LA Convention Center Parking [E3]

Lewisham

Hey guys,
I'm off to E3 in the coming week, and I hear parking at the LA Convention Center is expensive. I was hoping the H&A LA Hive Mind might have a better alternative for parking nearby? There's no reasonable way of getting there on public transport (of course) so I'll have to take the motor.

Thanks guys!

EDIT: Traffic hints also appreciated!

pacbowl

There will be lots of alternative parking nearby (within 2 or 3 blocks) that shouldn't be more than $20 for all day. I'm sure there will be some sort of markup with the convention happening and all (non-convention prices are usually $6-12 for all day for downtown parking so $20 will be on the very high side) but don't be afraid to just find a lot and park there.

The last E3 I went to was in 02 and we found a good spot in a structure just across the street. In 01 we had to park almost 4 blocks away. As for traffic hints, well it's all shitty regardless of if there's a convention going on or not. There are a lot of one-way streets so be prepared to drive around the block a lot while you're looking for a decent parking area.

Edit: It goes without saying, the earlier you get there the better parking you will find.

Kyougu

Pretty much. The E3 I attended I was lucky to go with a car full of friends, so we just split the cost of the parking and it would come off around 4 or 5 bucks a person. Don't bother looking for parking close to the convention center, just park a couple of blocks away and make the walk.

Part of the experience is seeing the convention center as you approach it anyways and all the ads and people.

zilo

Last year I parked a block away and paid $10 in an above-ground lot (not a parking structure).

Also you can get there easily with the metrolink + maybe a short bus ride.

kaliyama

There's a bunch of parking structures all around downtown. It's readily accessible by public transportation though, so I don't know why you've made an assertion to the contrary. Where are you staying?

Lewisham

La Canada... it turns a 20 minute-ish drive (assuming no traffic) into an hour and and 20 minutes according to Google Maps.

pacbowl

Ah, you live just over the hill.

kaliyama

Lewisham wrote: »

La Canada... it turns a 20 minute-ish drive (assuming no traffic) into an hour and and 20 minutes according to Google Maps.

If this thing is during the week i'd leave either at 7 AM or at 930 AM and when leaving just hang out downtown till about 7 or 730 or so. Do you like bars?

tek

6 years of parking under the West Hall, it's always damn close which means after a long day on yer feet you don't have a long walk.. I want to say $12 per day, but it could have been $20. Worth every penny. 1st year in a long time I'm not going too heh..

chromdom

My experience has been that Convention Center parking is worth it. It's more than I want to pay for parking, but I'm a cheap bastard and don't want to pay anything for parking. It's close and pretty convenient, especially for dropping off schwag, and not too difficult to get in and out of.

Lewisham

kaliyama wrote: »

If this thing is during the week i'd leave either at 7 AM or at 930 AM and when leaving just hang out downtown till about 7 or 730 or so. Do you like bars?

9:30 leaving time is fine with me, I am in no rush to play any specific games so don't fancy queueing. Hanging out is also easily done as I should be meeting some mates down there.

I will use the convention center parking if it turns out I can't find anything that looks better. Thanks guys!

ReaperSMS

Parking at the convention center itself is a myth. That garage will be completely full.

The street lots around will start filling up before 9, and the price on the nearest ones will start going up about $10 every half hour around 10. Prices usually drop off about 5-10$ per block further away from the center. At the worst parts of the day, the closest lots will probably be around $40-50, with $20 being about 3-4 blocks out.

Lewisham

ReaperSMS wrote: »

Parking at the convention center itself is a myth. That garage will be completely full.

The street lots around will start filling up before 9, and the price on the nearest ones will start going up about $10 every half hour around 10. Prices usually drop off about 5-10$ per block further away from the center. At the worst parts of the day, the closest lots will probably be around $40-50, with $20 being about 3-4 blocks out.

So your suggestion is...? Get there super early?

kaliyama

Lewisham wrote: »

ReaperSMS wrote: »

Parking at the convention center itself is a myth. That garage will be completely full.

The street lots around will start filling up before 9, and the price on the nearest ones will start going up about $10 every half hour around 10. Prices usually drop off about 5-10$ per block further away from the center. At the worst parts of the day, the closest lots will probably be around $40-50, with $20 being about 3-4 blocks out.

So your suggestion is...? Get there super early?

there are like a million parking lots on figueroa. just pick one. it'll be like $8. given that the street lots don't hit $20 for lakers games, i'm a little skeptical.

chromdom

kaliyama wrote: »

Lewisham wrote: »

ReaperSMS wrote: »

Parking at the convention center itself is a myth. That garage will be completely full.

The street lots around will start filling up before 9, and the price on the nearest ones will start going up about $10 every half hour around 10. Prices usually drop off about 5-10$ per block further away from the center. At the worst parts of the day, the closest lots will probably be around $40-50, with $20 being about 3-4 blocks out.

So your suggestion is...? Get there super early?

there are like a million parking lots on figueroa. just pick one. it'll be like $8. given that the street lots don't hit $20 for lakers games, i'm a little skeptical.

Lakers games are at night when the millions of people who work in downtown LA have gone home. During the day you're not only fighting the people going to E3, but also the daily grinders.


OP, where'd you park?

DeathPrawn

Yeah, I'm curious to find out what the deal actually is this year. Last year I was able to grab convention center parking without arriving at the crack of dawn, and the year before the street lot <1 block away was ~$8 arriving well after the show was underway (although to be fair the 2008 E3 was the one about 10 people attended)

Lewisham

So it turns out what I am planning to do is take the Metro Gold Line from Pasadena to catch a bus from Chinatown station. This comes out to 50 minutes (says Google) and while slow, I figure will actually be about the same as it goes directly to the convention center. All this talk of parking space hunting and walking 4 blocks and hanging around until 7PM and such has made me reevaluate how long public transport would be

It's $2 to park the car, $3 for the train both ways, then $3 for the bus both ways. I figure $8 is a win, plus little gas used to get to the Metro.

If it turns out to be super crap, I'll definitely be taking into account all your advice.

Thank you all!

pacbowl

If you do E3 right, don't forget the shwag bag (or 2) that you'll have to carry back.

Lewisham

pacbowl wrote: »

If you do E3 right, don't forget the shwag bag (or 2) that you'll have to carry back.

I hope so! I have a fairly big backpack I'll take, and I can carry another in my hands. The plan involves a bus right from the center, then straight to the train station, and I have rearranged my living arrangements so I literally live above an Orange Line station, so it should be cool

It's a good problem to have!

kaliyama

Lewisham wrote: »

So it turns out what I am planning to do is take the Metro Gold Line from Pasadena to catch a bus from Chinatown station. This comes out to 50 minutes (says Google) and while slow, I figure will actually be about the same as it goes directly to the convention center. All this talk of parking space hunting and walking 4 blocks and hanging around until 7PM and such has made me reevaluate how long public transport would be

It's $2 to park the car, $3 for the train both ways, then $3 for the bus both ways. I figure $8 is a win, plus little gas used to get to the Metro.

If it turns out to be super crap, I'll definitely be taking into account all your advice.

Thank you all!

Just take the gold line to union station and then the red line to 7th street/metro station. it's less of a hassle than busing it. You will have to walk from 7th to 11th down figueroa. I'm a little gobsmacked that getting some cardiovascular exercise is a problem. Furthermore, even if you don't have to stay later, I highly recommend doing so - downtown has lovely bars. I recommend 7 grand - a whiskey bar, library bar, and the rooftop on the standard.

Lewisham

kaliyama wrote: »

I'm a little gobsmacked that getting some cardiovascular exercise is a problem.

I never said walking was or was not a problem (it's not), I just was looking for the most expedient solution, and as I am unfamiliar with the territory, I didn't want to inadvertently put myself in a sketchy situation. I didn't even know Gold Line/Red Line was possible, I was just going by Google Maps' higher judgment.

I shall investigate your suggestion, thank you!

kaliyama

Lewisham wrote: »

kaliyama wrote: »

I'm a little gobsmacked that getting some cardiovascular exercise is a problem.

I never said walking was or was not a problem (it's not), I just was looking for the most expedient solution, and as I am unfamiliar with the territory, I didn't want to inadvertently put myself in a sketchy situation. I didn't even know Gold Line/Red Line was possible, I was just going by Google Maps' higher judgment.

I shall investigate your suggestion, thank you!

Good. I'm glad santa cruz hippies aren't getting lazy. Bus service is not as good as metro service in LA, and they're easy to miss. You won't be anywhere sketchy. I wouldn't worry about anywhere downtown, except for the actual street skid row is on, which is way way south of Union Station and clear across town from the convention center. For food, LA live has a number of nice options. The gold and red lines run late but infrequently (probably every 20-30 minutes a la BART), so i'd time things so you don't have to wait around. Not because it's unsafe, because it's boring.