Special Event Parking Basics

Cashier location, pedestrian walkways and appropriate revenue control help to ensure your event will run smoothly.

Limiting Cash Transactions Leads to Fewer Delays

Identifying ways to limit the amount of cash transactions on the actual event day can go a long way towards speeding up ingress and limiting exposure to loss. Partnering with the event planning team and allowing customers to purchase parking at the time they purchase their event ticket is one approach. Another approach is to sell parking through your organization’s Web site and mail to the customer a pass that can be displayed on the dashboard.

The pass should be large enough to be easily identified by the parking attendants, and have a sticker or specific markings that would make it difficult to duplicate.

Even in areas where crime is low, cashiers standing around with a large amount of cash create a target of opportunity that can be very tempting for criminals. The parking manager or supervisor should check in with the cashiers frequently and collect cash deposits from them in $200-$500 increments. For chain of custody purposes, the cash should be counted in front of the supervisor, placed in an envelope with an internal deposit slip and signed by both the cashier and the supervisor. The envelope should then be stored in a secure area (preferably a safe) for later reconciliation with the cashier’s report.

At the conclusion of each shift, the cashier should meet with a supervisor or manager to return unsold tickets and reconcile tickets sold with cash collected. Deposits dropped throughout the shift need to be opened and verified to ensure all monies are accounted for. Any discrepancies should be noted and addressed with the cashier at that time.

Multiple Exits, Staff Helps With Vehicle Egress

One of the most frustrating things for event attendees to endure is a long wait to leave the facility. Providing as many exit routes as possible and staffing the facility with some traffic directors can go a long way toward alleviating extended wait times.

The safety of the traffic directors is of paramount importance. They need to be properly trained and wear an ANSI-compliant traffic vest so they are highly visible. For events that end after dark, an LED baton light can also be an effective tool for directing traffic to the appropriate exits.

Parking for a large scale event requires planning and coordination. Watching the crowds leaving the parking facility in an organized manner with smiles on their faces is a good indication of a job well done.

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Matthew C. Jordan, CPP is the ParPark and security manager for Parsons. He can be reached at matthew.jordan@parsons.com.

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