Getting to the game - parking, walking and bussing

Council-owned parking facilities will stay open for extended hours this weekend to cater for Rugby World Cup 2011 fans and visitors.

Fans attending Friday and Sunday’s matches at Waikato Stadium are being urged to use the Walking Route to the venue to avoid traffic congestion, or to take the rugby shuttle bus operating every 10 minutes around the city centre. The Walking Route will have volunteers and signage to show the way, as well as street entertainment.

Garden Place’s underground car park will be open until midnight every day for the duration of Rugby World Cup 2011 through until October 23.

The Knox Street parking building will stay open until 12.30am this Saturday, and to 10pm on Sunday, making it an excellent option for patrons enjoying the Hood Street-Anglesea Street FanZone.

Elsewhere in the city, the Sonning car cark (River Road), Meteor Theatre car park (Victoria Street), Waikato Museum car park and Riverbank car park (Victoria Street) will all be open 24 hours.

Rugby World Cup 2011 Ambassador Councillor Peter Bos said Rugby World Cup fans should take advantage of the parking facilities extended hours.

“We want people to use the Walking Route to Waikato Stadium if they can. Roads around the ground will be closed before and after each game, so a ‘park and walk’ approach would be best.”