Viewing at the St. James

[Anonymous]

What are meets like at the St. James? We are there this weekend.

[Anonymous]

Volunteers have the best views. With the number of kids registered for this meet you can expect very limited and or cramped seating for spectators.

[Anonymous]

Parking can also be a challenge depending on start time. Last year, many people had to park in lots across and up the street. I’d allow a lot of time to park if it’s not an early morning start. As someone else, bleacher space will be limited if used for team areas. It can get hot in there.

[Anonymous]

So the St. James has to use bleachers for the teams since they don't have deck space. That means very limited seating for parents. It is also extremely hot in the stands.

The St. James hosts multiple events at its facilities so you can have trouble parking and even dropping off your kid and then going to park. They limit a portion of the lot to members and then another portion to paid valet spaces. So you can end up being VERY far away in the industrial park for parking.

Also, if you enter from the North entrance it can be much more of a headache.

[Anonymous]

If you can snag a volunteer spot, do it. It is also cooler on deck.

[Anonymous]

There was a thread on the same meet last year before swimming and diving topics migrated to their own board:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1099197.page

I wasn't there, but it sounds like a lot of parents came ill-prepared. It's good that you are planning ahead.

[Anonymous]

It is always tough in the winter. You may end up parking very far away. There is limited viewing as well.

[Anonymous]

I was at this meet and I remember how hot it was and all the kids were in the stands smooshed in with one another. My kid got covid afterwards and I am pretty sure every other kid did as well because it was so crowded (not that I am crazy about it). It was just so hot. The kids were dying.

[Anonymous]

Try to snag a table in the hallway with a buddy (overlooking what will probably be Volleyball practice) and switch in and out as your kid's event gets closer. Sitting is next to impossible since they have the kids there, and it's very hot.

Or, as others have suggested, volunteer to time. A LOT cooler down there.

[Anonymous]

When DC swam there in October, I made the mistake of sitting at a table inside the bleacher area on Saturday. It was hot and crowded and miserable. On Sunday I grabbed a table in the hallway instead and just stepped inside for DCs heats. Much better.

I had no trouble parking since we were the first session and I had to get DC there for warmups. But by the time DH arrived an hour+ later, he had to park pretty far away.

[Anonymous]

DS swam their last year and I timed so I didn’t have to deal with the seating. It’s crowded and there was some massive basketball tournament going on at the same time and parking was a nightmare. He made the Winter Classic this year, so I don’t have to deal with the St. James. Yay!

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of spots available for volunteers, avoid the seating crunch, volunteer. https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/409054CAAAE2CA2FB6-46395014-2023

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS swam their last year and I timed so I didn’t have to deal with the seating. It’s crowded and there was some massive basketball tournament going on at the same time and parking was a nightmare. He made the Winter Classic this year, so I don’t have to deal with the St. James. Yay!

All the local venues have pros and cons. My kids like the St James pool and think it’s fast. Despite the parking/viewing hassles for parents, it’s generally a good experience for the kids who aren’t qualifying for the meets that get first dibs on the best locations to host a major meet.

[Anonymous]

If you are attending this meet, I cannot stress enough that you should sign up to time. The meet this weekend (makos holiday invitational) is way oversubscribed. The very limited spectator seating is likely to be taken by team overflow seating. Last year this meet was halted b/c a parent was on deck and refused to leave b/c there was no spectator seating. Don't be that parent. Don't be on here later this weekend complaining you couldn't see your kid swim and had to stand in the hall. Sign up to time, you will see them swim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are attending this meet, I cannot stress enough that you should sign up to time. The meet this weekend (makos holiday invitational) is way oversubscribed. The very limited spectator seating is likely to be taken by team overflow seating. Last year this meet was halted b/c a parent was on deck and refused to leave b/c there was no spectator seating. Don't be that parent. Don't be on here later this weekend complaining you couldn't see your kid swim and had to stand in the hall. Sign up to time, you will see them swim.

Could not agree with this more. The swimmers will be in the stands since the St. James does not have room on deck for teams. There will not be spectating areas and it will not be streamed.

There are only a few slots left in each session. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054CAAAE2CA2FB6-46395014-2023#/