Going to a concert sounds simple enough.
Get in the vehicle. Drive to the venue. Watch the show. Get back in the vehicle. Go home.
Then 50,000 other people have exactly the same idea.
At Alert Transportation, serving the Greater New Orleans Area, concerts present some interesting transportation challenges. Major events can temporarily change traffic patterns around a venue, sometimes turning a route that works perfectly well on Tuesday afternoon into an entirely different situation Saturday night.
Road closures, pedestrian traffic, designated loading zones and police-controlled intersections can all affect how vehicles get passengers into and out of a concert.
The important thing to understand is that concert transportation isn’t simply about knowing where the venue is.
It’s about knowing how to reach it when half the surrounding streets suddenly have orange barricades.
The Normal Route May Not Be the Concert Route
Anyone familiar with New Orleans probably has preferred routes for getting around town.
Then an event happens.
- A street closes.
- A turn gets restricted.
- Police redirect traffic.
Suddenly that carefully planned route becomes more of a historical document.
Major concerts often require temporary traffic plans designed to manage thousands of vehicles and pedestrians arriving within a relatively short period.
Those restrictions can begin hours before the concert.
That means normal navigation directions aren’t always enough. Event information, venue instructions and announced street closures can all become part of planning the trip.
Sometimes the shortest route isn’t actually the fastest route.
Sometimes it isn’t a route at all anymore.
Drop-Off Isn’t Always at the Front Door
One common assumption is that transportation can simply pull directly in front of the venue entrance.
Large events frequently have other plans.
Venues and local authorities may establish specific drop-off areas for buses, limousines, rideshare vehicles and other passenger transportation.
That helps separate vehicle traffic from crowds walking toward entrances.
Depending on the venue, passengers may need to walk a short distance from the drop-off point.
That’s worth knowing beforehand.
Nobody enjoys arriving dressed for a concert and discovering that the front door is technically four blocks away.
Comfortable shoes occasionally become part of the transportation plan.
Getting There Is Usually the Easy Part
Before a concert, people arrive over a period of time.
- Some arrive early.
- Some go to dinner first.
- Some arrive when the doors open.
And some apparently consider the opening act a helpful reminder that it’s time to leave the house.
Departure is different.
The final song ends and thousands of people head toward the exits at once.
That creates a tremendous amount of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in a very short period.
A pickup location that worked before the concert may no longer be accessible afterward because traffic controls can change as the crowd leaves.
That’s why having a predetermined pickup location can make a significant difference.
Trying to describe a location over the phone while surrounded by thousands of concertgoers isn’t anybody’s idea of efficient communication.
Pedestrians Control the Final Mile
One of the interesting things about concert traffic is that the last mile can take longer than the previous ten.
Vehicles may move reasonably well until they reach the immediate venue area.
Then come the pedestrians.
Large groups crossing streets can cause law enforcement to temporarily stop vehicle traffic even when the road remains technically open.
That creates delays that aren’t necessarily visible when looking at a map beforehand.
New Orleans adds another layer because entertainment venues are often surrounded by restaurants, hotels, parking garages and other destinations generating additional foot traffic.
The closer a vehicle gets to the venue, the less predictable travel time can become.
New Orleans Can Have Several Events at Once
New Orleans rarely limits itself to one thing happening at a time.
A major concert might be happening at the Caesars Superdome.
There could be another event at the Smoothie King Center.
A convention might be taking place nearby.
A festival could be happening somewhere else downtown.
Then somebody remembers there’s also a parade.
At that point, traffic becomes a group project.
Events don’t have to occur at the same venue to affect transportation. Traffic from one event can spill into surrounding streets and influence routes serving another.
That’s why looking at the broader event calendar can matter when planning transportation.
Vehicle Size Matters
A route suitable for a passenger car isn’t necessarily appropriate for a bus.
Group transportation may involve vans, minibuses, shuttles or motor coaches.
Larger vehicles need additional turning space and appropriate loading areas.
Some streets may be difficult to navigate with larger vehicles, particularly when temporary barricades, parked cars and crowds reduce available space.
Certain venues also establish specific areas for buses and commercial passenger vehicles.
Knowing those requirements before arrival can prevent the unpleasant experience of reaching the venue and discovering that the vehicle needs to approach from somewhere completely different.
Timing Can Make a Difference
Concert traffic tends to build as showtime approaches.
Arriving earlier can sometimes reduce the amount of congestion encountered near the venue.
That doesn’t mean arriving at lunchtime for an 8 p.m. concert.
There is such a thing as being too prepared.
But allowing additional time can provide some flexibility when traffic patterns change.
The same applies after the show.
Some groups want to leave immediately.
Others prefer allowing the crowd to thin before departing.
Both approaches can work, but they create different transportation considerations.
Have a Backup Plan
Concert traffic plans can change.
Weather happens.
Police may close an additional street.
Crowds may become heavier than expected.
An accident can affect an otherwise available route.
That is why alternate pickup locations and communication matter.
A clear meeting point is helpful.
A backup meeting point is even better.
“Somewhere near the building” is not a meeting point.
Neither is “by the guy selling T-shirts.”
There may be 17 guys selling T-shirts.
Transportation Is Part of the Concert Experience
A great concert shouldn’t end with an hour of wandering around downtown trying to find the ride home.
Planning around road closures, loading zones, pedestrian traffic and venue restrictions can make the transportation portion of the evening considerably more predictable.
The goal is simple.
Get everyone there.
Let the band handle the entertainment.
Then get everyone home.
Because after an encore, nobody wants the night’s second performance to be called Where Did the Driver Go?
Milton Walker Jr.
Owner
Alert Transportation
Greater New Orleans Area
