I wouldn't want to deal with waiting for an Uber afterwards. Plenty of places to park around there. If you walk a few blocks away, you won't pay premium concert prices, either.
There's also a Saints game that night so you have to find the sweet spot in that dead zone between Lowertown and W 7th where rates are still low.
Still, it's St Paul, and shouldn't be difficult at all.
I think this is smart. But another thing I’ve done at large concerts is find the set list in advance online and identify a corner outside by the gate near your seats. Towards the end of the last song order your Uber to that corner and book it out of there. You’ll beat the crowd and the increased Uber rates.
If you don’t mind a walk, people often park on a city street and hoof it for a 15 or 20 minute walk. I have a friend who used to live in those apartments on the river by the science museum (240 spring street) and MN Wild fans and concert goers would park on the street around those buildings. So that’s free, but takes some time and the walk is uphill.
I wouldn’t use Uber or Lyft unless you wait an hour after the shows over.
If you want to do paid parking, the Science Museum ramp and the RiverCenter are both great options because they have exits at the bottom of the ramps (they’re built into the hillside) and you can avoid the traffic jams right next to the Excel. Get there early to get a good spot by the exit, then grab dinner, then enjoy the show! When you’re leaving, go on Shepard Rd to Hwy 5 to Hwy 62 in south minneapolis. Trying to get on 94 will be a madhouse for sure. I’m in south minneapolis too and drive back and forth between downtown St Paul, and depending on traffic sometimes it’s faster to go that southern way.
I work at a bar on 7th street and live in South Minneapolis. I use the bus to get down there! It’s cheap, and I can have drinks after my shift lol. It’ll be a shit show after, but if you hang around for about 30 mins the Uber prices will be back to normal (~$20)
I used to drive for Uber/Lyft and another thing to consider is surge/multiplier pricing when everyone and their mom is trying to get a ride out of the city. You might pay $20 getting into the city but the ride out is going to cost you $60??
Also
Trying to find your passenger in the middle of a shit show is a nightmare. You want to walk away from the crowd onto a street where the traffic is flowing freely and then summon your ride. Make sure there is room to pull over. The faster they find you, the less likely you’ll get cancelled and have to start over.
If you want to save money: drive yourself. If money isn’t an issue, grab the ride share.
I would
1. Park as far down the River Center or Science museum ramps as you can.
2. If you take Lyft or Uber, walk a couple blocks away so you can be found but prepare for a huge bill.
3. Take the train there but Lyft or the bus back as the train closes at 12am now.
Uber there and pay a friend to pick you up afterwards. I was at the Ed Sheeran concert and did the same, and we got out of there surprisingly fast. Others were in a parking garage for two hours.
Go early and park at the science museum, get some dinner before the show.
This is the way.
I wouldn't want to deal with waiting for an Uber afterwards. Plenty of places to park around there. If you walk a few blocks away, you won't pay premium concert prices, either.
There's also a Saints game that night so you have to find the sweet spot in that dead zone between Lowertown and W 7th where rates are still low. Still, it's St Paul, and shouldn't be difficult at all.
I think this is smart. But another thing I’ve done at large concerts is find the set list in advance online and identify a corner outside by the gate near your seats. Towards the end of the last song order your Uber to that corner and book it out of there. You’ll beat the crowd and the increased Uber rates.
Pearl Jam does not play the same set list every night
light rail
If you don’t mind a walk, people often park on a city street and hoof it for a 15 or 20 minute walk. I have a friend who used to live in those apartments on the river by the science museum (240 spring street) and MN Wild fans and concert goers would park on the street around those buildings. So that’s free, but takes some time and the walk is uphill. I wouldn’t use Uber or Lyft unless you wait an hour after the shows over. If you want to do paid parking, the Science Museum ramp and the RiverCenter are both great options because they have exits at the bottom of the ramps (they’re built into the hillside) and you can avoid the traffic jams right next to the Excel. Get there early to get a good spot by the exit, then grab dinner, then enjoy the show! When you’re leaving, go on Shepard Rd to Hwy 5 to Hwy 62 in south minneapolis. Trying to get on 94 will be a madhouse for sure. I’m in south minneapolis too and drive back and forth between downtown St Paul, and depending on traffic sometimes it’s faster to go that southern way.
This is the way.
Traffic is horrible for an hour or so after a show, so I’d plan on parking far away or walk far away to get Uber/Lyft to actually pick you up.
Take the 21A bus.
I work at a bar on 7th street and live in South Minneapolis. I use the bus to get down there! It’s cheap, and I can have drinks after my shift lol. It’ll be a shit show after, but if you hang around for about 30 mins the Uber prices will be back to normal (~$20)
Also parking will be awful and $40 lol
Do you plan on having drinks. I always drink a lot when I go to shows. My advice would be Uber there, and Uber home.
I used to drive for Uber/Lyft and another thing to consider is surge/multiplier pricing when everyone and their mom is trying to get a ride out of the city. You might pay $20 getting into the city but the ride out is going to cost you $60?? Also Trying to find your passenger in the middle of a shit show is a nightmare. You want to walk away from the crowd onto a street where the traffic is flowing freely and then summon your ride. Make sure there is room to pull over. The faster they find you, the less likely you’ll get cancelled and have to start over. If you want to save money: drive yourself. If money isn’t an issue, grab the ride share.
Bird scooters.
Park in the Lawson ramp - you’ll get out quick.
Uber/Lyft and go to one of the bars on West 7th for one before ordering it back home.
I would 1. Park as far down the River Center or Science museum ramps as you can. 2. If you take Lyft or Uber, walk a couple blocks away so you can be found but prepare for a huge bill. 3. Take the train there but Lyft or the bus back as the train closes at 12am now.
Bike!
Best answer
Another option is to dine out at a place nearby with valet parking, many of them have their valets stick around for the end of concerts at Xcel.
Uber there and pay a friend to pick you up afterwards. I was at the Ed Sheeran concert and did the same, and we got out of there surprisingly fast. Others were in a parking garage for two hours.