Here’s how to get around using Uber, Lyft in Miami during Super Bowl week
The last time South Florida hosted the Super Bowl, Uber and Lyft didn’t exist.
That was 2010.
This time, football fans can drive, use transit, request a taxi or rideshare through the week leading up to the big game between the 49ers and the Chiefs on Feb. 2.
But, like everything else surrounding Super Bowl 54 — there are rules.
Here’s what you need to know if you plan on taking Uber or Lyft to downtown Miami for Super Bowl Live, Miami Beach for the Super Bowl Experience theme park or to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Super Bowl Sunday.
Downtown Miami
Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., will be hosting Super Bowl Live, a weeklong family-friendly festival of free football-themed activities. It’s located along Biscayne Boulevard, the main artery through downtown Miami, so your drop-off or pick-up time could hinge on traffic.
Depending on where you are or want to go, your driver might have to navigate through the road closures and detours by Bayfront Park and the nearby Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd.
Those road closures and detours will also affect rideshare access in the area, according to Miami’s Super Bowl LIV Live It Host Committee.
From Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, rideshare drop-off and pick-up zones will be along Southeast First and Second avenues, according to the committee.
If you’re at Super Bowl Live or AmericanAirlines Arena, you’ll want to walk west to Northeast First Avenue before calling a rideshare. The committee says this is the best area to be picked-up if you’re heading to Interstate 395, Interstate 95 and Miami Beach.
If your destination is in the Brickell area, you should walk west to Northeast Second Avenue.
Miami Beach
Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr., will be hosting the Super Bowl Experience, an interactive pro football theme park from Jan. 25-26 and Jan. 29-Feb. 1.
If you’re planning to order an Uber, Lyft or taxi for drop-off or pick-up at the center or a nearby place, you’ll have to wait on the east curb of Meridian Avenue between 18th and 19th Street, according to the city of Miami Beach.
Hard Rock Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday
Uber and Lyft drop-off and pick-ups will only be allowed in lots 15 and 16, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said,
To get to the lot, Uber recommends passengers exit the stadium from the South or East gates and walk to the pedestrian bridge. You can then follow the signs to “Lot 15 Rideshare Pickup Zone.”
If you’re using a taxi, you’ll be dropped off in Lot 15 and 16 and picked up on 199th westbound, McCarthy said.
Uber and Lyft expect drivers will be in high demand on Super Bowl Sunday so don’t expect your ride to be cheap especially once price surging hits (which you know it will.)
Uber declined to give a range of how high price surging could get during the Super Bowl, saying it fluctuates based on various factors, including traffic, demand and location. Lyft did not respond to the Miami Herald’s request for comment.
Pro Tip: You can schedule your Uber and Lyft ride in advance so you can lock in a predicted rate based on the average fare expected for the pick-up time. Uber lets you schedule it from 5 minutes to 30 days in advance. Lyft lets you schedule it up to 7 days in advance.
You can also download the Curb app to book or schedule a cab from Super Yellow, Central Cab and Tropical Cab. Cab scheduling is only allowed up to 24 hours in advance.
Pro Tip 2: If you’re on a budget, you can use Uber and Lyft’s app or online price estimator at uber.com/us/en/price-estimate/ or lyft.com/rider/fare-estimate to see how much your ride could cost. Keep in mind those prices can fluctuate.
If you do it days or hours before you leave, it also won’t be taking price-surging into account which will probably (definitely) happen if you’re heading to or leaving Hard Rock Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday. You can also consider using Uber andLyft’s carpool ride option. It’s usually cheaper since the fair is split among the riders who ordered it in the app.
Other things to know
Check your ride - Always check the vehicle make and model, the driver’s name and photo, and the license plate before you get in the car to confirm if it’s your ride.
Check your other options - See if taking transit, carpooling or driving to your destination is cheaper than using a rideshare or taxi service. If you decide on driving to Hard Rock Stadium for the Super Bowl, remember to buy your parking permit ahead of time.
This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
