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Is there a good/legal place to wait by Minute Maid Park? Also is there a designated pickup area?
Parking Minute Maid
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Info from their website:
DROP-OFF/PICK-UP POINTS
Prior to games, fans may be dropped off along any street adjacent to Minute Maid Park, including a protected left lane along Texas Avenue on the south side of the ballpark. Following the game, the Houston Police Department will close Texas Avenue on Crawford Street around Minute Maid Park for approximately 20 minutes. This closure will allow for a safe pedestrian exit of the majority of fans at the game. Once HPD reopens those streets, fan pick-up is available along the south and west sides of the ballpark. Immediate post-game pick-up is permitted along Jackson Street on the south side of Minute Maid Park. However, all vehicles picking up at that location must be attended while drivers are waiting for their guest(s) to arrive. Fans who arrived at Minute Maid Park via charter or school buses will be picked up along Hamilton Street, between Preston and Texas, on the east side of Minute Maid Park.
DROP-OFF/PICK-UP POINTS
Prior to games, fans may be dropped off along any street adjacent to Minute Maid Park, including a protected left lane along Texas Avenue on the south side of the ballpark. Following the game, the Houston Police Department will close Texas Avenue on Crawford Street around Minute Maid Park for approximately 20 minutes. This closure will allow for a safe pedestrian exit of the majority of fans at the game. Once HPD reopens those streets, fan pick-up is available along the south and west sides of the ballpark. Immediate post-game pick-up is permitted along Jackson Street on the south side of Minute Maid Park. However, all vehicles picking up at that location must be attended while drivers are waiting for their guest(s) to arrive. Fans who arrived at Minute Maid Park via charter or school buses will be picked up along Hamilton Street, between Preston and Texas, on the east side of Minute Maid Park.
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If your thinking of going to Minute Maid park after the Astros game, it is not really worth it.
Too much traffic, not enough surging. Sure, it is a good place to grab a couple of rides on the weekdays, since there is not really much going on in town, but be prepared to take those at regular price.
Why does surging not occur? Because baseball games are soo long, that people usually trickle in and trickle constantly through out the game, so there is never a time of "High Demand". Not to mention, the majority of riders who would take Uber on a regular night, are also with their kids and families, so they end up driving.
As stated above, police shut down the streets for 20 min. This creates a nightmare trying to pickup a rider, so it is best to go before the games end.
Also, the handful of people I have picked up from Minute Maid (after Astros games) usually end up being in the loop, not long distance fares.
Now, I understand you want rides and are probably not focused on surging, and you don't need to be to make Uber profitable, but I wouldn't go after the 8th inning because of traffic. At 15 cents a minute - minus 20% it is not worth waiting in traffic. You can keep track of the game on Google. Just type in "Houston Astros" during the game, and the score will pop up as well as the innings. This works on all major sports. Simply refresh that window for a update.
Now, sometimes surge does occur after the game, but remember, Minute Maid park is in the Downtown/Midtown zone. So you do not need to catch a ride from Minute Maid Park to get the same ride. (avoiding traffic). I know I am the biggest advocate of "not chasing surge". but I have found myself within a few minutes on Washington and simply crossed the surge border within a couple of minutes, and immediately got a ping from around Minute Maid Park on surge). It was a low surge, I think a 2.1, but I took it of course. Remember, Washington turns into Franklin and you are within arms length of Minute Maid Park.
Too much traffic, not enough surging. Sure, it is a good place to grab a couple of rides on the weekdays, since there is not really much going on in town, but be prepared to take those at regular price.
Why does surging not occur? Because baseball games are soo long, that people usually trickle in and trickle constantly through out the game, so there is never a time of "High Demand". Not to mention, the majority of riders who would take Uber on a regular night, are also with their kids and families, so they end up driving.
As stated above, police shut down the streets for 20 min. This creates a nightmare trying to pickup a rider, so it is best to go before the games end.
Also, the handful of people I have picked up from Minute Maid (after Astros games) usually end up being in the loop, not long distance fares.
Now, I understand you want rides and are probably not focused on surging, and you don't need to be to make Uber profitable, but I wouldn't go after the 8th inning because of traffic. At 15 cents a minute - minus 20% it is not worth waiting in traffic. You can keep track of the game on Google. Just type in "Houston Astros" during the game, and the score will pop up as well as the innings. This works on all major sports. Simply refresh that window for a update.
Now, sometimes surge does occur after the game, but remember, Minute Maid park is in the Downtown/Midtown zone. So you do not need to catch a ride from Minute Maid Park to get the same ride. (avoiding traffic). I know I am the biggest advocate of "not chasing surge". but I have found myself within a few minutes on Washington and simply crossed the surge border within a couple of minutes, and immediately got a ping from around Minute Maid Park on surge). It was a low surge, I think a 2.1, but I took it of course. Remember, Washington turns into Franklin and you are within arms length of Minute Maid Park.
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What do you think, same applies for the Taylor Swift concert? They are really pushing to get drivers and I suspect everyone will be down there and no more surges...
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I'd imagine the same rules apply following concerts.
I'd planned on working until 8pm today. Hope to pickup rides to MM. Dont know if I'll hang around later for the after crowd.
I'd planned on working until 8pm today. Hope to pickup rides to MM. Dont know if I'll hang around later for the after crowd.
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They really are pushing drivers for Taylor Swift. You may go and not even get a ride.
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I scouted around 2pm. It was already pretty busy. I even had a ping from of the performers who was heading back to his hotel from the stadium after their sound check.
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Being still a newbie...I had to see for myself...hit Downtown around 3PM got a couple small fares...then the waiting game until about 930-1000PM....caught one fare from concert going to West U...figured if everyone was at MM Park I would work other areas away from there...all iall disappointing night!!!
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Using my rider app, I set the pin at a bunch of blocks in Downtown, and my wait was always 1 minute. There was probably a driver on every block.
According to the news, parking got up to $80. Keep in mind, most of the Taylor Swift fans are under 18 and have to be accompanied by an adult. (thus why parking felt like they could surge price, and they did). I am sure every parking lot was filled.
According to the news, parking got up to $80. Keep in mind, most of the Taylor Swift fans are under 18 and have to be accompanied by an adult. (thus why parking felt like they could surge price, and they did). I am sure every parking lot was filled.
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Lol yeah the concert was a total bust for me too. This was the funniest part... I left downtown to go home (I live in Pasadena) after 10, stopped to get gas on Pasadena Blvd and I got a ping that pulled me out to La Porte for a fare that took me to Clear Lake City Blvd. The pax said i really wasthe closest one to him. It was a 15 min wait; no Ubers were near him!
After the fare, opened the app, Ole T Swift is only giving a 1.3 surge and Pasadena (which I've never seen surge before, ever) is at a 1.4 surge. By the time I get back into Pasadena, BOTH surges are gone. FML!
After the fare, opened the app, Ole T Swift is only giving a 1.3 surge and Pasadena (which I've never seen surge before, ever) is at a 1.4 surge. By the time I get back into Pasadena, BOTH surges are gone. FML!
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All these idiots could have parked on a side street 5 miles away and saved money by taking Uber to their car.
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