Now that the Super Bowl is over and the New York Giants have been crowned Super Bowl XLVI champions just about every radio or TV station has recapped the game by discussing the stats and big plays.  Between the estimated $400 million economic bump that was predicted for businesses in Indianapolis and the $8.7 billion in projected Super Bowl related spending across the country you can bet that every business that had any tie to the Super Bowl was reviewing their numbers from this past weekend.  Now that the numbers are in, we can answer some questions.

Do Large Market teams mean More Money?

The answer seems to be a resounding YES after sorting through all of the statistics for the 2012 Super Bowl.  The most surprising fact is that parking revenue increased even thought the price of the average parking spot fell.

As this chart illustrates, the average person who bought a parking reservation within 0.5 mile of the Super Bowl stadium saved 25% compared to 2011 prices. Fans that purchased parking within 0.2 mile of the stadium saved an average of 40% compared to last year.  That is a significant decrease in price, but parking revenue increased over 2011 because far more people decided to drive to the game.  So yes, having big market teams compete in the Super Bowl will bring in more money for local businesses.  Even if the average revenue per fan decreases the big market teams bring enough fans to offset that drop.

How do we know that these numbers are a result of two large market teams being selected for the Super Bowl?  By taking a look at the timing of the parking reservations for the Super Bowl.

The Expectations

There were plenty of reasons to expect all of the parking numbers to be worse than the 2011 game in Dallas.  With 61% of all the hotels in Indianapolis outside of the downtown area and two major markets migrating almost 1,500 miles west to come to town for the game, increased traffic and parking prices seemed inevitable.  There weren’t many reasons to think that prices would be lower for drivers looking for a place to park.

However, the numbers for parking lot managers in Indy didn’t look nearly as good as they did in 2011 either.  Lucas Oil Stadium officials only installed 300 additional temporary seats, giving the 2012 Super Bowl a staggering 30,000 Seats less than last year’s Super Bowl.  Two weeks prior to the Super Bowl, as the four remaining NFL playoff teams took the field to decide who would get the chance to go to Indianapolis; many Super Bowl related businesses were expecting less revenue this year.

1 Big Game, 2 Big Markets

Exactly two weeks before the Super Bowl, the two teams that will compete are determined in the AFC and NFC Championship games.  Prior to the game, the overall sales for Super Bowl parking were up 3% overall compared to 2011 and the average price was actually $9 less than the 2011 Super Bowl.  But once New York and New England were crowned as the conference champions and it became clear who would be traveling to the Indianapolis for the Super Bowl, the numbers began to change very quickly.

In the 24 hours following the official announcement of the Super Bowl contenders on January 22^nd of this year, the number of parking reservations shot up 83% compared to last year, which included the much smaller markets of Green Bay and Pittsburgh.  The second and third days also showed significant increases of 72% and 35% respectively.

In 2011, just 48% of all parking reservations were made during the week before the Super Bowl.  During that same week in 2012, the numbers skyrocketed up again.  The chart below shows the increases by day that equal an average increase of 47% in overall sales each day:

Increase in Parking Reservations from 2011 to 2012 During Super Bowl Week

By the time the Super Bowl had concluded, the average price of a parking spot had fallen from 2011 levels, but total spots sold had risen more than enough to result in a revenue increase. Even though only one team can win in the Super Bowl, everyone won when it came down to parking for Super Bowl XLVI.

Now that the New York Giants and the New England Patriots are the official contenders for Super Bowl XLVI, We are starting to see some very interesting trends that could impact fans in big ways for this Year’s Super Bowl.  This seems to be the case every year, but TV commercial slots are selling for record prices and ticket prices have also seen a noticeable jump in prices.

The current statistics are suggesting that this could be the most expensive Super Bowl in the last three years. In the 12 hours after the Giants won the NFC Championship, prices climbed 8%. At a whopping $4,020 average price, prices are 10% higher than last year’s Super Bowl game in Dallas, and 72% more than 2010 match up in Miami the year before that.  Lucas Oil Stadium officials just announced this week that they will add less than 300 additional temporary seats, giving the 2012 Super Bowl a staggering 30,000 Seats less than last year’s contest.  This will probably only add more fuel to the fire when it comes to increasing ticket prices.

Heading West…

Total Super Bowl parking reservations have seen a huge increase  in demand but prices, for the most part, have resisted the upward pressure that is being applied tickets and airfares.  New York reservations have skyrocketed, accumulating 19% of total parking sales.  The former leader in parking sales by location, the host-state Indiana, was overtaken by New York less than 48 hours after the Giants were crowned the NFC Champions, thanks to a dramatic surge in sales.  New Jersey, home of the Giants’ Meadowlands Stadium, has followed suit, claiming 11% of all Super Bowl parking reservations in the same 48 hour window.

This year’s Super Bowl has manifested into the utter opposite of last year’s scenario.  The city of Dallas — the 9th largest city in the country — hosted two small market teams for the 2011 Super Bowl when Pittsburgh and Green Bay earned the right to play for the championship.  Dallas residents ended up purchasing over a quarter of all the Super Bowl parking reservations sold last year, buying 9% more parking spots than NFL fans from Pittsburgh and Green Bay combined.

This year has already shown that it will be much different.  Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, a nontraditional cold-weather site, was selected as the host of the Super Bowl for the first time in history, and it will be hosting teams from two of the largest markets in the country for this year’s championship game.

The current statistics coming out of New York and New Jersey, the stomping grounds of Giants fans, show that 30% of Super Bowl parking sales have come from just these two states alone, more than doubling the 13% of parking purchases from the host state of Indiana.  Massachusetts, one of six states that identify with the New England area, has single-handedly claimed 9% of all parking reservations for the Feb. 5th game.  The large markets that these two Super Bowl contenders represent have definitely made their presence felt.

Tailgating prices

The average price per purchase for tailgate parking has increased by $99 in just a few days time, as NFL fans are quickly discovering that tailgating is forbidden at all official NFL parking locations.  This leaves ParkWhiz.com as the sole provider of tailgate-friendly parking.  ParkWhiz also has 8,000 more additional parking spots than the Official NFL parking locations, so fans can be sure to get the best prices and locations, as well as the most fun, with their ParkWhiz.com reservations.

Yes, this parking sign actually exists

Have you ever seen someone standing along the street, squinting at a parking sign as if it were one of those impossible 3D Magic Eye posters? Ever actually been one of those people?  And those signs are even more frustrating for the line of cars honking behind the poor person who finally found a parking spot, but is trying to decode and decipher some horrible parking sign to see if they can actually park there.

Parking signs have become downright ridiculous, and parkers all over the country have been forced to gamble on the “Can I Park Here” game far too often. If you talk to drivers that have spent a lot of time trying to park in the downtown districts of any major city, you will inevitably hear a story about someone getting a ticket due to confusion from a sign. For some reason, city officials seem to love confusing the citizens that they work for rather than helping them.

But help has arrived. A bright and enthusiastic start-up in New York City has just developed a mobile app that allows users to immediately determine if they can or cannot park at any given location simply by snapping a photo of the parking sign. The app also incorporates a timer and a tracker, that way parkers will never forget where they left their vehicles or how much time is left at their spot. The app is appropriately titled “Can I Park Here?“, showing a true commitment to simplicity, even in the name.

Or, for parkers who like to plan ahead and save money, simply reserve your parking online.  Many of the rates online allow for all-day parking, and they tend to be far cheaper than people realize, also enabling their parkers to choose the exact location and price at which they will park.  The best online parking providers offer guaranteed parking with all of their reservations, promising their users a parking spot at the price they paid no matter what.

It isn’t worth the risk anymore.  It seems like every city in every state has increased the enforcement and prices of tickets, and parking just a few moments in the wrong place can leave you with a parking ticket that can be 10-20 times higher than the cost of the parking.  Regardless of whether you are reserving guaranteed parking ahead of time, or snapping a picture to translate an incomprehensible sign, be certain that you don’t end up spending any more on parking than what you have to…

NFL football fans from every corner of the country are clearly energized and excited for the first ever Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium.  There was some apprehension from NFL officials over how fan turnout would be impacted by the cold Indiana climate.  That concern appears to be unfounded according to our most recent sales data, which shows 20% more parking spaces sold than last year at this same time. What’s more impressive is that the average price for a parking reservation increased by 31% and the average pricing for standard non-tailgate parking spots increased by over 8%.

With over 12,000 spaces available through ParkWhiz.com, we have 3 times the number of spaces that are available through the NFL.

Here are some data points comparing Super Bowl sales this year versus last year.

The Good News:  Cheaper to Party

Despite what seems to be a giant jump in the average price of parking compared to last year, a closer look at the data actually reveals a very different story. The primary reason for the large jump in the average price of parking actually resulted from a dramatic decrease in pricing for Tailgate and RV parking spots. 

How did a decrease in pricing for Tailgate and RV parking produce an increase in the average price of all parking?

Well it’s actually pretty simple.  Hundreds of fans have wised-up and purchased their Tailgate and RV parking well in advance.  Super Bowl Tailgaters that have already purchased their parking saved an average of 35% from last year’s price, and drivers who have already purchased RV parking have saved an average of almost $300 per parking spot reservation.  Because of these lower prices, more people are willing to spend on the more expensive tailgating and RV parking spots, which has driven the overall average price up.

This is great news for fans who plan on celebrating long and hard, but there is some doubt regarding how long this pricing trend will last, since the data shows that the biggest rush for Super Bowl parking is about to begin.  Every year ParkWhiz has sold Super Bowl parking demand has shot up as soon as everybody knows what two teams will be playing.

Additionally, the majority of hotels in Indianapolis sit outside of the downtown area, so almost all fans traveling to the Super Bowl are expected to need a car and available parking  in order to travel to and from all of the events.  Fans that reserve early will have extra reasons and extra money to celebrate.

Understanding the Super Bowl Parking Statistics by Region/City

Traditionally, the cities that produce the most parking customers are either the cities that actually send teams to the Super Bowl, or the other major cities that are close to the Super Bowl site.

The host city tends to generate the largest percentage of customers and this year’s statistics have been no different, Indianapolis leads all other cities with 23% of all parking sales.  Last year, 28% of all customers came from the host city of Dallas, and 19 people paid $99 for a spot despite living in the same zip code as Cowboys stadium.

Fans will travel from all over the country for the year’s biggest event in sports.  Last year, one fan traveled from Diomede, Alaska – 3,814 miles — to attend the Super Bowl.

What Can We Expect From Super Bowl Parking?

This year, fans everywhere seem to be anticipating an incredible Super Bowl 46, because the NFC and AFC conference championships have not even been determined, yet reservations are being made all over the country at a rate much higher than last year. Tucson, AZ and Philadelphia, PA have emerged as early front-runners, bringing in 5% and 8% of the all reservations respectively, with Chicago generating the second highest total of reservations with 10%.

The Chicago numbers are not surprising, because it is the 3rd biggest city in the country and sits just a couple hundred miles outsideof Indianapolis.  However, none of these cities even produced a playoff team, yet they all seem to have football fans eager to attend this year’s Super Bowl.  The four regions that still have a potential Super Bowl team have combined for only 10% of all parking reservations so far, which is only half of what the two Super Bowl teams generated last year.

Based on sales from previous years ParkWhiz expects to see a sharp surge in parking reservations once the two teams that will be competing in Super Bowl XLVI are determined.

Why This Year Might Be Special…

Again, it is simply a matter of the statistics.  During last year’s Super Bowl, most parkers waited until the last week to purchase their parking reservations, and many of those reservations came from hometown fans of the teams competing in the Super Bowl.  The two hometown cities last year were Green Bay, WI and Pittsburgh, PA — two of the smaller markets by population.  But this year, the teams involved are the opposite of small markets…

The NFC Market

The four teams still remaining in the playoffs all hail from massive population hubs in United States.  The New York Giants, the hottest team in the playoffs right now, represent the largest sports market in the United States.  The Giants will have to go through the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC title, and the 49ers come from California which has the largest state population in the country.

The AFC Market

The two teams competing for a chance at the Super Bowl and the Lombardi Trophy in the AFC are in unique situations because their fan base comes from entire geographic regions, not just cities or states.  The Baltimore Ravens have an extremely strong contingent of fans across all of Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC.  Similarly, the New England Patriots have a faithful following that dominates the 6 northeastern states.  That region is so large it rivals the population of New York.

What We Know For Sure…

This has been one of the most exciting and record-setting seasons in NFL history and Super Bowl XLVI won’t be any different.  All four teams have won championships in the last two decades, built a football legacy and developed a fiercely loyal fanbase.  Once it is determined which teams will be moving onto the Super Bowl after winning their conference championships, there is little doubt that legions of fans will begin migrating from two of these four massive population hubs towards the Super Bowl site in Indianapolis in support of their teams.

The numbers suggest that parking will be snapped up quickly and prices will likely rise as we get closer to the big game.  When this article got published there were still parking spots for as low $39, so fans that plan ahead will still be able to enjoy some great savings.  But regardless of where you are coming from or who you are rooting for, you can always reserve guaranteed parking at the price you choose with ParkWhiz.

More Money, More Problems? Yeah right. Not for Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.

For his 30th Birthday Party last night, Dwyane Wade received a surprise gift from one of his local luxury car dealership sponsors, The Collection. The dealership didn’t just give him any random car for free, they gave him a brand spankin’ new 2012 McLaren MP4-12C. I have no idea what those numbers after McLaren mean either, but I do know what the numbers on the price tag mean:  $230,000.

What a gift for a guy who is going to make over $14 million this year.  And the gift couldn’t have come at a better time, because Wade has been sidelined indefinitely with a sprained ankle.  That means he has all the time in the world to drive his new (free) quarter-million dollar car while still collecting on his million dollar paycheck.  When I sprain my ankle, they expect me to crutch in to work.  Where exactly are these so-called problems again?

For that car, you absolutely MUST get reserved parking… In fact, you might even need to reserve a few spots to make sure no one parks anywhere near you.  Or you can do it South Beach Style and airlift the car onto a platform in the middle of the pool inside Dwyane Wade’s house and park it there.  If the free $230,000 car wasn’t a big enough surprise for the Miami Heat superstar, I’m sure the park-job on of his pool did the trick.

Yes, they parked a car worth more than some peoples homes on top of water.  Unbelievable.  Gotta love South Beach.

Alleged Illegal Towings

The Indianapolis local ABC news team reported that towing is likely to be a big problem for drivers looking to avoid the high prices being charged for Super Bowl Parking spots.  There has been a loud outcry against the predatory towing practices that have plagued drivers in Indiana’s capital city finally escalating to the point of needing a licensing hearing for one of the most controversial towing companies.  But that hearing was recently postponed until the month after the Super Bowl.

Parking Ticket Tyranny

And should you be lucky enough to return from the game to find your car unharmed by a tow truck, you’re still not safe.  Parking tickets have the potential to be far more costly.  The same ABC News team also reported a new Indianapolis law that enabled the court to add fees of up $2,500 for anyone who challenges their tickets in court.  There is already one lawyer who is challenging the constitutionality of the law on behalf of several clients who have already fallen victim to it.

But a different local news team reported an even more unnerving story about parking in Indianapolis.  The NBC news team completed an entire investigative report on a towing company that reportedly directed drivers to a parking lot where they sold parking spaces for $20, and then towed away over 50 cars from that lot.  Parkers have taken the matter to court insisting that there were no signs when they arrived and that they were put up after the fact, and a police officer at the scene took pictures of evidence that the signs had been put up within 24 hours of the complaint due to metal shavings on top of the fresh snow.

Only the Beginning

And all of this is just the tip of the iceberg.  It would take days to go over all the complaints from Indianapolis drivers, such as the increased tickets, or even the recent attempt by the state congress to install freeway speeding cameras.

When the risks and penalties for driving get to be as steep as they are in Indianapolis, it basically becomes a tax that drivers are forced  to simply expect instead of a risk.  Don’t take any chances when traveling to Indianapolis during the Super Bowl XLVI.  Parking prices have tipped over $100 around the city, but there are still places where you can reserve guaranteed parking for as low as $39.

Don’t take any chances in Indianapolis.  Be Smart. Park Safe.

The Miami Heat‘s expectations for the 2011-2012 NBA season have already been loudly declared by Dwyane Wade:  This year is Championship or Bust.  Period.

Unfortunately, the shortened season after the NBA Lockout means that many Heat fans will miss out on the opportunity to see the Heat play at home against some of the best teams in the NBA.  The hometown Heat fans will miss out on games against some of the best teams in the league this year, like the LA Clippers, Portland Trailblazers, and Denver Nuggets, all of which are scheduled as away games.

But tonight, they have the Lakers, and although Wade is out, the rest of the Heat team showed the Spurs that they still can win against anyone, with or without their superstar.

Fortunately, the rematch of last year’s championship between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat will be held in Miami, so at least Heat fans will have an opportunity to watch their team live as they take revenge on the Mavs.

Check the schedule below to make sure you don’t miss out on one of the few opportunities available to see the Heat compete against the best teams in the league in Miami.

Click on the links below to select and reserve the best parking rates for any Miami Heat game:

INDIANAPOLIS – Even though the Colts ended their season further from the Super Bowl than any other team in the league, anticipation for the big game has still consumed the city of Indianapolis and the business surrounding Lucas Oil Stadium.  We are exactly 30 days away from Super Bowl XLVI, and fans have already begun to reserve their parking, hotels, and event passes even though the playoffs are only now about to begin.

According to a local NBC news report, some parking spots are already going for as much as $399 despite being a 20-minute “winter walk” away from the stadium.  Parkers can expect the price of parking to increase as we get closer to game day.  ESPN reported parking spots going for over $900 the week before last year’s Super Bowl.

To make matters worse, an earlier article reported that Super Bowl officials expect to need 18,000 hotel rooms for the Super Bowl events in February, but only 7,100 of the 33,000 available rooms are located in Downtown Indianapolis,  meaning the majority of Super Bowl fans will be forced to stay in hotels around the airport and the surrounding area.  Everyone is going to need transportation and parking just to get into the city, so parking prices can certainly be expected to climb even higher.

The Good News

For football fans who plan ahead, there are currently parking spots going for as low as $39, and you can be certain that great parking near the stadium won’t be available come game day for prices this low.

It has already been a record-setting season for players and teams across the NFL, and if the amazing finishes and excitement at the college level are any sort of premonition for what NFL fans can expect, then fans can rest assured that they will not be disappointed.  If you are a football fan, it almost doesn’t matter who makes to the Super Bowl.

The Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants all host high-octane offenses and crazed defenses that will allow only the best to surface out of the NFC.

The AFC will feature a fight to the death every week when long-time rivals like the Steelers, the Ravens, and the Patriots collide with their entire seasons on the line.  This will not be a Super Bowl that anyone wants to forget.

Things are getting ugly in parking lots all over the world.  The mayor of Lithuania’s capital has been punishing illegal parkers by bulldozing them clear off the streets.

Luckily, cities in the US are a little more forgiving to illegally parked drivers, but not by much.  Across the country, cities are raising parking rates in 2012 in order to help solve the fiscal problems that have continued to plague cities everywhere.

Drivers in the Fort Worth and Dallas areas will be facing increased parking fees as high as 60% in some locations, and some businesses are concerned the fee hikes are so significant that it will impact their sales.

According to Chicago Parking Meters, LLC, the price to park in Chicago’s downtown area will jump to $5.75 an hour. That’s up from $5 in 2011. Overnight parking will also increase to $2.85.

Chicago Loop parking rates have nearly doubled since the city privatized its meters in 2008, while rates outside the city are up $1.50. They’re scheduled to continue going up through 2013.

In California, drivers in the Bay Area can expect to pay increased parking for 2012 as well, and LA drivers will be looking at increased traffic ticketing and surveillance along with it this new year.  But no matter where you are in the country, ParkWhiz will always allow you to pick your parking spot and provide you with the cheapest guaranteed parking options.  So instead of paying more for parking in 2012, just park smarter.

Watch the video of an illegally parked car getting a Lithuanian makeover here:  Illegally Parked Cars Get Destroyed By Tank

Chicago Bulls fans have a lot to be excited for this season.  Derrick Rose, the heart of the Bulls franchise, just signed a 5-year, $94 million extension that will keep him in the city of Chicago for the foreseeable future.  And after adding an incredible scorer and all-star with the signing of Rip Hamilton, the Bulls seem to have all the pieces necessary to push through the NBA Finals and bring an NBA Championship back to Chicago.

Because of the shortened season, there will be fewer opportunities to see the Bulls in action during what could be a historic championship year.  Below is a list of all of the Chicago Bulls home games for the 2011-2012 season.  With fewer games and heightened expectations, you can bet that just about every Chicagoan in the city will be looking to go to a Bulls game at the United Center.  Make sure to reserve your parking and tickets ahead of time to ensure your spot to watch Derrick Rose and the team BULLdoze the opposition.

Click on the links below to select and reserve the best parking rates for any Bulls game: