Along with their enthusiasm, comedy, basketball and dance marathon buffs could be bringing some intense traffic when they converge onto campus this evening.

University officials and Penn State University Police said they are preparing for traffic and parking problems due to three major events taking place tonight.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is performing two sold-out shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. at Eisenhower Auditorium. The Lady Lions basketball team will host Wisconsin at 7 p.m., and the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon's preparations will begin tonight in Rec Hall.

As a result, police expect Eisenhower Parking Deck, with a maximum capacity of almost 1,000 cars, to fill twice within a matter of hours, Penn State University Police Supervisor Dwight Smith said.

"I can tell you there's going to be some challenges," he said.

Police are planning to make Shortlidge Road a one-way street from 8 to 9:30 p.m. for motorists traveling south, Smith said.

The Seinfeld performance marks the first time police will oversee the parking deck filling and emptying twice in one night, he added.

"The biggest challenge is going to be emptying the deck because this is an unusual situation where we have two back-to-back shows in the Eisenhower Auditorium," Smith said.

Because officials are anticipating a worst-case scenario of basketball fans exiting the Bryce Jordan Center at about the same time the first wave of comedy fans are leaving the auditorium, traffic detour plans are ready, said Frank Pope, event parking coordinator.

"The last place we would want [basketball fans] to drive is toward Eisenhower," he said.

Seinfeld fans attending the first show have the option of using the Eisenhower Parking Deck or the East Parking Deck, but nearby lots will be closed to event patrons because of changing traffic patterns, Pope added.

"We have to keep [the lots] empty," he said.

Police have handled many sold-out shows, but rarely two in one night, Smith said.

"Between the shows, there's going to be a lot of traffic that wouldn't normally be on campus," he said.

Thon planners on West Campus may miss the impending traffic, he added.

Event patrons should be prepared to adjust to changing traffic patterns, Pope said.

Transportation services officials are hoping most people going toward Eisenhower Auditorium will be students traveling on foot, he added.

However, Smith said he thinks that most Seinfeld fans will be community members who are traveling by vehicle.

"This kind of event, we would anticipate that there will be a lot of interest in the community," Smith said.

State College Police are not expecting any downtown traffic problems tonight, Sgt. John Gardner said.

Typically, Seinfeld fans are "not a real radical group," Gardner said jokingly.