NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — In order to take yourself out to a ballgame this year in Norfolk, there’s a good chance you will have to take a ride on The Tide or find alternative parking.

If you try to park at Harbor Park, you’ll likely be dealt a curveball.

The Tide, Hampton Roads Transit’s light rail system, is one of the top transit options being pushed by the city ahead this years Norfolk Tides Baseball season.

Now that the Norfolk casino is under construction next to the Harbor Park stadium, more than 800 parking spots used by baseball fans in years past are now surrounded by a construction fence. More than 100 additional spots are being used by Amtrak customers.

While there will still be more than 900 spots in remaining lots at Harbor Park (C, F, and G), the largest lot available for baseball fans will be in Downtown Norfolk, at MacArthur Center.

The MacArthur Center garage along City Hall Avenue, closest to the former Dillard’s department store, will be free for Tides baseball fans all season, according to Kelly Straub, a spokesperson for the City of Norfolk. Fans will then also be able to take a free ride from the MacArthur Square Station.

“You’ll go ahead and pull a ticket, but the gates will be up after the game is over so you can get out,” Straub said. “Those gates will remain up until two hours after the game lets out.”

There will also be free Tide light rail rides from either the Newtown Road, Military Highway and Ballentine/Broad Creek Stations. Those three stations have a combined 600 parking spots. Parking is free at these park-and-ride lots.

Complimentary rides will be available two hours before and after each game on The Tide.

HRT Ferry trips to Harbor Park from the North Landing Ferry dock in Portsmouth will be free for the first time this year. The ferry service runs every 30 minutes beginning one hour before game time and one hour after the game ends.

“Parking for the ferry in Portsmouth is free at city garages after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends,” Thomas Becher, HRT’s communication director, said.

Becher acknowledged that there will likely be lines following some games at the Harbor Park Tide station.

As of now, trains will still run on their regular schedule of 15 minute intervals.

“We’re going to see how things go in that first first weekend, Becher said. “We’ll look at making adjustments … the line can only take so much frequency, but we’re going to be on site for for the games and really monitor crowds and act accordingly.”

There will be other parking options closer to the stadium. Dominion Tower Garage, just down the road from Harbor Park on Water Street, will offer game day parking for $6. For night and weekend games, $6 parking will also be available at the the Union Street Lot and East Street Lot.

There will be handicap parking in lot A for $6. However those spaces are expected to fill up quickly. 

Opening day for the Norfolk Tides 2025 season is March 28. They’ll take on the Durham Bulls.

“So it’s going to be a lot, so we are trying to remind everyone to plan ahead,” Straub said. “So if you are buying your game day ticket, you can go ahead and pre-purchase your parking if you want to park close to the stadium. If you are choosing to come in, maybe a little last minute, change of plans, go ahead and think about parking at MacArthur and taking the light rail over.”

To help fans plan their game day trips, this online map shows parking lots and garages and available ferry and light rail routes.

Norfolk taxpayers will be paying HRT, as well as eating the costs for free parking at MacArthur Center. Straub wasn’t immediately sure on the total cost.

In reaction to the announcement of the parking lot closure, many on social media have wondered why the casino just doesn’t move to MacArthur Center, the half vacant shopping mall the city bought last year downtown.

The 2020 referendum allowing for casino gaming was clear that gaming can only occur at “an approximate street address of 200 Park Avenue,” between Harbor Park and Amtrak.

Changing that would require another referendum, which may not pass.

Norfolk Tides General Manager Joe Gregory said the new parking logistics will take getting used to.

“You know, for the fans that have their concerns, you know, I understand it,” Gregory said. “We’re not going anywhere. So anyone that’s concerned about us leaving you can, you know, get rid of those concerns. You’re planning on being here for a long time. I mean, with the new seats going in, we’re not going to put new seats in and then leave town.”

Monday, crews were in the upper deck on the first base line installing the last of more than 11,000 new green seats for the stadium. I’ll be the first new seating for the stadium since the park opened in 1993.

“(The parking options) may not be the perfect replacement for what was here before, but there’s options available whether that’s MacArthur South, the light rail, the ferry, I think people there’ll be a learning curve, but people will get there,”

Helpful links:

Schedule of The Tide light rail times and stops
Elizabeth River Ferry information
Norfolk Tides ticket information