Detroit traffic: Multiple events planned downtown Friday evening

If you’re sitting at your downtown Detroit office right now, dreaming of the weekend, you might want to plan your escape now. Rush hour tonight will be a challenge.

A few major events are happening in downtown Detroit this evening that will cause traffic and parking nightmares.

• Former President Barack Obama will speak at a rally at Cass Tech High School at 5 p.m. Parking is already tight in the area, and it’s located off some major freeways.
• The Red Wings play a few blocks away at the Little Caesars Arena at 7:30 p.m.
• Country singer Luke Bryan plays at Ford Field this evening. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the event starts at 5:30 p.m.
• A large boxing event—The Night of Knockouts XIV—takes place at SoundBoard at the Motor City Casino Hotel this evening.

Basically, the Lodge and 75 will be slow moving (if moving) for a while.

We’re here to recommend parking further out and taking either the Qline, People Mover, Uber, Lyft, scooter, DDOT, SMART buses, or a combination of these to the events. Parking can also be reserved in advance closer to LCA and Ford Field.

The city is warning of potential ticketing, and advises to pay close attention to signage:

“Parking violators will be ticketed, and in some instances, vehicles may be towed. Motorists will be ticketed for:

• Improper parking (vehicles within 20 feet from crosswalk; within 15 feet from an intersection; within 30 feet of a stop sign or traffic control device; and within 15 feet of a fire hydrant)
• Parking in front of fire hydrants and bus stops or blocking driveways and alleys.
• Parking in designated zones, such as handicap zones (without proper credentials), fire lanes, no parking zones or no standing zones.”