After vehicles at the Delaware County Fairgrounds dispersed Aug. 29, Director of Public Safety Gene Burton started to assess changes to the new game-day parking migration.
With a week to prepare for Friday's football game against Navy, changes were made to Ball State University's fairground parking to better help students, Burton said.
According to demand, buses will be running extended hours from last week's schedule. Thursday's hours range from Noon to 3 a.m, Friday's hours are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Saturday's hours expand to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Based on the time allowed to the university, students' vehicles must leave the fairgrounds by 6 p.m. Saturday or they will be towed, Burton said.
Three additional Ball State police supervisors will help more than 1,500 students find parking spots at the fairgrounds, he said.
For the final change, Burton said, the university is working with Jim Mansfield and the Delaware County fair board to establish more effective lighting conditions at the fairground parking lot.
Despite the changes, Burton said, parking at the fairgrounds was a success last week.
"It was better than expected considering it was the first time," he said.
Last week's game did not go without its parking mishaps. Burton said 13 vehicles were towed Wednesday night after they were left at the stadium after the allowed time.
Seven vehicles were towed Friday, totalling 20 for football's opening week.
However, remembering the 100 vehicles towed during last year's first home game, Burton said, he was surprised with the decline and attributed it to better advertising of the move.
"My dream is to have a game where we don't have to tow anybody," Burton said. "That's the goal."
Moving her vehicle to the fairgrounds was not a hassle, freshman Sarah Stalcup said, but the changes being made might not be necessary.
"They are not things I think need to be done, but that doesn't mean they won't be helpful," she said. "I moved my car during the day so light wasn't an issue, but if I was there at night, I would probably want [the lighting]."
Looking ahead to Friday's game, which is expected to have high attendance, Burton said, he wants students to lower the load on parking if possible.
"Students need to take another form of transportation to the game if possible," he said. "The game is expected to sell out, and traffic is congested Friday afternoon's anyway. We are encouraging students to walk or take the MITS."
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