Lots near stadiums, arenas, concert venues, fairgrounds, and festivals can earn a lot from event parking on event days. Event parking usually has a flat, pre-paid rate that is higher than everyday daily parking.
Use the calculator below to estimate how much your lot could earn from an event, and how much a full lot could be leaving on the table.
Key Takeaways
- Vehicles: Vehicles Arriving = Event Attendance ÷ People per Vehicle.
- Your share: Vehicles Parked = the smaller of (Vehicles Arriving × Share Choosing Your Lot) and your number of spaces.
- Revenue: Gross Revenue = Vehicles Parked × Event Rate. Net Revenue = Gross Revenue − Event Costs.
- Capacity cap: If demand is higher than your spaces, you are turning away revenue and may be able to charge more.
- Estimates: The share of drivers who choose your lot depends on distance, price, and competition, so adjust it as you learn.
Calculate Your Event Parking Revenue
Enter your event details to estimate revenue per event and per year.
Vehicles Arriving
0
Vehicles Parked in Your Lot
0
Gross Revenue / Event
$0
Net Revenue / Event
$0
Net Revenue / Year
$0
How to Estimate Event Parking Revenue
Event parking revenue comes from how many drivers you can attract and how much each pays:
Gross Revenue = min(Attendance ÷ People per Vehicle × Share Choosing Your Lot, Spaces) × Event Rate
- Event Attendance: The expected number of people at the event.
- People per Vehicle: The average number of attendees who arrive in one vehicle.
- Share Parking in Your Lot: The percentage of arriving vehicles that choose your lot over the venue's parking, other lots, or transit.
- Spaces Available: The number of spaces you can sell for the event.
- Event Costs: Temporary staff, signage, cones, payment fees, insurance, and any permits.
- Events per Year: How many similar events you expect to serve, used for the annual estimate.
Worked Example
Say a venue draws 5,000 attendees and an average of 2.5 people arrive per vehicle, so 5,000 ÷ 2.5 = 2,000 vehicles arrive. If 6% of them choose your lot, demand is 120 vehicles, but you have only 100 spaces, so 100 vehicles park.
100 × $25 = $2,500 gross revenue
After $400 in event costs, net revenue is $2,100 per event, or $21,000 a year across 10 similar events. The 20 vehicles you could not fit represent about $500 in unmet demand, a sign you might be able to raise the rate. Try your own numbers above.
Tips for Event Parking
- Sell in advance: Online pre-sales lock in revenue and help drivers plan ahead.
- Price by distance: Lots closer to the entrance can charge more than lots farther away.
- Watch competitors: Check the venue's own parking price and nearby lots before setting your rate.
- Manage traffic flow: Attendants, clear signs, and staged entry and exit fill every space quickly and avoid long lines.
- Promote your lot: Parking directories, event pages, and nearby businesses help drivers find you.
- Check local rules: Confirm any zoning, permit, insurance, and tax requirements for event parking in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate event parking revenue?
Divide event attendance by the average number of people per vehicle to estimate vehicles, multiply by the share that park in your lot, cap the result at your number of spaces, then multiply by your event rate. For example, 5,000 attendees at 2.5 per vehicle is 2,000 vehicles; 6% choosing your lot is 120 vehicles.
What share of event attendees will park in my lot?
It varies widely with distance to the venue, price, competing lots, transit options, and how easy your lot is to find. Lots very close to a venue can capture a larger share than lots farther away. Use a conservative estimate and adjust it after your first few events.
How much should I charge for event parking?
Look at what nearby lots and the venue's own parking charge, then price near or slightly below that based on your distance. Event rates are usually flat, pre-paid, and higher than everyday daily rates. Use the calculator to test how different rates change revenue.
What costs should I include for event parking?
Include temporary staffing or attendants, signage, cones or barriers, payment processing fees, insurance, security, and any event permit fees. Enter the total per event so the calculator shows net revenue.
How can I increase event parking revenue?
Sell spaces in advance online, price by proximity, offer reserved or premium spaces, promote the lot on parking directories and event pages, add attendants to fill every space efficiently, and cover multiple events during a season.