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Microsimulation-Based Analysis and Selection of a Delayed-Exit Parking Lot for Professional Sports Stadiums

2022; RELX Group (Netherlands); Linguagem: Inglês

10.2139/ssrn.4255139

1556-5068

Junyu Wang, Xuetao Yu, Rodrigo Mesa-Arango,

Transportation Planning and Optimization

Parking management at large stadiums is a complex operational problem. One aspect that deserves careful attention is the increased traffic congestion occurring when most spectators intend to exit at the same time after an event. A recent solution strategy involves providing free delayed-exit lots, where spectators park for free but exit only after a certain amount of time elapses. The New England Patriots’ Gillette Stadium is the first American stadium to implement such a strategy since 2018. With less traffic on the roads, non-delayed users should be able to exit faster while free parking compensates for delayed users. Although the overall idea has received positive attention, its level of effectiveness and transferability remains uncertain. Currently, there is no guidance for venues on whether parking lots should be delayed or not, and what specific location should be delayed if such an option is feasible. This paper provides the first approximation to elucidate those gaps. Taking the New York Jets/Giants’ MetLife Stadium as a case study, a microscopic-simulation-based experimental approach is developed to evaluate multiple delayed-exit lot possibilities and compare their benefits against non-delayed base conditions. Through data collection, scenario construction, simulation running, performance metric collection and analysis, and multi-criteria decision-making, the proposed approach determines the best candidate lot for a free delayed-exit program. In general, parking lots with small capacity, low centrality, and proximity to facility exits become more attractive for delayed-exit strategies. Likewise, with the correct measures of effectiveness, delayed-exit lots offer attractive benefit-to-cost outcomes for stadium stakeholders.