On the football field U-M and Notre Dame are rivals, but when it comes to the parking lot why not get along?
Ann Arbor-based
Park n Party and
Game Day Parking out of South Bend say it makes sense to play together in their business of taking the hassle out of game day parking and tailgating.
Park n Party has created a reservation system for parking spots, tailgate spaces and other amenities in cooperation with parking lot owners, and Game Day Parking has built an app to identity parking lots and spaces at several universities, including U-M, MSU, Purdue and Wisconsin.
This season, Park n Party will offer its services to Notre Dame fans, and its the first stop in an expansion that Park n Party co-founder Jason Kapica says will reach Detroit, East Lansing, Columbus, Ohio, Madison, Wisconsin and other Big 10 campuses.
“Nobody has ever put together a service like Park n Party, and we’re confident the idea will catch on like wildfire among fans in town for Notre Dame football,” says Kapica. “We expect to be all over the country in the near future.”
John Ross, GameDay Parking's chief and a Notre Dame graduate, joined with Park n Party because of the demand for online parking and tailgating reservation system for Notre Dame home football games.
"Park n Party's system is perfect for the Notre Dame market. Fans will love how it helps to take the uncertainty out of game day parking, and parking lot owners will really appreciate how it makes their lives easier," Ross says in a release announcing the partnership. "In the end, it makes game day better for everyone."
Park n Party has also expanded into event planning and works with fans to plan parties and tailgates, hooking them up with event spaces, caterers and of course the parking spaces.
"We regularly receive calls from all over the country from U of M Alumni and Alumni of visiting teams. They want to hold a nice tailgate event. They need a venue, parking, and catering," says Park n Party co-founder Taylor Bond. "We're certainly helping the local economy by bringing together buyers and sellers. Those benefitting form our services include lot owners, venues, and caterers."
Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Taylor Bond and Jason Kapica, founders, Park n Party
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