Ottawa Travel Forum

We are going to a concert at Scotia Bank Place tonight. Last time we got stuck in awful traffic trying to get out of their parking lot. Any tips on which lot is easiest to get out of? Or any area off site that we can park and walk in?

Thanks.

too late now, but no there really is no tips...bus? Not much faster, but less frustrating!

I ran the parking facility over the course of 3 years.

Several tips:

Arrive early - To avoid the rush in. Generally speeking, aim to arrive at approximately 5:30pm for a 7pm show or 6pm for a 7:30pm show. This will do two things for you.

1) the obvious, avoiding the craziness on the 417.
2) get you into Lot 4/5. (It's best to come off palladium drive (and turn left on the offramp)

If you can not arrive early and are forced to park in Lot 9. Best thing you can do is park by the exits. Contray to popular beliefs, do NOT park near the bus lot. The attendants there are told to prioritize buses before letting cars go through that exit. The reason is simple, the turn radius on a bus is much wider than any vehicle. (harder to make that turn out of the exit) They do not need cars jammed up on their sides making it harder for them to get out.

If you want to avoid the congestion at the end, I would say. Either a) leave early.
B) exit lot 9 (if u so happen to be there) and stick to the right of the exit. If you go towards Terry Fox, u're in for the long haul. If you exit out through palladium drive (Lot 1/Valet side), u may start further back on the 417(on your east end trip into Orleans), but you will certainly get onto the 417 faster than anyone going down terry fox 3 sets of lights to contend with versus the one (or two depending on which way you turn) you contend with via palladium exit.

Best thing you can do, park in Lot 4/5 if you can, 3 exits. Lot 6 is actually the slowest emptying lot since the installation of the walkway between Lot 6/7. The reason is, cars used to cross the median into Lot 7 (when it emptied out). Can't do it anymore, so don't go to that lot.

Lot 1/Valet is still your best bet.

Secondly, don't yell at the staff, be patient. They are kids, for the most part, and they do try their damndest to get you out, in -40 weather. Keep that in mind.

That's all i can think of really :) Hope it helps.