Honda Center is HORRIBLE!!!

by mark the bruin on Mar 20, 2008 10:29 PM PDT

Has the city of Anaheim and the Honda Center ever held a sporting event there before?

I've been to the Rose Bowl and the Coliseum for the UCLA 'SC games where there's 100,000 people and they were more organized than the Honda Center today. And that was with less than 20,000 people. It took nearly an hour after getting off the freeway to get parking. There were no signs or police directing traffic except right on the Honda Center property. Most of the hour was spent, literally, at a standstill waiting for the police direct traffic between the fans and the commuters. A lot of Marquette and Kentucky fans missed some of the 1st half. Truly horrible organization on the part of the City of Anaheim and the Honda Center. The Staples Center was much, much better and it's a nicer facility. I'm not looking forward for the parking mess for this Saturday, but once I see our Bruins take the floor it will all be good. Go Bruins!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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I've had this happen before

After a Ducks playoff game. I wasn't even parked AT the pond, we were at a parking lot in the business park next to the pond. still nuts.

(please note I am not a Ducks fan, this is what happens when you count your chickens before they hatch. The ducks had made it to the playoffs, and my sharks were i think 2 games away and they blew it, and i was stuck with tickets. grr.)

by freesia39 on Mar 20, 2008 11:01 PM PDT reply actions

Can't say I'm surprised...

I was in Anaheim last weekend for a trade show and the traffic was HORRIBLE. Even during the week with intermittent showers (read: not a good day for Disneyland), there were times when making it a block between the trade show and our hotel would have taken 30 minutes by cab (so I elected to walk in the rain instead).

For all that tax revenue they're milking out of trade shows, Disneyland, and tourism taxes in general, it was inexcusably bad.

by cabz on Mar 20, 2008 11:07 PM PDT reply actions

The Pond

Has the worst parking of any arena or stadium I have ever been to.

by Rhapsode on Mar 21, 2008 12:05 AM PDT reply actions

I ended up parking in Angels Stadium

Tho I think the Pond's parking still beats my experiences at the Coliseum

by insomniacslounge on Mar 21, 2008 1:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Parking help

You must of tried to enter from Katella. If you enter from the back way off Ball Avenue it is much easier they direct traffic directly in and out of the lot or you could park at Angel Stadium and get shuttled in, but enter Angel Stadium from Ball or Orangewood. Stay off Katella.

by wizardofoc on Mar 21, 2008 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Hey Wiz--they have a shuttle

Service from the Big A? Does it cost anything? And about where is it located?

Thanks,

by bruinhopeful on Mar 21, 2008 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Hope

Yes they do have a shuttle from Angel Stadium. It is off the Douglass rd. entrance. The Shuttle is free, but you still have to pay to park. If your going to park there I would still try to enter from the Orangewood, or State College entrance, since the Douglass entrance is off Katella. Although it shouldn't be as bad tommorrow from Katella, since it is the weekend and there is only one session. Yesterday you had to deal with people leaving the first session, and people arriving for the second session, and that was besides the normal work day traffic. I hope this helps.

by wizardofoc on Mar 21, 2008 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions

It does...thanks a ton wiz

by bruinhopeful on Mar 21, 2008 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I think we're spoiled

because of Dodger Stadium parking. That is unquestionably the best for parking that I've ever seen. (Especially when most of the crowd leaves around the sixth inning, but I digress.)

I know Angel Stadium is bad, so I assume the Pond is bad, also. But my votes for the worst are the two shrines of baseball: Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. There is no parking at all. But it's worth it to get to be in those parks. (I had the good fortune to be paid to go there, and actually walk on the same fields that Babe Ruth walked on. It's like walking on the court at Pauley, only older.)

by Fox 71 on Mar 21, 2008 5:13 AM PDT reply actions

Wrigley

The difference at Wrigley is that there is excellent public transportation. When I go every summer, I don't even rent a car because the El is so convenient. Hop on El at airport to hotel. Hop on El to Wrigley. Hop on El back to airport. All for a few bucks.

by paulucla @ Bruins Nation on Mar 21, 2008 8:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Your mileage may vary

Dodger Stadium recently restructured the way fans were allowed to park and the results have been awful. Two seasons ago, it took me 2 hours to get out of Dodger Stadium after a game.

by insomniacslounge on Mar 21, 2008 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions

And you have to pay more too

Brilliant

by SuperBruinMan on Mar 21, 2008 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Police Academy

I generally park (or I guess I better use the past tense - parked) at the Police Academy. The walk was only marginally farther than the distant lots, and the cost was a trifle less.

Parking used to be a breeze at Dodger Stadium. Looks like yet another thing that went into the toilet when the O'Malleys sold the team.

by Fox 71 on Mar 21, 2008 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Fenway - the key to parking at Fenway

is not to drive. It was built in 1912 in the middle of a neighborhood, so of course there's no parking. As the team says, "Take the T to Fenway."

Vaya con dios.

by boston bruin on Mar 22, 2008 7:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Quick question

Never been to the Ponda Center (get it...crickets) but is it worth a mile walk to the stadium or parking? My best friend lives exactly 1.2 miles away...after reading this, is it worth it?

by bruinhopeful on Mar 21, 2008 8:35 AM PDT reply actions

I'd say it's worth it

I've never sat in the corners, but from my experiences, the sightlines are very good at the Pond...err Honda Center.

by insomniacslounge on Mar 21, 2008 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions

I got there right at 10am

so I didn't have any problems with parking.

by BruinFanBaby on Mar 21, 2008 3:47 PM PDT reply actions

Honda Center parking

FYI, I went yesterday to the game, had good parking in close, arriving at 3:30PM, and when we left, were in the street in about 5 minutes, and on the freeway in 10... there were parking officials all over the place. The only place missing traffic control was the entrance to the 57 south. Pedestrian traffic was heavy walking north and there was give and take in that area but it worked fine.
Bill

BillSouthBay

by Mensgym on Mar 23, 2008 3:02 PM PDT reply actions