Max SteventonPoor parking availability continues to frustrate thousands of event-goers across the UK, with new research suggesting the issue is impacting attendance figures, customer spending and the overall experience at concerts, festivals and sporting events.
The report by JustPark, supported by the British Parking Association suggests that parking infrastructure at events has failed to keep pace with growing demand. The findings come as millions of people prepare to travel to live events this summer.
The State of Event Parking in the UK report involved a survey of more than 1,500 UK drivers and compares the results with a similar study of more than 3,000 motorists conducted last year. According to the report, there has been little improvement in the event-day parking experience despite continued investment in the live events sector.
Almost half (48%) of respondents said they had left a ticketed event early because of parking concerns, while 41% reported spending more than 20 minutes searching for a space before an event.
The report also found that more than one in five drivers (22%) had missed the start of an event after struggling to find parking, 70% said parking concerns influence whether they choose to drive to an event at all.
Long delays after events remain another major frustration, with 68% of respondents identifying lengthy exit queues as one of the worst aspects of the event-day experience.
The findings suggest parking issues are extending beyond customer inconvenience to become a commercial concern for venues and event organisers.
Late arrivals and early departures can reduce the amount of time visitors spend at venues, potentially affecting spending on food, drinks and merchandise, while some attendees may decide not to travel altogether.
With the UK’s summer events calendar expected to attract millions of visitors over the coming weeks, the report argues that improving parking management could play an increasingly important role in enhancing the visitor experience and protecting venue revenues.
“Parking might seem like a small part of the day, but it has a disproportionate impact on how people experience events,” said Just Park CCO Jonathan Hampton. “So whilst the demand to drive to events is clearly there, the realities of finding a quality parking space is then putting people off.
“When parking systems work well, it ensures people get through the gates earlier, it reduces congestion and improves the overall flow of the day. When it doesn’t, it creates stress and friction from arrival through to exit, and that has a knock-on effect on attendance and spend.”