesday warning those looking for private parking at the draft to beware, noting that "scammers take advantage of these events to sell parking spaces for lots they don’t have authority over, which could lead to cars being ticketed, towed or, even worse, stolen." The news release encouraged residents to ask for a receipt or parking ticket upon payment and to never give their keys to an attendant unless valet signs are posted and they've confirmed valet service details ahead of time.
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The release also warned of a scam involving bad actors issuing fake but authentic-looking parking tickets. "Nessel reminds residents to visit that municipality’s website directly or to call the court and verify the existence of the ticket before following the web or QR code directions."
The Better Business Bureau has a web page with more tips on avoiding the scam.
Fan shuttles are one option
Krassenstein suggested fan shuttles from three locations as a good bet that would be convenient and priced reasonably, with shuttles scheduled to run regularly between the parking areas and the draft entrance location drop-offs, 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday.
Here are those shuttle parking locations and costs:
WSU Structure 1, 450 W. Palmer Ave. — $10 per car (first come, first serve)
Bagley Mobility Hub, 1501 Wabash St. — $15 (prepay recommended). Link to prepay here (add $1.50 service fee).
River East Garage, 214 Rivard St. — $15 per car (prepay recommended). Link to prepay here (add 99-cent service fee).
Park and ride is also available
In addition, numerous park-and-ride options are available for QLINE and SMART.
QLINE
Detroit's streetcar, which is currently free to ride, has several park-and-ride lots available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Cost is $5.
WSU Lot 12 — Harper & Woodward, near the Amsterdam station
New Center Garage — 116 Lothrop, near the Grand Blvd station
Cass Garage — 6540 Cass Ave., near the Baltimore station
John R and Piquette — 6230 John R., near the Amsterdam station
More: A guide to breakfast, lunch and dinner near downtown Detroit during the NFL draft
SMART
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation buses are scheduled to leave park-and-ride lots once per hour between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day of the draft, according to the release. Buses are to return from downtown (Bricktown People Mover Station for east-side routes and Fort/Cass station for west-side routes) once per hour 1-11:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 1-7:30 p.m. Saturday. One-way fares are $2 per adult, $1 per child (5-18) and 50 cents for those older than 65 or who have a disability.
Here are the SMART park-and-ride lot locations:
Great Lakes Crossing, 4000 Baldwin, Auburn Hills
Lakeside Mall, 14000 Lakeside Circle, Sterling Heights
Mount Clemens Farmers Market, 141 North River Road
Sterling Heights Meijer, 36000 Van Dyke Ave.
Troy Civic Center Park and Ride lot, 520 W. Big Beaver Road
Oakland Community College Orchard Ridge Campus, 27055 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills
Southfield Civic Center bus terminal, 24350 Civic Center Drive
Westland Police Department, 36701 Ford Road
Fairlane Town Center, 18900 Michigan Ave., Dearborn
Lincoln Park Community Center, 3525 Dix Highway
Southgate Meijer, 16300 Fort St.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL draft parking requires a plan: Shuttles, SMART buses, QLine
