Veterans Way shuts down in both directions — Sixth Street to College Avenue — five and a half hours before kickoff. By the time most fans are thinking about heading out for a Sun Devils game, the road the stadium is literally named after is already gone. That closure is the first surprise for groups who drive; the second is finding that general admission lots are $20 per car and fill up fast for any game that matters.
A Phoenix sports group charter bus or party bus rental sidesteps both at once — your group rides together, the pre-game energy builds on the way down, and the campus road-closure map becomes someone else's problem entirely.
Mountain America Stadium (500 E Veterans Way, Tempe, AZ 85287) opened in 1958 as Sun Devil Stadium and carried that name until August 2, 2023, when ASU announced a 15-year naming rights deal with Mountain America Credit Union. It sits embedded inside the ASU campus in the heart of Downtown Tempe — not on a suburban highway with acres of overflow parking, but ringed by research buildings, light rail tracks, and streets that close in a rolling sequence from mid-afternoon through an hour past the final whistle. That campus geography is the reason group transportation works better here than at most college stadiums in the country.
Below, you'll find exactly how a bus approaches the stadium, where it drops your group, what the lots actually cost, which roads close and when, how the Valley Metro light rail and Tempe Streetcar factor in, what the Mill Avenue stretch offers before and after the game, and everything else you need to plan a group trip that doesn't unravel in the parking lot. For pricing and availability, call 480-546-5014 any time or use the quick online form — quotes come back in under 30 seconds.
Why Rent a Bus to Mountain America Stadium?
One bus eliminates the entire coordination spiral. The math for a 10-car fan group is straightforward — and not in the cars' favor. Ten designated drivers.
Ten separate $20 parking passes to pre-purchase. Ten separate routes navigating a campus that's mid-closure before most fans leave the house. And ten separate post-game rideshare pickups competing for surge-priced cars on a night when every app in Tempe is running 2x.
A Mountain America Stadium charter bus or party bus rental replaces all of that with a single quote, a single pickup address, and one pre-arranged drop-off at the campus edge.
The campus geography specifically rewards the bus in a way that suburban stadiums don't. Mountain America Stadium isn't a drive-in, park-close, walk-ten-steps venue — it's in the middle of a working university, with approach corridors that narrow on game days and parking structures that require advance purchase for anything close to the south gates. The closer you want to park, the earlier you have to commit and the more it costs.
A charter bus drops your group at the published fan drop-off on the south side of campus while everyone who drove is still navigating the lot assignments. That's the operational advantage a bus carries at this specific venue. Call 480-546-5014 or fill out the quick form to see what that looks like for your group size and date.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Mountain America Stadium
The official published fan drop-off point at Mountain America Stadium is near the South Packard Drive Structure (Structure 7), per the ASU Game Day Guide. From Structure 7, guests with mobility needs can access cart service to the stadium's south entrances — but for any group, that drop puts you on the south side of campus within walking distance of the south gates. That's the confirmed access point for vehicles without a parking pass arriving to unload passengers.
The clean approach on a game day is from the south: exit University Drive (I-10 eastbound, Exit 52), head west, then north up Packard Drive to Structure 7. This route skips Veterans Way entirely — which is already closed 5.5 hours before kickoff — and avoids the Rio Salado Parkway eastbound restriction (Ash to Mill) that kicks in two hours before game time. From the north side via Rio Salado, the viable approach window closes well before a typical evening kickoff for anyone coming from central Phoenix.
University Drive to Packard is the reliable route regardless of kickoff time, and it drops your group at the published south-side access point with the least friction. After the game, your bus stages on Packard Drive or a pre-arranged block nearby, and your group walks out to the same location — no post-game scavenger hunt while 53,000 other fans spread across the campus exit system.
Charter buses and oversized vehicles that want to stay on campus during the game — rather than drop-and-return — have a confirmed option: the University Center Parking Lot at University and Athletes Way for $75 per vehicle, per the official Mountain America Stadium page. Pre-purchase is strongly recommended. If your trip is a drop-and-return, the $75 campus lot isn't required, and you can set the post-game pickup window for Packard Drive when you book.
Both work — it comes down to whether your group wants the bus staged close by the whole time or prefers a pickup window arrangement. Discuss which fits your itinerary when you request your quote through Partybusinphoenix.com.
No Re-Entry: Set Your Pickup Plan Before You Walk In
Mountain America Stadium enforces a firm no-re-entry policy. Once your ticket is scanned at the gate, you cannot re-enter after exiting — weather evacuations are the only exception. That one rule makes pre-game logistics critical for group travel: before anyone in your group walks through the gate, confirm the post-game pickup location, the pickup time window, and who is coordinating with the bus.
Anyone who leaves to handle something outside cannot come back in. Set the plan while everyone is still together outside the stadium, and the post-game exit becomes as organized as the arrival. The no-re-entry rule is the single most common thing first-time Mountain America Stadium group visitors don't account for — and it's the easiest thing to solve with five minutes of planning before kickoff.
The published fan drop-off is at the South Packard Drive Structure (Structure 7) — the south side of campus, within walking distance of the south stadium gates. Charter buses staging on campus use the University Center Lot at University and Athletes Way, confirmed at $75 per oversized vehicle. Lock in the post-game pickup window before your group walks through the gate — re-entry is not permitted once you're inside.
Mountain America Stadium Parking: The Color-Coded Lot System
ASU runs a color-coded lot system across Mountain America Stadium's parking footprint, and understanding the layout tells you two things: which direction to approach from, and how spread out the parking actually is relative to the gates. General admission lots — including all parking structures — are $20 per vehicle on game day, per the 2025 Sun Devil Football Parking Central page. Lots open 5.5 hours before kickoff.
Here's how the color system maps out:
- Copper Lot (formerly Lot 10) / RV and Oversized Vehicle Lot: Enter from Rio Salado Parkway, turn north. This is the north-side general admission surface lot. Note that charter bus and RV staging uses the separate University Center Lot at University and Athletes Way ($75), not the general Copper Lot.
- Black Lot (formerly Lot 6): Access from Rural Road eastbound on Sixth Street. North-side surface parking.
- Pink Lot (formerly Lot 9): From Rural Road heading east on Sixth Street. North side.
- Green Lot (formerly Whiteman Tennis Reserved): Rural Road westbound on Sixth Street.
- Maroon Lot (East and West): North side, via Rio Salado Parkway following Marina Heights signals.
- Gold Lot (formerly Reserved South): South Packard Drive access — closest to the south stadium entrances among the open lots.
- Orange Lot (formerly Reserved Lot 3): South Packard Drive access. Similar proximity to the south gates as the Gold Lot.
- Gray Lot (formerly Lot 8): Enter westbound from Rio Salado, turn right.
- Novus Structure, Stadium Structure, Packard Structure, Fulton Center Garage: The four paid parking structures — all $20 on game day, all best secured with advance purchase. The Novus Structure allows scan-to-pay on arrival via QR code, but availability isn't guaranteed for late arrivals on high-demand game days.
- ADA Parking: First-come, first-served in the lower level of the Packard, Novus, and Stadium structures. Requires a valid state-issued disability placard or license plate. Cart service runs between the disability lots and the stadium entrances.
For a fan group of 40 who decides to drive, that's at minimum 10 parking passes at $20 each — $200 before anyone gets out of the car — plus 10 separate approach routes navigating a campus that's mid-closure, 10 separate post-game exits, and at least 10 people who can't be part of the pre-game experience in any real sense. One 40–56 passenger charter bus covers the whole group for a single flat quote, one oversized parking spot at $75 (if staging on campus), and one exit route. The per-head math tips decisively toward the bus well before a group reaches 40 people — typically around the third or fourth car.
We recommend checking the official Mountain America Stadium parking page before your visit for any updates to lot assignments or pricing.
Game Day Road Closures: What Closes, When, and How a Bus Skips It
The City of Tempe runs a phased road closure plan on every Mountain America Stadium home game day, and the first closures land well before most fans have thought about leaving. Here is the full sequence, sourced from Signals AZ's 2025 ASU Football transit and closures guide:
- 5.5 hours before kickoff: Veterans Way closes in both directions between Sixth Street and College Avenue. College Avenue closes in both directions between Sixth and Seventh Streets. For a 7:00 PM kickoff like the September 5 Morgan State opener, that puts Veterans Way closed by 1:30 PM — well before afternoon rush. This is the first and most significant closure because Veterans Way runs directly adjacent to the stadium's main entrance corridors.
- 2 hours before kickoff through 1 hour after the game ends: Fifth and Sixth Streets close in both directions between Forest and College Avenues. Rio Salado Parkway closes eastbound between Ash and Mill Avenues. Turn restrictions go into effect at Mill Avenue and University Drive intersections. This is the window that catches Phoenix-area fans who left late — the freeway is still open, but the streets you'd normally use to get to a north-side lot are gone.
- Third quarter start through 1 hour after the final whistle: Westbound Rio Salado at McClintock, Scottsdale Road/Rural Road southbound, and SR-202 off-ramps onto Scottsdale Road close or restrict access. This is the post-game trap that surprises people who parked on the north side — even after the game ends, these roads stay locked for another hour, so the exit crawl from the north-side lots is longer than the north-side lots suggest.
A bus approaching from Phoenix via the south — I-10 East to University Drive (Exit 52), west to Packard Drive, north to Structure 7 — avoids Veterans Way, avoids Rio Salado eastbound, and avoids the downtown Tempe grid entirely. That route works whether the game starts at 3 PM or 8 PM, because it doesn't rely on any of the roads that close. Post-game, the same bus exits back down Packard to University, picks the fastest cleared corridor toward I-10 or the 101, and your group is moving while everyone who parked north is still waiting for the third-quarter closures to lift.
The closure plan changes slightly by game and date — review updates from the City of Tempe before your specific game.
Valley Metro Light Rail, Tempe Streetcar, and the Park-and-Ride Option
This is a bus-comparison site, and the honest picture at Mountain America Stadium includes the fact that the Valley Metro light rail is one of the best transit options in college football for getting to a game. The Veterans Way/College Avenue Station (A Line) sits just west of the stadium on Veterans Way — the platform is a short walk to the north-side stadium entrances, the rail bypasses every game-day road closure, and the round-trip fare is a few dollars per person. For solo fans and small groups coming from the same light rail corridor, it's genuinely excellent.
For fans arriving from Phoenix who'd rather park once and ride in, the City of Tempe recommends three park-and-ride lots with direct light rail service to the Veterans Way/College station: Dorsey and Apache, McClintock and Apache, and Price and Apache. The Tempe Streetcar also serves the stadium from the Marina Heights stop on the north side and connects riders to the Dorsey/Apache park-and-ride. For evening games starting at 6 PM or later, the City extends free Orbit service outbound from the Tempe Transportation Center until midnight on Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Venus routes.
For schedules and trip planning, visit Valley Metro's website or call 480-546-5014.
Here's the honest group-size calculation: the light rail is per-person and uncoordinated. A group of 25 fans spread across Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Chandler can't all park at the same lot or board the same train. Half the group is at the platform in Tempe while the other half is still on the 202.
The "everyone meets and goes home together" problem — the core advantage of renting one bus — doesn't get solved by the light rail. For two or three people coming from the same part of the Valley: light rail all the way. For 20 people coming from five different neighborhoods who want to arrive together and leave together: one vehicle, one pickup address, one coordinated exit.
All Your Transportation Options for Mountain America Stadium, Compared
Every group deciding whether to rent a bus wants to know how it actually stacks up against the alternatives. Here's an honest look at how each option performs for a Sun Devils game day specifically:
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Drop-off quality | Beats road closures? | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus / party bus | One flat rate, split by the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival | Best — Packard Drive drop at south side, steps from south gates | Yes — University Dr to Packard avoids all primary closures | 15–56 |
| Valley Metro Light Rail (A Line) | Per-person fare each way | Only if you park at the same lot and board the same train | Good — Veterans Way/College Ave station, short walk to north side | Yes — rail runs through closures | 1–5 from the same area; larger groups fragment |
| Park-and-Ride + Light Rail (Dorsey/Apache, McClintock/Apache, Price/Apache) | Parking at lot + fare per person | Only if everyone meets at the same lot | Good — light rail to Veterans Way/College station | Yes, once on rail; driving to the lot still navigates pre-closure traffic | 1–2 cars worth of people |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Per car each way + post-game surge pricing | No — multiple vehicles, fragmented arrivals | Variable — campus access limited during closure windows | Partial — rideshare navigates closures but can't guarantee campus access | 1–4 per vehicle |
| Everyone drives and parks | $20/car, pre-purchased recommended; $75 for RV/bus lot | No — caravans split across color-coded lots | Varies — Gold/Orange closest to south gates; north lots mean longer walk | No — must navigate all phase-one and phase-two closures from your lot approach | 1–2 cars |
For a couple of friends coming from the same light rail corridor, the A Line is genuinely the best call. There's no reason to rent a bus for two people who live five minutes from a park-and-ride. But once the group grows past a few cars — and especially once people are coming from Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or north Phoenix — the coordination cost of separate vehicles tips hard toward one bus.
A 40-person group paying $20 per car needs at minimum 10 passes and 10 designated drivers. One 35-passenger minibus covers them all at a per-head rate that routinely comes out cheaper than the car math, once you factor in the parking passes, the surge-priced return rides, and the hour of post-game wait while the SR-202 off-ramps are still closed. Call 480-546-5014 to run the numbers for your specific group.
A 56-seat charter bus replaces roughly 14 cars, 14 pre-purchased $20 parking passes, and the designated-driver arithmetic that goes with 14 separate vehicles. The per-head cost of one bus versus one car per 2–4 people typically favors the bus once the group clears eight to ten people — especially on game nights when post-game rideshare surge pricing adds another $20–$40 per vehicle to every ride home.
Mill Avenue Before and After the Game
Mountain America Stadium is a short walk from one of the best game-day corridors at any college stadium in the country. Mill Avenue runs south through Downtown Tempe, packed with bars and restaurants that orient around the Sun Devils' home schedule every fall. The pre-game anchor is Sparky's Touchdown Tailgate on College Avenue — free admission, live entertainment, a beer garden, and appearances by the Spirit Squad and Sparky, starting three hours before kickoff.
It's the open-to-the-public version of the ASU tailgate experience, hosted by the ASU Alumni Association, and it gives groups who arrive early something to do on the campus edge before the gates open.
After the game, Mill Avenue stays active late. Pedal Haus Brewery is the official ASU Game Watch Party headquarters and one of the most packed stops on game nights. University Sports Grill is the strip's most dedicated sports bar.
Varsity Tavern runs an ASU game-day menu and takes 10% off your bill when you show your ticket stub. Fat Tuesday and Zipps Sports Grill round out the options for groups looking for game-day specials across the strip. The district is about 10–15 minutes on foot from the stadium's south side, per Downtown Tempe's game day guide.
A party bus that's already reserved for the night makes the Mill Avenue stop seamless — your group walks down after the game, spends a couple of hours on the strip, and the bus comes to you instead of the reverse. No surge pricing, no wait time, no splitting up to find enough rideshares for the whole group at midnight.
What Size Party Bus or Charter Bus Does Your Group Need for Mountain America Stadium?
Not every fan group is the same size — and the vehicle network Partybusinphoenix.com connects you to through a large network of bus companies serving Phoenix covers everything from a Sprinter van for a suite-level group of 10 to a 56-seat charter bus for a full fan club day trip. Here's how the vehicle lineup breaks down for a Mountain America Stadium run, with the campus-approach context factored in:
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for at Mountain America Stadium | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Suite-level groups, VIP game-day groups, small executive parties | Premium leather, USB charging at every seat, tinted privacy windows, individual climate control |
| 25-passenger party bus / party bus (15–50 passengers) | ~15–50 | Fan groups who want the rolling pre-game experience from pickup to the gate | Full-length bar, color-changing LED lighting, premium Bluetooth sound system, flat-panel TVs, wraparound perimeter seating |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Mid-size groups, tailgate-gear transport, corporate outings, department shuttles | Powerful A/C, reclining seats, overhead storage — tighter turning profile handles the Packard Drive campus-edge drop well |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large fan clubs, corporate groups, season ticket holder groups, out-of-town fan buses | Reclining seats, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, deep undercarriage bays for gear and luggage |
The minibus earns its keep specifically at this venue because campus-edge drop-off rewards tighter geometry. You're not pulling into a sprawling surface lot with 30 lanes — you're navigating to the Packard Drive Structure on a campus that's mid-closure. A 15–35 passenger minibus handles that approach more cleanly than a full-size coach on a night when Packard is the busiest non-closed road on the south side.
For larger groups, the charter bus's undercarriage bays carry tailgate gear, luggage from an out-of-town flight, and gear bags without giving up any passenger seats. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — note your needs when you fill out the quote request form so the right vehicle gets matched to your group from the start.
Mountain America Stadium Party Bus and Charter Bus Rental Prices
Partybusinphoenix.com shows you pricing from a large network of bus companies serving Phoenix in under 30 seconds — no account needed, no callback. Mountain America Stadium bus rental pricing moves with the vehicle type, how many hours the bus is reserved (pre-game staging plus the game plus the post-game window), the date, and your pickup origin in the Phoenix metro. Here are the planning ranges from the Phoenix party bus prices page:
- 14-passenger Sprinter limo: $200–$325/hour on weekdays, $225–$350/hour on weekends, or $1,550–$3,150 per day.
- 15–35 passenger minibus: $200–$250/hour on weekdays, $200–$275/hour on weekends, or $1,100–$2,150 per day.
- 25-passenger party bus: $250–$350/hour on weekdays, $275–$375/hour on weekends, or $1,850–$2,900 per day.
- 30-passenger party bus: $300–$375/hour on weekdays, $325–$425/hour on weekends, or $2,350–$3,050 per day.
- 40–56 passenger charter bus: $200–$350/hour on weekdays, $200–$350/hour on weekends, or $1,350–$2,850 per day.
To give you an idea of how the math plays out: a 30-person fan group books a 30-passenger party bus for a Saturday night Big 12 game. Pickup at 4:00 PM from Scottsdale, at Mountain America Stadium's Packard Drive drop by 5:30 PM — 90 minutes before a 7:00 PM kickoff. The group catches Sparky's Touchdown Tailgate on College Avenue, watches the game, and the bus picks everyone up at 10:30 PM outside the south side.
A 7-hour reservation at that size might run $2,275–$2,975 — roughly $76–$99 per person. Compare that to 8 cars, 8 pre-purchased $20 parking passes, 8 designated drivers, and 8 separate post-game rideshares competing for surge-priced cars at midnight. The per-head math tends to settle the question once the group clears about 10 people.
These are planning ranges to give your budget a starting point — the real number for your group, date, and route takes about 30 seconds to pull. Fill out the quick online form or call 480-546-5014 any time.
Tips for Your Mountain America Stadium Game Day
A few things every group should know before arriving at Mountain America Stadium, straight from the official published policies:
- Pre-purchase parking. General admission lots are $20 per vehicle, but availability on game day is not guaranteed in the structures closest to the south gates. The Novus Structure allows scan-to-pay on arrival via QR code, but late arrivals on high-demand game days may find it full. For the Blackout Game, Homecoming, and Salute to Service Night, pre-purchasing is especially important. Oversized vehicles use the University Center Lot at University and Athletes Way — $75, pre-purchase recommended.
- Follow the clear-bag policy exactly. One clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12" × 6" × 12" per person — or a 1-gallon clear ziplock — plus a small clutch no larger than 4.5" × 6.5". Backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, and mesh bags are all prohibited. There is no bag check at the stadium — prohibited items must go back to your vehicle or be thrown away at the gate. One factory-sealed water bottle up to 20 oz per person is permitted. Review the full details on the ASU Game Day Guide before your visit.
- No re-entry. Once your ticket is scanned, you cannot re-enter the stadium after exiting. Set your post-game pickup location and window with your group before anyone walks through the gate.
- Plan for the Arizona heat. September and October games in Tempe regularly push 90°F or higher at kickoff — the stadium is open-air. Light clothing, sunscreen, and a sealed water bottle should be in your plan, not an afterthought.
- Know which roads are still open. If your group is coming from central Phoenix or the west side, I-10 East to University Drive (Exit 52) stays open when Veterans Way and Rio Salado are both closed. That's the approach route to use regardless of when you leave.
- Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. For tailgate-focused groups, the lots open 5.5 hours before kickoff — plenty of window to set up in the color-coded lots on the south side, close to the Gold and Orange Lots via Packard Drive.
ASU Sun Devils 2026 Home Schedule at Mountain America Stadium
The Sun Devils play six home games in 2026, all at Mountain America Stadium. The full schedule is on the official ASU Athletics schedule page:
- September 5 — vs. Morgan State (7:00 PM, ESPN+): The 2026 season opener. A 7 PM kickoff puts the 5.5-hour Veterans Way closure around 1:30 PM — smack in the middle of the Thursday-into-weekend afternoon commute from Phoenix. Night games at Mountain America Stadium are the most common trigger for groups switching from cars to a bus; this one's a useful data point for planning your September trip.
- October 3 — vs. Baylor (Time TBA): Big 12 conference game. Maroon Monsoon theme — expect a strong crowd and tighter parking availability than the non-conference opener.
- October 10 — vs. Hawaii (Time TBA): Hall of Fame Game. Hawaii makes for a celebratory atmosphere; groups flying in from out of state sometimes combine the Phoenix trip with a stadium visit.
- October 24 — vs. Kansas State (Time TBA): Blackout Game — one of the highest-demand home games of the year. The all-black crowd theme draws a packed house and one of the season's loudest atmospheres. Parking sells out early for this one; bus bookings through the Phoenix network also go quickly. Book well in advance.
- November 7 — vs. Colorado (Time TBA): Salute to Service Night. Colorado visits Tempe at a point in the Big 12 season when standings are usually in play — likely a strong attendance game.
- November 21 — vs. Oklahoma State (Time TBA): Homecoming and Senior Night — traditionally the loudest game of the year at Mountain America Stadium, with the highest parking demand on the home schedule. If you're planning a group trip for any single home game in 2026, this and the Blackout Game are the two dates to lock in earliest.
For the Blackout Game (Oct. 24), Homecoming (Nov. 21), and the season opener night game (Sept. 5), vehicle availability through the Phoenix network fills faster than parking does. If your group has a date confirmed, the practical move is to get a quote now rather than wait until August. Call 480-546-5014 to check what's available for your specific game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Mountain America Stadium?
The official published fan drop-off point is near the South Packard Drive Structure (Structure 7), per the ASU Game Day Guide — the same location that provides cart service to the stadium's south entrances for guests with mobility needs. The reliable game-day approach is via University Drive (I-10 East, Exit 52) west to Packard Drive, then north to Structure 7. This route avoids Veterans Way (closed 5.5 hours before kickoff) and Rio Salado Parkway eastbound (closed 2 hours before kickoff).
Post-game pickup stages on Packard Drive or a pre-arranged block near the south side. Set the exact pickup window and point with your group before anyone walks through the stadium gate — no re-entry is permitted once you're inside.
Where do charter buses park at Mountain America Stadium?
RV and oversized vehicle parking — including charter buses — is available at the University Center Parking Lot at University and Athletes Way for $75 per vehicle, per the official Mountain America Stadium page. This is the confirmed on-campus oversized-vehicle lot. Pre-purchasing is recommended.
If your trip is a drop-and-return arrangement rather than on-campus staging, coordinate the post-game return window before booking so your group has a clear pickup point when they exit.
How much does it cost to rent a party bus or charter bus to Mountain America Stadium?
Pricing moves with the vehicle size, how many hours the bus is reserved, the game date, and your pickup origin in the Phoenix metro. A 30-passenger party bus for a Saturday night game typically runs $325–$425/hour. A 40–56 passenger charter bus for the same game runs $200–$350/hour.
The exact quote for your group, date, and route takes about 30 seconds to pull — call 480-546-5014 or fill out the quick online form. The on-campus oversized parking ($75) is a separate pre-purchased cost if you want the bus staged on campus during the game.
Which roads close around Mountain America Stadium on game day?
Veterans Way closes in both directions (Sixth Street to College Avenue) 5.5 hours before kickoff — the earliest and most impactful closure. College Avenue (Sixth to Seventh Streets) closes at the same time. Two hours before kickoff, Fifth and Sixth Streets (Forest to College) and Rio Salado Parkway eastbound (Ash to Mill) close.
From the third quarter through one hour post-game, westbound Rio Salado at McClintock, Scottsdale Road/Rural Road southbound, and SR-202 off-ramps onto Scottsdale Road restrict or close. A bus coming from the south via University Drive to Packard Drive avoids all of the primary closures. For game-specific updates, check the City of Tempe's transportation page and the Signals AZ game day guide before your visit.
Is the Valley Metro light rail a good option for groups going to a Sun Devils game?
For small groups of two to five people coming from the same part of the Valley, yes — the Veterans Way/College Avenue Station is a short walk to the north side of the stadium, the rail bypasses every road closure, and the fare is a few dollars round trip per person. For groups of 15 or more arriving from different Phoenix-area neighborhoods, the coordination challenge tips toward a private bus: everyone meets at one pickup address, rides together, arrives together, and leaves together — no one waiting at the platform while half the group is still on the 101. The two options serve different group sizes well.
What is the bag policy at Mountain America Stadium?
One clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12" × 6" × 12" per person (or a 1-gallon clear ziplock), plus a small clutch no larger than 4.5" × 6.5". Backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, and mesh bags are prohibited. There is no bag check — prohibited items must go back to your vehicle or be discarded at the gate.
One factory-sealed water bottle up to 20 oz per person is permitted; other outside food and drinks are not. Confirm current details on the ASU Game Day Guide before your visit.
Can the bus wait at Mountain America Stadium during the game?
Yes — if you pre-purchase the oversized vehicle spot at the University Center Lot (University and Athletes Way, $75), the bus can stay on campus through the game and be staged close to the stadium for the post-game exit. The other common arrangement is a drop-and-return: the bus drops your group at Packard Drive, and a post-game pickup window and location are confirmed before anyone enters the stadium. Either works — the drop-and-return is the more common setup, since the $75 on-campus spot isn't always necessary for shorter game-day reservations.
How far in advance should we book a bus for an ASU Sun Devils game?
For the Blackout Game (October 24 vs. Kansas State), Homecoming (November 21 vs. Oklahoma State), and the September 5 season-opener night game — book as soon as the date is on your calendar. Those three games generate the most group transportation requests in the Phoenix network and pull the highest demand from the vehicle supply. For the Baylor, Hawaii, and Colorado home games, two to four weeks of lead time is usually workable — but the earlier you call, the better your selection.
Call 480-546-5014 any time to check availability.
How do we get from Phoenix to Mountain America Stadium?
The most direct route from central Phoenix is I-10 East to Loop 202 East, exiting onto University Drive. From Scottsdale: Loop 101 South to Scottsdale Road south, or US-60 West. From the East Valley: US-60 West to Loop 101 North.
Off-peak, the Phoenix-to-stadium run is about 10 miles and 20 minutes. On a game night with Veterans Way already closed and Rio Salado restricted, add 20–30 minutes and plan for University Drive as the entry route — not Rio Salado. On a bus, the extra time belongs to the pre-game, not the commute.
Book Your Mountain America Stadium Bus Today
Mountain America Stadium is a campus venue inside a city — surrounded by streets on timers, parking that fills fast for the games that sell well, and a post-game exit that releases 53,000 people onto the same handful of unblocked roads all at once. A charter bus or party bus to Mountain America Stadium is the one option that drops your group at the published south-side campus drop-off, stages nearby or returns on a pre-set window, and exits via the one approach route that stays open regardless of kickoff time. Partybusinphoenix.com connects you to pricing from a large network of bus companies serving Phoenix in under 30 seconds — check out the full vehicle lineup at the bus selection page or call 480-546-5014 any time to compare options for your group size and game date. No account needed, no commitment — just the quote that tells you whether the bus makes sense for your group.
Also planning a Cardinals game across town? The State Farm Stadium transportation guide covers group drop-off and parking at the home of Arizona's NFL team. For Diamondbacks games at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, that guide covers the ballpark approach the same way.
Same network, same quick quote, same call.


