Surrounding Area Braces For Parking Nightmare When 49ers' Levi's Stadium Opens
SANTA CLARA (KCBS)— With the grand opening of the new 49ers' Levi's Stadium just around the corner, Santa Clara's surrounding neighborhoods and cities are bracing for an influx of football fans looking for parking on game days.
City officials in Mountain View suspect as many as 500 to 600 extra drivers will be searching their area for spots so they can hop on VTA's light rail so they can ride to the stadium. Officials there are taking steps to increase parking fees.
Some are expected to use the San Jose Caltrain Parking lot, similar to what happens during Sharks games at SAP center.
Caltrain spokesperson Jamie Ackman said it's hard to imagine the same situation wouldn't occur with Levi's considering how much larger the stadium is by comparison. "I think we'll be seeing people come out of the woodwork from all directions," Ackman said.
According to Levi's Stadium's website, they should be able to seat approximately 68,500 fans.
The Mountain View City Council has voted 5 to 1 to more actively manage the parking situation there. They will potentially charge more for spaces and enforce parking time limits where some hunters may be searching for free parking.
Caltrain is considering charging $25 for spaces two hours before football games.