Dave Matthews Concert To Restrict Neighborhood Parking, Snarl Traffic
The Chicago Cubs will will not be playing against the big bats of the Dave Matthews Band this weekend under the lights.
However, the band’s two concerts at Wrigley Field on Friday and Saturday will still trigger Cubs night baseball parking restrictions.
The restrictions, normally utilized for about 30 Cubs’ night games throughout the baseball season, restricts street parking in Wrigleyville and the the surrounding Lakeview neighborhood to area residents with the appropriate residential parking permits or drivers with guest parking permits.
Anyone else naive or unlucky enough to park on an effected street during the parking restrictions risk a $60 ticket and being towed to a Chicago auto pound to the tune of $160.
Because the concerts will take place over the weekend, when the Wrigleyville/Lakeview entertainment district is normally busy to begin with, it’s probably not a stretch to think many uninformed drivers will come back to their vehicle from an evening of food, drink and fun to find their car has magically disappeared.
Some street closures are already in effect (Sheffield between Addison & Waveland) and other closures and parking restrictions around Wrigley will begin at 4 PM both Friday and Saturday afternoon.
Our best advice is to not drive or park in the restricted area. Utilize public transportation wherever possible or just break down, crack open your wallet and pay for parking in a private garage or lot.
According to OEMC’s Therese Kordelewski, one excellent parking option that was available for drivers during night baseball games, is the lot at DeVry University which will be open for this weekend’s concert.
For $6 you can park your car and then take a free CTA shuttle bus to and from Wrigley Field–convenient and affordable.
Here’s here’s some additional driving and parking tips when dealing with night game parking restrictions and a map of the streets effected by the restrictions.
Can I just say that while this won’t have any impact on me, that this is blatantly unfair to those that get the big tickets. The fact that the Cubs are playing at night is something that is easily verifiable. Its in the paper, its in the Radio, its on TV, its on known sites on the internet. A concert, not so much. Unless you post signs with specific details, how is a parker supposed to know that these restrictions are in effect? This is unfair, and quite frankly, the City should be ashamed of this.
(Please note that I think that the whole Night Game Parking restriction is silly. In my neighborhood, which doesn’t have zoning, we get hit by people fleeing the Night Game Parking, the festivals in the area (Ribfest, Sommerfest, Germanfest Und so weiter. If you are now living in Wrigleyville, you have probably moved their since Wrigley got popular. Deal with it. The rest of us have to….)
David….Wrigley does maybe 5 Concerts a year Period.
The restrictions have been in place since at least the current Mayor Daley attained office….and people have to deal with it.
DoR,
I kind of agree with David and the reason I did the post.
Most people know about the ban for night baseball games at Wrigley, but you really have to look hard on just a handful of those yellow signs with the schedule to see the small print about the concerts.
I believe a lot of clueless people get towed tonight.
Small print, big fines! Enough said.
Wrigley does 1 or 2 concerts a year, not five, so you can’t lay off ignorance of a one-time parking ban to simple lack of common sense.
The city of Chicago, the Ricketts, Wrigley field management couldn’t care less about the inconvenience of an unannounced parking ban. There’s too much profit in all involved.
Don’t live in Wrigley if you’re not going to be smart enough to keep up with the activities of such a popular area. As a driver it’s YOUR responsibilty to be aware of parking restrictions regardless of how small the fine print might be. Quit blaming the city b/c you’re too lazy to check out a schedule of the summer activities in Wrigleyville.
Meg,
I completely agree with you.
But what if you don’t live in Wrigleyville and want to come down to go down to a restaurant or nightclub and don’t know that a concert at Wrigley rates the same as a night baseball game as far as parking restrictions?
You might know about Cubs night game restrictions, and the signs clearly talk about that. But, two nights of concerts?
Not quite as obvious. And not really that fair if you ask me.
Some signs around the Permit LV2 zoned streets have the sign including concerts and dates the concerts will be held. Which is a 5pm – 10pm permit enforced area. But these are only posted in residential streets. Areas like Addison west Halsted is Permit LV2 enforced. But those signs say Night Games only. This will confuse drivers because it doesn’t say concerts as well. Even on the signs west of Clark on Addison. This area you can’t park during night games. But you see this sign. There’s no concert included on the sign.
http://theexpiredmeter.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/night-game-addison.JPG
I can understand residents/ non-residents getting confused to night games and special events. They attract tons of people. But at the same time you have to realize that these signs aren’t very clear. Thus people get towed because the city fails to clarify what they want. High population areas will have parking problems. It just goes without saying. Even with Permit 383 I still have to park 3 – 4 blocks away. (Not complaining) I love the area and how close I am to shopping, the bars and my friends are within walking distance from my place. So I don’t need to move my car during night games or weekends. I just feel the signs should be updated.
Blame CDOT for the confusing signage.
I heard tell that CDOT even puts up Permanent Restriction Signs DURING the day and time the enforcement is going on.