DRIVERS WON'T HAVE A PRAYER

June 25, 1998

DRIVERS WON'T HAVE A PRAYER

By DONNA CASEY -- Ottawa Sun The road to the Billy Graham mission will be paved with traffic tie-ups and parking problems.
The gospel according to crusade organizers: Take the bus.
With a chunk of the Corel Centre parking lot filled with 15,000 chairs and only 6,500 parking spots available, OC Transpo has increased its Connexion 400 shuttle service to the arena.
Extra buses will run for all five of the mission's events, leaving Park and Ride lots at Place d'Orleans, Greenboro, Baseline and Eagleson. Departure times are available by calling 741-4390 or OC Transpo's special events line at 741-4747. There will be no parking on city streets near the arena.
Many area churches have reserved parking for chartered buses to bring people from as far away as Kingston to the stadium's steps, said mission director Jeff Anderson. At least 125 chartered buses are expected daily.
Police will be on hand to keep traffic flowing in and out of the arena and paramedics will be on duty to handle medical emergencies both inside the Corel Centre and in the 15,000-seat outdoor overflow area. About 25 portable toilets will be set up for outdoor audience members.
Police and medical staff have been bumped up to meet a beyond-capacity crowd, said Richard McKeegan, event coordinator for Ogden Entertainment Services.
At a sold-out hockey game or concert, eight police officers and eight paramedics are normally on duty at the arena, said McKeegan.
Concession stands will be open for business before and after each event. A food and beverage tent will be located in the outdoor seating area.
All concession outlets will close during services except for an outdoor beverage station. No alcohol will be sold at any of the outlets.
However, Marshy's Bar-B-Que & Grill and the Hard Rock Cafe will remain open during mission services.
Mission organizers are asking people to bring a non-perishable canned good to the arena as part of the crusade's Love-in-Action program. The food collected after each event will be distributed by the Ottawa Food Bank.