Tempe street closures ... Insight Bowl & New Years Eve block party (closing, fences)

[Valley Native]

Tempe closing streets for Insight Bowl game

Just an FYI to anybody who commutes through downtown Tempe. Looks like a lot of streets are going to be blocked off starting as early as Friday afternoon. It's that time of year again: the Insight Bowl and the ever famous block party. Both events will bring massive crowds into Tempe, and anybody driving around there should expect some delays (not to mention more difficulty with parking). I guess light rail will be a good option to avoid the traffic, especially since trains will be running later and more frequently.

[Java Jolt]

Some places in north Tempe are already closed off, fences around buildings and certain parking areas.

It's going to be a mess. Good thing I get off early today.

New Years eve is a big hoopla in Tempe. It gets national recognition and all but too much crowd for me, I'll be catching up on some sleep.

[AZPam]

Great! We are supposed to go and see Stomp tonight at Gammage. Guess we had better leave a little earlier than planned.

[timt.105]

sounds like fun but i watched the coverage last year and it really looks like a mob. i may go there to check out the scene but dont want to be lost in a maze of people.

[Valley Native]

I work in this part of Tempe, and the crowds were just starting to pour in yesterday afternoon when I left work. Not as bad as I thought, however. Yesterday's crowds were mostly due to the Insight Bowl. Today's will be even worse with the block party, and all the events going on. No thanks. I like a good celebration as much as the next person, but massive crowds turn me off (especially when you add the drunks in the mix).

[Java Jolt]

I don't know what place is more exciting anymore for New Years eve, the ball drop in New York, the peach drop in Atlanta, or the tortilla drop in Tempe.

Whatever floats your boat but they all seem a bit too redundant year after year.