Benchmark International Arena Parking

Parking for The Strokes · Sat, Sep 12 · 7:00 PM: Downtown garages flip to flat event rates at the gate on event nights, and the city does not publish those numbers online. Prepaying a spot is the only way to lock a price before you drive.

Prepaid garages and lots near Benchmark International Arena typically start around $5 (checked 2026-08-27). Prices change by event and date, and big games and concerts price higher. See current prices and book a spot on SpotHero (paid link).

The three city garages next door post $3/hr with an $18 max, until an event flips them to a flat gate rate

Pam Iorio Garage (Channelside Dr at Florida Ave, 0.1 mi, the arena's ADA pick), Fort Brooke (on Whiting St between Florida Ave and Franklin St, 0.4 mi) and the Convention Center garage (off S Tampa St at E Brorein St, 0.3 mi) post $3/hr, $18 daily max. On event nights the city charges a flat special-event rate at the gate instead; tampa.gov does not publish that number anywhere online. It is on the gate sign and in the ParkMobile app, which is why prepaying a spot online is the only way to lock a price before you drive.

Source: tampa.gov parking rates (rates); arena parking page (locations, walk distances) · verified 2026-08-28

The $2/hr garages a few blocks out: Twiggs and Centro Ybor

Twiggs Garage (901 E Twiggs St, about 0.6 mi) and Centro Ybor Garage (1500 E 5th Ave, in Ybor) post $2/hr with a $14 daily max, versus $3/$18 next to the arena. The Selmon Expressway lots under the elevated span downtown are also $2/$14 hourly, but the city sells monthly permits there with restricted access windows (6am-7pm weekdays, or 6pm-6am weekdays plus all day weekends); read the sign before you walk away.

Source: tampa.gov parking rates · verified 2026-08-28

The Ybor play: first 2 hours free, $10 flat weekend nights, streetcar to the arena door

City Ybor Lots 3, 5 and 6 (N 19th St at 8th Ave) are free for the first two hours, then $2/hr with a $14 max, and post a $10 flat rate Friday and Saturday 8pm-3am. The TECO Line streetcar runs from Centro Ybor station through the Florida Aquarium and Water Street stations next to the arena, and the arena's own parking page recommends it. Rides have been fare-free for years; confirm current fares and, more importantly, the last late-night departure before counting on the ride back to your car.

Source: TECO Line streetcar + tampa.gov · verified 2026-08-28

Downtown meters are NOT free at night, and Ybor enforcement runs to 3am

Central Business District on-street parking is enforced 8am to midnight, seven days, $4 first hour then $3. Channel District, Davis Islands and Armature Works: 8am-midnight. Ybor City: 8am to 3am. The only regularly free window is north of Kennedy Blvd on Sundays 8am-2pm. An 11:51pm "free" meter in Ybor is a ticket.

Source: tampa.gov on-street parking · verified 2026-08-23

The trap: the Aquarium Lot is $5/hr with no daily max

The city Aquarium Lot (east side of the Channelside Dr traffic circle) posts $5/hr with no daily max, and next-day charges start at 6am. Fine for a three-hour game ($15); the worst rate downtown if you make a night of it.

Source: tampa.gov parking rates · verified 2026-08-27

The arena's own recommendations, by approach direction

The arena's parking page sorts its picks by where you are coming FROM. Arriving from the north or west (its example: Pasco): Teal Lot (S Morgan and Eunice, 0.1 mi) and Foundation 2 (N Jefferson and E Brorein, 0.2 mi). From the west (Pinellas): Convention Center garage, Pink Lot, Fort Brooke, Whiting garage (6'8" clearance, no motorcycles). From the south (South Tampa): Pam Iorio and Foundation 1. From the east (North Tampa, Orlando): Channelside garage and the Aquarium Lot, where the page also suggests hopping the TECO Streetcar for a free ride to the arena. Most are pay-on-arrival, first come first served. JustPark is the arena's official prepay partner.

Source: Benchmark International Arena parking page · verified 2026-08-28

Pam Iorio Garage is the arena's ADA pick; use the Florida Ave entrance

From the arena's parking page: all surrounding lots have disabled parking, but the most convenient is the city-run Pam Iorio Parking Garage at the corner of Channelside Dr and Florida Ave, a 0.1 mile (3 minute) walk, with elevator access throughout. Disabled guests are encouraged to enter via the Florida Ave entrance. All ADA parking is first-come, first-served, so on Lightning nights arrive early.

Source: Benchmark International Arena parking page · verified 2026-08-27

Drop-off circle off Channelside Drive, with free wheelchair service to your seats

An accessible drop-off area sits in the drop-off circle off Channelside Drive, adjacent to the Accessible Entrance. If you are dropped off and need help entering, the arena runs a free staff-manned wheelchair service: ask anyone with an arena name tag or any Tampa police officer, and the wheelchair is brought to you and you are escorted to your seats at no charge.

Source: Benchmark International Arena parking page · verified 2026-08-27

Is this the same place as Amalie Arena?

Yes. Amalie Arena was renamed Benchmark International Arena on August 13, 2025. Same building on the Water Street side of downtown, home of the Lightning.

Is there free parking near the arena?

Genuinely free: the first two hours in City Ybor Lots 3, 5 and 6 plus the fare-free streetcar, and street spaces north of Kennedy on Sunday morning and early afternoon. Everything downtown near the arena is paid on event nights, and meters are enforced until midnight (3am in Ybor).

How much is parking for a Lightning game?

City garages next to the arena flip to a flat event rate that the city does not publish online (recently in the $15-30 range at the gate). Prepaid spots a few blocks out typically start lower; check a booking site for your date to see actual prices before you drive.