“We use lots of layers and wool sweaters,” she said.

Kelly is one of 75 to 100 parking lot attendants who guide cars to their correct spots before games.

She is hired by Express Personnel, which provides about half the lot attendants. The rest are hired directly by KU’s parking department.

Attendants arrive at their lots about three hours before tip-off, though most of the crowd arrives about an hour before the game. They leave shortly after the game begins.

The biggest challenge for lot attendants is explaining to people where they’re allowed to park, which — if they’re not season-ticket holders — isn’t anywhere near the fieldhouse. Most of the lots in the area are reserved for season-ticket holders or faculty, staff and students who opt for academic pursuits rather than going to the game.

Kelly, a Baldwin school teacher, usually works at the parking garage, which is reserved for game staff and Williams Fund members.

“People from out of town think they can drive up to the garage and pay for a spot,” she said. “Sometimes people get upset and start yelling. They think they should be there, and we can’t let them in.”

Sometimes, fans make up stories — such as saying they forgot their permit — to try to finagle a close parking spot.

“Sometimes there is little stuff, like people trying to lie their way through,” said Jim Briery, who supervises the Express Personnel staff. “That’s a given when you have that many people, I guess. Mostly, the same people are working the same gates each game, so they get to know the people coming in.”

Rita Jordan, administrative officer for the KU parking department, said managing parking for 16,300 fans each game can be a challenge.

She admitted distant parking can be a headache for non-season-ticket holders. But she said more fans could take a shuttle bus that runs from Memorial Stadium to the fieldhouse.

¢ Take a virtual tour of Allen Fieldhouse

“We have a shuttle that comes right in there and brings them right to the south side of Allen Fieldhouse,” she said. “They don’t have to walk if they don’t mind paying $1 each way. You’re not out of luck.”

Kelly, in her first year as a parking attendant, said she’s been surprised how much fun the job can be.

She admits, though, that she’d rather be on the inside of the fieldhouse. Before the Emporia State University game last fall, a desperate scalper offered her a ticket for $4, and she got to go to the game.

“That was fun,” she said. “I don’t imagine that’ll ever happen again.”