As thousands of U2 fans pour into Norman Sunday evening, city and university officials are treating it just like any other gameday.
The Norman Police Department will handle all traffic, while OU Parking and Transit Services will sell parking in campus lots.
“Street parking should not be affected,” OUPD spokesman Lt. Bruce Chan said. “It will essentially be the same kind of restrictions as there are on gamedays.”
Kris Glenn, spokesman for OU Parking and Transportation Services, said most of the lots on the main campus will be pay lots for fans attending the concert Sunday.
Glenn said OU parking permit holders may park in those spaces at no charge.
In addition, the multipurpose lot north of the Huston Huffman Center will be reserved for housing and priority housing parking permit holders from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Glenn stated in an e-mail.
Chan said OUPD will be directing, as well as coordinating traffic control, focusing on the areas that are close to campus.
Currently, the stage setup at the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is affecting traffic flow for those on and around campus, Chan said.
North of Lindsey Street, northbound Asp Avenue is closed, forcing those using the stadium parking garage to drive through the South Oval before entering the garage.
“The concert setup is affecting traffic right now,” Chan said. “A lot of construction is going on in the stadium.”
Nick Burnett, multi-disciplinary studies senior, said he hopes parking won’t be a problem for him, but said the parking lot where he lives at Summer Point Apartments, located at 12th Avenue and Boyd Street, usually gets filled up during gamedays.
Chan said Asp is closed all of this week and for the first few days of next week.
According to an e-mail from Norman Police, all traffic routes in and around campus will return to normal Thursday.
“They have to take down the stage and put the stadium back the way it was before [U2] came,” Chan said.
Crews began setting up the stages Monday for the Black Eyed Peas and U2 concert on Sunday evening.
“The Claw,” U2’s tour stage, is one of the largest structural stages for a concert tour, according to the U2 tour Web site.
Attendance is estimated to be in the range of 50,000 to 60,000 for the concert, according to Norman police.
Lloyd Noble Center at Jenkins Avenue and Imhoff Road is the preferred parking venue for those attending the concert, Glenn said.
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C4SI0 2 years, 7 months ago
I thought they were supposed to be activists. Hypocrisy has no bounds. Have you seen how many trucks it takes to carry they're ridiculous stage? I am also amazed at how such a bland band can amass so much popularity. They are just arrogant and people need to stop supporting them. I believe much of their popularity is because of their so-called "activism". It certainly can't be their music. "The Edge"? Give me a break.
By the way, thank you OU for hosting this and making parking even more of a pain, I appreciate it. I see where your priorities are, not that it's a surprise.