Sunday, 6 September 2026 · 14:30
Where to park for Manchester Storm vs Sheffield Steelers - Pre Season Friendly at AO Arena
Sunday 6 September: Manchester Storm takes on Sheffield Steelers in a pre-season friendly at the AO Arena. Doors open at 2.30pm, face-off at 4pm. Get the early arrival advantage with a solid parking plan, and you'll spend your evening watching hockey, not hunting for a bay.
Car parks from £3.40/hr · £21.50/day — verified tariffs
Download the free app to see live availability around the AO Arena on the night.
Official data. Driver verified.
Sunday, 6 September 2026
Event date
14:30
Starts
113
Verified locations nearby
1,249+
Locations mapped across Manchester
Parking near AO Arena for Manchester Storm vs Sheffield Steelers - Pre Season Friendly
Three picks, three different plans — the shortest walk, the best pre-show evening, and the fastest way home. All verified Parkwise data. For live availability on the night, download the free Parkwise app.
77 locations mappedCitiPark AO Arena Car Park
Official venue parkingCar Park · Deansgate
- Type
- Car Park
- Price
- Paid · £6.00/2h · £22.00/day · £16 event flat (5pm–12am)
- Max stay
- Not confirmed yet
- Hours
- Open 24 hours
- Spaces
- ~958
- Operator
- CitiPark
- Distance
- 125 m from the venue
Good to know
- • Community-mapped car park from OpenStreetMap — details unverified.
- • Multi-storey car park.
Numbered pins are our three picks for this event — tap one for details. Every other dot is a verified street bay or car park. Live availability shows in the app only — download the app to see where drivers found spaces in the last hour.
Why these three?
1 · Official venue parking
CitiPark AO Arena Car Park: the venue's own car park, 2 minutes' walk
This is the AO Arena's own car park, so it's the safest bet for convenience—no navigation, no surprises, and you're parked before most people have cleared the doors. Pricing is £6 per 2 hours or £22 for the day; if you're arriving after 5pm, there's a flat £16 event rate running until midnight, which is perfect for a 2.30pm doors open start. Book ahead if you can, or check live availability in the app.
CitiPark AO Arena Car Park · ~2 min walk
2 · Make a night of it
Arndale Car Park: 7 minutes' walk, room for a pre-match pint
Park here and you've got time to explore before kick-off. The Arndale sits on the edge of Piccadilly, close to the Northern Quarter's best pre-show energy—grab a drink at one of the local haunts, scope the independent shops, then stroll over to the Arena with 20 minutes to spare. At £3.90 per hour or £21.50 for the day, it's often the better value if you're staying for a couple of hours before doors open.
Arndale Car Park · ~7 min walk
3 · Quick getaway
APCOA Manchester Printworks: 6 minutes' walk, a different way out
If you're thinking ahead to the post-match surge, Printworks offers a slightly less-congested route back to the main roads. It's a paid operator car park at 77 Shudehill, and from there you can slip away while everyone else is still queuing at the main exits. Useful if you're keen to avoid the rush.
APCOA Manchester Printworks · ~6 min walk
Getting parked for Manchester Storm vs Sheffield Steelers - Pre Season Friendly: the plan
Aim to arrive by 1.45pm if you want a relaxed walk and time for a pre-show drink. Street parking fills quickly around the Arena, and the nearby car parks start their event pricing from 5pm. If you're running later, don't panic—Parkwise has live reports on 83 verified street bays and 8 car parks across the city, showing you what's actually available right now. Download the app before you leave home so you can check real-time availability as you drive in.
You've got three solid options: park at the venue's own CitiPark AO Arena Car Park for maximum convenience (2 minutes on foot), grab a space in the Arndale if you fancy a wander and a pint in the Northern Quarter beforehand, or aim for APCOA Printworks if you want an easier exit post-game when everyone's heading back from the barrier at once. All three have verified pricing and are within walking distance of the Arena.
After the final buzzer and the post-match celebrations, expect car parks to get busy around 5.45pm onwards. The APCOA Printworks location gives you a slightly different route out, which can help if you're keen to beat the pack. Whatever you choose, remember that live availability reports in the app expire after 60 minutes, so refresh as you get close to the Arena and you'll have the clearest picture of what's left.
Make an evening of it
Arrive by 1.45pm if you want an easy park and time for a pre-show drink without rushing. Street parking gets tight once doors open at 2.30pm.
Download the Parkwise app before you leave—live availability reports show you what's actually free right now, not what was free an hour ago. Reports refresh every 60 minutes, so check again as you're heading into the city.
If you're parking in the Northern Quarter (Arndale), you've got plenty of time to grab food and a pint at any number of local spots before the 4pm face-off. Park once, eat first, stroll in.
Post-match, the car parks empty quickly if you head out straight away—but if you're hanging around for the post-game atmosphere, expect a queue from about 5.45pm onwards.
RingGo and PayByPhone work across most Manchester car parks if you need to extend your stay, so you don't have to dash back to feed the meter.
The AO Arena's own car park (CitiPark) is the most straightforward choice, but all three options here are verified and priced fairly—pick based on whether you want convenience, a pre-show wander, or an easy exit.
Live availability
Spaces come and go in minutes — see what's free right now in the app
The map around the AO Arena updates as drivers report spaces. Green means someone recently confirmed availability; amber and red mean limited or full. Every report expires after 60 minutes — so you are never looking at stale data.
- Filter by duration, price, and parking type before you set off
- Set your destination to AO Arena and see parking around it
- Earn free access by reporting spaces when you park
Manchester Storm vs Sheffield Steelers - Pre Season Friendly at AO Arena: parking questions
How much does parking cost for the Manchester Storm vs Sheffield Steelers match?
Pricing varies by car park. CitiPark AO Arena (the venue's own) is £6 per 2 hours, £22 for the day, or £16 flat from 5pm–midnight. Arndale is £3.90 per hour or £21.50 for the day. APCOA Printworks is a paid operator car park—check their tariff on arrival. There are also 83 verified street bays across the city with various restrictions; check the app for current rates.
What time should I arrive to get a good parking spot?
Aim for 1.45pm or earlier if you want a relaxed park and time to settle in before doors open at 2.30pm. Street parking fills up quickly, and car park occupancy rises as kick-off approaches. Check live availability in the Parkwise app as you head into the city.
Can I park on the street near the AO Arena?
Yes. Parkwise has verified 83 street bays near the venue, but these come with their own parking restrictions and time limits. Check the app for live reports on what's available right now, and always look for the relevant signs to avoid a penalty charge notice. Street parking is often your cheapest option, but availability is tighter during events.
How do I see live parking availability before I drive to the Arena?
Download the Parkwise app and search for AO Arena or Manchester Storm. You'll see live reports from the community on street bays and car parks around the venue. Remember that reports expire after 60 minutes, so refresh as you get close. Live availability is app-only—the website shows verified locations and prices, but not real-time status.
What's the best way to exit the car park after the match?
If you want to avoid the main post-match surge, head out straight away—most people leave between 5.45pm and 6.30pm. APCOA Printworks offers a slightly different route out of the city, which can help if you're keen to beat the queue. Alternatively, grab a post-match drink and wait for the rush to clear.
Do I need to book parking in advance?
CitiPark AO Arena (the venue's own car park) can get busy, so booking ahead is wise if you want guaranteed access. Street bays and other car parks operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Check live availability in the app as you approach the venue.
Can I use RingGo or PayByPhone at these car parks?
Yes. RingGo and PayByPhone work across most Manchester car parks, including the Arndale and many street bays. This means you can extend your stay from your phone if you need extra time—useful if the post-match atmosphere is too good to leave straight away.
Not here for this show? See all AO Arena parking — car parks, street bays, and every upcoming event.
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