Following a series of post wrap up review meetings with city officials and key event venue stakeholders after the first major scale event(s) in downtown Springfield, which included opening night for the Springfield Thunderbirds, and with the demolition of the old Civic Center garage underway, alternate parking locations have been identified and the Springfield Police Department (SPD) announced that they will increase their downtown metro traffic and hospitality details at key roadway intersections at peak hours during downtown events.
The demolition of the Civic Center parking garage has resulted in around 700 parking spaces being temporarily lost. Until the new state-of-the-art mixed use parking garage facility is built, which will add 1,000 parking spaces and 10,000 sq ft of restaurant and retail space, eight (8) alternate parking locations with a total parking capacity for approximately 8,799 vehicles have been identified to utilize for when events are scheduled in downtown Springfield. This is on top of the on-street parking that is also available. The parking locations are listed below:
Parking Garage | Location | Parking Spaces |
MGM Springfield Parking Garage (One MGM Way, Springfield, MA) | Accessible from East Columbus Ave | 3,375 |
I-91 South Parking Garage | 1620 East Columbus Ave, Springfield, MA | 670 |
I-91 North Parking Garage | 1870 East Columbus Ave, Springfield, MA | 1,098 |
Monarch Place Garage | 36 Boland Way, Monarch Place | 2,000 |
Tower Square Parking Garage (1758 East Columbus Ave Springfield, MA) | Accessible from East Columbus Ave and Bridge Street | 1,203 |
Hampden Street Parking Lot (23 Hampden Street) | Accessible from Hampden Street | 94 |
TD Bank: Banknorth Parking Lot (230 Dwight Street, Springfield, MA) | Accessible from Dwight Street | 250 |
SPA – Dwight Street Parking Lot | 339 Worthington Street, Springfield, MA | 109 |
In addition, the Springfield Police Department will enhance their downtown metro traffic and hospitality details to help alleviate traffic congestion at seven (7) key roadway intersections during peak hours of major downtown events. SPD traffic details will be located at the following traffic intersections:
- Main Street and Union Street
- Main Street and State Street
- Main Street and Court Street
- East Columbus Ave and State Street
- East Columbus Ave and MGM Way
- East Columbus Ave and Union Street
- West Columbus Ave and State Street
These parking and traffic measures are being taken following a series of meetings and discussions that included Mayor Sarno, Chief of Staff Tom Ashe, DPW Director Chris Cignoli, Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, Deputy Chief William Cochrane, Captain Larry Akers Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi, CDO Tim Sheehan, SPA Director Bokul Bhuiya, MassMutual Center General Manager Sean Dolan; Paul Picknelly, local ownership and managing partner for the Springfield Thunderbirds; Nate Costa, President of the Springfield Thunderbirds; and MGM Springfield President and COO Chris Kelley and team.
Mayor Sarno states, “First of all, I want to thank my dedicated city team and our key local downtown venue stakeholders for their continued efforts. Following our Springfield Thunderbirds opening night festivities, which was absolutely fabulous with celebrations in our Court Square before the puck was dropped, we began discussions and held a series of meetings to review the parking and traffic situation in our downtown during major events. With the demolition of the old Civic Center garage underway, the loss of parking by our MassMutual Center is being felt, especially during sold out games of our beloved Springfield Thunderbirds. Until the new state-of-the-art parking garage is built, I have coordinated with the Springfield Parking Authority, the Springfield Police Department and DPW to enhance our SPD Metro Unit traffic and hospitality details at key traffic intersections downtown to help alleviate the traffic congestion for when games start and end.”
“Additionally, we have identified eight (8) alternative parking locations for everyone to utilize,” Mayor Sarno continued. “In addition to the on-street parking that is available, these parking garages and lots can provide parking for almost 8,800 vehicles and are located within walking distance to our major downtown attractions and venues.”
“Again, I want to thank MGM Springfield for their partnership and cooperation for opening their parking garage for use during our T-Bird games,” said Mayor Sarno. “This is a good problem to have, thousands and thousands of people coming into our downtown Springfield to cheer on our AHL Eastern Conference champions and dine at our many restaurant establishments. I want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as our brave and dedicated Springfield Police Officers help direct vehicle traffic during these busy hours. This is a temporary inconvenience, one that will be remedy once the new modern parking garage facility is built.”
Paul Picknelly stated, “I want to thank Mayor Sarno and his city team for always being responsive to the needs and concerns of our businesses, especially our Springfield Thunderbirds. T-Birds President Nate Costa and I, after meeting with Mayor Sarno and city officials, are confident that these new enhanced traffic and hospitality details will help ease traffic congestion at peak hours during sold out games at the MassMutual Center and other busy events in our downtown Springfield. We are optimistic that these additional measures for parking and traffic will help solve this issue that was caused by the demolition of the old Civic Center garage. We are also excited that the new multi-use parking garage facility that is being built will be a game changer once it is completed.”
“We are thrilled to see the continued renaissance of the City of Springfield with so many people coming to enjoy all of the events and amenities our downtown has to offer,” said MGM Springfield President Chris Kelley. “MGM Springfield fully supports the City’s efforts and creative initiatives to ensure guests have the best experience possible.”
Sean Dolan, General Manager for MassMutual Center said, “On behalf of the MassMutual Center, we’re excited to see the continued growth and economic impact being generated in Downtown Springfield and Western Massachusetts. There has been great collaboration between the City of Springfield, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Springfield Thunderbirds, and MGM Springfield as we all continue working together to deliver a great guest experience to our customers and clients.”
The new $40 million mixed use and parking garage facility is scheduled to open late 2023 or 2024. Once built, the new state-of-the-art facility will offer parking for up to 1,000 cars, and will have 10,000 sq ft of restaurant and retail space. The site is owned by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority.
