Mardi Gras parade parking
Parade starts at 6:30. Downtown streets will start closing around 6:15. Make sure you’re downtown well before then especially if the weather is nice. There will be hundreds of fans checking into hotels and thousands of locals milling around so parking can be tough. Below are the best lots and garages to park on Saturday. All of these are safe, secure and easy walking distance to the parade, pep rally and bars/restaurants. I’d park in this order:

1.Convention Center lot: 1 South Water Street
-across from the team hotel off Water Street
-I-10 East to Water Street exit 26B and the Mobile Convention Center will be on your immediate right.
-Parking fee so bring cash
-Only 286 parking spots so it will fill up early

2.City lot: 300 Government Street
-directly across from the Admiral Semmes Hotel off Government Street and next to Government Street Presbyterian Church
-fenced in, very secure lot, security guard present
-Parking fee so bring cash. I believe they accept cards

3.City lot: 9 North Jackson Street
-Right in the middle of bar/restaurant district. I would park here if you plan on spending the day downtown.
-Lot is adjacent to police precinct and security guard is present
-Parking fee so bring cash. I believe they accept cards

4. Mobile Civic Center lot: 401 Civic Center Drive
-I-10 East to exit 26A. Get off exit and go under I-10. Right on South Jackson Street and take a left into the Civic Center lot. Look at map before going b/c it can be confusing. Make sure to park in this lot early because this lot is where bands, floats and others in the parade load. Also park as North as possible because you’re closer to downtown venues and it’s more secure/active. DO NOT park on the south side of lot or in the back of the lot.
-It’s fenced in and secure but will empty out after the parade and not secure late night. I'd park here if all of the above are full
-Parking fee so bring cash


DO NOT park anywhere on the parade route. Look for yellow signs that say “No Parking 2 Hours Before, During and After Parade” If you park anywhere near these signs your car will be towed.

bump for those not staying downtown

Any info on the shuttles from the hotels to the game and when they will run


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(12-30-2014 03:47 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  Any info on the shuttles from the hotels to the game and when they will run


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Here's info from the GoDaddy Bowl website:
http://godaddybowl.com/wp-content/upload...eFlyer.pdf

MobileBama,

How is the shuttle? It is usually packed? Long wait before/after the game? How many buses do they run on each route? I'm trying to figure if it's worth it to pay $20 to drive & park, ot pay $5 for the shuttle.

(12-30-2014 06:19 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(12-30-2014 03:47 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  Any info on the shuttles from the hotels to the game and when they will run


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Here's info from the GoDaddy Bowl website:
http://godaddybowl.com/wp-content/upload...eFlyer.pdf

MobileBama,

How is the shuttle? It is usually packed? Long wait before/after the game? How many buses do they run on each route? I'm trying to figure if it's worth it to pay $20 to drive & park, ot pay $5 for the shuttle.

I'm not MobileBama, but the shuttles are a mixed bag. If you end up getting out at the right time, and there's not a ton of Toledo fans there, you can get in and out of the game very quickly. However, the year we played NIU, I got out to the shuttles a little later than normal, and ended up sitting for 30 minutes waiting on the shuttles to finish their run down town.

Also, keep a very close eye on the shuttle labels of the hotels they are stopping at. (Should be front of the bus, and the driver will tell you as well) If you are not paying attention you could end up in the wrong part of town, and having to pay a cab to get you to the correct location.

A lot of it is personal preference. I know some think the are around the stadium is incredibly dangerous, but its really not as bad as people say. But then again, in the South, we're more used to paying random people to park in their yards for games. If you want to actually go and tailgate and spend some around the stadium early, and be able to take your time leaving late, its better to drive. If you just want to go to the stadium for the game and get in and out quickly, its better to take the shuttles.

Quote: the shuttles are a mixed bag. If you end up getting out at the right time, and there's not a ton of Toledo fans there, you can get in and out of the game very quickly. However, the year we played NIU, I got out to the shuttles a little later than normal, and ended up sitting for 30 minutes waiting on the shuttles to finish their run down town.

Also, keep a very close eye on the shuttle labels of the hotels they are stopping at. (Should be front of the bus, and the driver will tell you as well) If you are not paying attention you could end up in the wrong part of town, and having to pay a cab to get you to the correct location.

A lot of it is personal preference. I know some think the are around the stadium is incredibly dangerous, but its really not as bad as people say. But then again, in the South, we're more used to paying random people to park in their yards for games. If you want to actually go and tailgate and spend some around the stadium early, and be able to take your time leaving late, its better to drive. If you just want to go to the stadium for the game and get in and out quickly, its better to take the shuttles.

Very good post. Shuttles can be a mixed bag. I noticed they make an awful lot of stops. I've heard positive and negative shuttle stories. Sorry I can't be more help

If you get to the stadium three or four hours before kick you can get a spot inside the stadium gates. If you get there an hour or so before kick you'll probably be parking in a yard. There are police everywhere and the locals around the stadium are friendly so if that happens don't worry. Just make sure you don't get blocked in

The Jambulance will be there. I'm sure Toledo Ray and his wife Pam would welcome Toledo fans to hang out with them before the game (observing proper tailgating etiquette, i.e., BYOB, no moochers and not being obnoxious).