September 8, 2005

By Dan Heuchert

Plopping down a major rock concert like the Oct. 6 Rolling Stones show in the midst of a major university on a weekday is going to require some adjustments.

Rebecca White, director of Parking & Transportation, believes she has a plan that will work. It takes elements of the blueprint used for the 2001 Neil Young-Dave Matthews Band show and mixes in pieces of the usual Thursday-night football game blueprint.

“This is a big, exciting event, but it’s going to take the cooperation and understanding of everyone in the community, especially during that transition from business and academic day to event evening,” White said.

There are some unique challenges associated with the Stones show. Construction of a massive stage on the David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium means that the impact will actually be felt over a 10-day period, beginning Sept. 29 with the delivery of the materials. Production needs will eventually consume the lower floor of the stadium parking garage, the adjoining S6 lot and part of the T4 lot.

Those holding red stadium permits will be allowed to park in neighboring student lots for the week. S6 permit-holders will be relocated to the Emmet-Ivy Garage or University Hall. Holders of permits in the T4, E3 and W4 lots will be allowed to park in each other’s spaces as they are available.

The lots will continue to be affected after the concert during the move-out process, but should be back to normal by 8 a.m. on Oct. 9.

For most of the University, the major effects will be felt on Oct. 6, the day of the concert. Though the University will remain open and classes will not be canceled, the parking areas closest to the stadium must be cleared by 4 p.m. Those individuals who will be affected will be notified in advance and asked to relocate their cars to the University Hall lots or the Emmet-Ivy garage, where additional bus service will be made available to transport the displaced workday commuters back to Grounds or the Medical Center.

Employees who hold permits to park in the Medical Center’s South Parking Garage will be asked to park in the East Garage on the evening of the concert if they arrive after 5 p.m. All other U.Va. permit-holders who do not need to vacate their lots by 4 p.m. (including those in the Emmet/Ivy Garage) may remain in place if they are attending the concert. “However, all U.Va. permit holders should be aware that if they leave and try to come back after 5 p.m., they may not be able to access their lots due to the increased traffic and road restrictions,” White said.

As is normal during football games, traffic patterns will be altered. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., Alderman, McCormick and Stadium roads will be closed to general traffic and accessible only to those with concert permits. After the concert, traffic on Fontaine Avenue will be one-way, west-bound only between Maury Avenue and U.S. 29.

On the day of the concert, UTS service will be altered as follows:

• The Green Route will be extended until 12:20 a.m.

• The Stadium Hospital Shuttle will be discontinued at 4:30 p.m.

• All other routes will be discontinued at 3:30 p.m. on the day of the concert, although the Central Grounds Shuttle will run as usual.

For those with tickets …

Approximately 1,500 premium spaces nearest the stadium will be sold for $15 apiece to the winners of a lottery conducted by Parking & Transportation. Beginning Sept. 8, concert-goers may enter the lottery by visiting www.virginia.edu/parking or by calling 924-7231. Winners will be notified by e-mail beginning Sept. 19 and will have 48 hours to purchase their permits online. Those with handicapped permits may purchase reserved spaces near the stadium by calling the same number. Access to those spaces will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m., well before the concert’s scheduled 7 p.m. start.

As the Stones’ song goes, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and lottery losers can console themselves with the chance to purchase concert-day parking within easy walking distance of the stadium. Approximately 1,500 spaces will be sold for $10 apiece on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at the Emmet/Ivy, Central Grounds and Health System South garages.

Those who are willing to walk a little further may park for free at University Hall or the Fontaine Research Park, where a total of about 1,000 spaces will be available. Additionally, concert-goers with a DMV handicap placard but without reserved permits may park at The Park, near the intersection of Arlington Boulevard and Massie Road, and catch a free ride on a shuttle bus to the stadium’s east and west gates.

In addition, Charlottesville Transit System has announced that it will run a shuttle service from downtown beginning at 6:15 p.m. on the night of the concert. The buses will pick up passengers along Market Street at 2nd and 5th streets, and along Water Street at 3rd Street and the Omni Hotel, then drop them off on McCormick Road near the Engineering School. The cost will be $3 per round trip. The buses are handicapped accessible.

White advises concert-goers to time their arrival for after 5:30 p.m.
Those who need additional information may e-mail parking@virginia.edu, or call 924-7231.