American Royal Tonight! Beware of the Parking

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By OWEN MORRIS

UPDATE! Parking was already a hassle by 4 p.m. Friday which means forget getting anywhere close Saturday. If you do want to park in an independent location near the Royal, I heard from three sources the going rate in people’s yards is $10.

I swear my neighbors are more excited about tonight than they are about Christmas. It’s the start of the American Royal barbecue. More than 450 teams will compete tomorrow but tonight they’re just hanging out and letting loose.

As an “in-the-know” local, you may be tempted to go down tonight and join them. Take it from me, though: Not being able to find a parking space can really start the night on a bad note. Having to pay Vladimir $20 to park in a dimly lit lot a half-mile from the festivities can also dampen the good times.

Fortunately, the Royal runs a free shuttle from three downtown locations that will drop you at the door. Shuttles leave from the Union Station Parking Garage, the Town Pavilion at 12th and Grand, and the corner of 13th and Grand.

The best part (besides being free and all) is that the event organizers took into account that people hang around drinking, even after the barbecue officially closes at 11 p.m. So the shuttle runs for another two hours after close, until 1 a.m. I’d much rather be on a bus with a bunch of other rowdy people friends-in-the-making than be walking back to my car alone at 12:30 a.m. in the West Bottoms.

The American Royal starts today at 3 p.m. and tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $12 for adults.