By Frank Giles

When visiting Atlanta, you  definitely need to consider your parking and transportation options. In an age of Uber, car-share, and those little scooters all over the place, public transportation is not the only game in town. That’s a good thing because like most major cities, downtown parking is at a premium. So what happens when you throw in one Super Bowl weekend? Well as it turns out, parking and mobility doesn’t have to be so laborious, even during the Super Bowl.

This year, Atlanta was privileged to be the host city of Super Bowl 53. Sure, parking rates were adjusted to meet demand the closer you got to the stadium, but parking inventory was not exhausted. There were a few factors that allow a high-traffic city like Atlanta to successfully accommodate a Super Bowl crowd:

• Far away teams. The two teams playing in Super Bowl 53 were the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots. These teams being far to the west and north respectively in relation to Atlanta means very few people will want to drive in. This might have been different if we were hosting a closer team like the Saints … too soon?
• Public transportation push. Atlanta made a huge effort to push people toward MARTA, the city’s public transportation. There is a train station in the middle of all the action and I can personally attest that it was heavily used.
• Uber and  Lyft. So who drives anymore, anyway? In a ride-share society, traffic doesn’t necessarily translate into parking. Ten or 15 years ago, visitors to Atlanta would book their hotel and their rental car at the same time, but that’s no longer the case. Because people are so comfortable taking a ride-share service, rental cars are largely avoided. This means less traffic searching for parking.

Events like this leave opportunity for more luxury services like valet and shuttles. At the end of the day there were still plenty of cars to park, but the parking experience for visitors was not the nightmare some might have expected. Everyone can win, even if your name is not Tom Brady.

Frank Giles is territory manager with Lanier Parking.

By Brett Munkel, CAPP

Though I never served in our armed forces, I consider myself a fan of military history and enjoy diving into accounts of various campaigns through the centuries.  An aspect often overlooked is that battles and wars are not won through the force of strength alone. What sets many of the most dominant armies in history apart is it their ability to plan, supply, and maintain an operational flexibility.

Working over several days with the SP+ GAMEDAY team on Super Bowl LVIII operations made clear that these traits are also necessary for effective event operations:  Planning routes and ensuring precise timing for almost 550 buses to coordinate delivery of more than 10,000 passengers, stationing and supplying more than 350 employees, and controlling nearly 10,000 spaces, all for an event that occurs over a few short hours.  Our “battle” required quick pivots as security personnel made last minute changes and field personnel had to adapt, adjusting routes and shifting staff and resources.  Field teams were provided a plan and trained to implement it while empowered to make adjustments as the situation required.  In the end, the event went exceedingly well (outside the stadium at least) and we’re off to begin the planning process for next year.

Events can vary drastically with regard to size, complexity, and resource availability.  Effective planning, logistical support, and operational flexibility will always ensure you’re putting the best foot forward no matter the circumstance.

Brett Munkel, CAPP, is vice president, university services, with SP+