First Ticats Game Thursday, Parking Affected
June 17, 2013 - Campus Bulletin
Most parking lots in central campus will be affected during the first game played by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Alumni Stadium Thursday, June 20. This will be the only home game played on a regular workday.
Motorists are asked to remove cars from parking lots near the University Centre and South Residences, west of the Ontario Veterinary College and along College Avenue by 4:30 p.m. Thursday. These lots -- P8, 9, 11, 17, 19, 23, 24, 30 and 31 – will be reserved for game parking that evening.
Lot P6, located north of the Powell Building, and P59, at the western end of the South Ring Rd. Extension (west of the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario), will be reserved beginning at 5 a.m. Thursday and will not be available for U of G parking all day.
Lots P48 and P49, located on Powerhouse Lane adjacent to Alumni Stadium, will be reserved beginning at 5 a.m. Wednesday, and Powerhouse Lane will also be closed. Parking and access in this area will not be available until after the game on Thursday.
Lot P7, located east of the stadium off East Ring Road, will remain closed for the entire 2013 football season.
Except for P7, all of the above lots will resume regular use after the game. Affected lots are highlighted on a campus map.
Local traffic is expected to be very congested around campus and on Gordon Street before and immediately after the game, which begins at 7 p.m. Signs will direct motorists to Ticats parking lots.
“We apologize for the inconvenience, and ask for people’s co-operation and understanding,” said Brenda Whiteside, associate vice-president (student affairs), who oversees the Department of Athletics.
Thursday’s game is a pre-season game. All regular season home games will have a minimal impact on parking as they will take place on weekends or holidays, as follows: July 7, 13 and 27, Aug. 24, Sept. 7 and 28, and Oct. 14 and 26.
The Canadian Football League team announced plans last fall to make U of G’s newly renovated Alumni Stadium its home for the 2013 season. A new stadium will open in Hamilton in 2014.
U of G and the Tiger-Cats have installed temporary spectator seating and other facilities to expand Alumni Stadium’s capacity while respecting site constraints.
CFL games played on campus will help raise Guelph’s profile, support the continuing expansion of athletic facilities and attract local business, Whiteside said. She said the team was attracted by recent Alumni Stadium upgrades and by the reputation of the University and the city. Proceeds from the Tiger-Cats agreement will support the Gryphon athletics fundraising campaign.
