Rent a Bus to S.B. Ballard Stadium: The ODU Football Group Drop-Off & Tailgate Guide

ODU Monarchs fans know what game day on Hampton Boulevard actually looks like: the arterial backs up well before kickoff, the free Chartway Arena garages fill faster than the parking signs suggest, and anyone coming in from Virginia Beach on I-264 is sitting through the Downtown Tunnel bottleneck whether they arrive at 3 PM or 6 PM. The single question that decides whether your group walks through the gate relaxed or frazzled is simple: where does the bus drop us off, and how does the whole thing actually work?

This guide answers it plainly — using ODU Athletics' own published parking and tailgating information and the current 2025 stadium rules — then walks through everything else a group trip to Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium needs: the Kaufman Mall tailgate scene, which vehicle fits your headcount, and which home games fill vehicle availability fastest. We make these Hampton Roads game-day trips regularly, so the specifics below come from doing it, not from a brochure.

Why a Virginia Beach Charter Bus Rental Makes Sense for ODU Games

The case for renting a bus to S.B. Ballard Stadium from Virginia Beach isn't complicated. The campus sits on Hampton Boulevard — a two-lane arterial that funnels nearly all game-day traffic through the same intersections at 43rd, 45th, 47th, and 49th Streets. The reserved tailgate surface lots require an Old Dominion Athletic Foundation membership and a pre-issued hang tag; general fans park free in the Chartway Arena garages, which are a 10- to 15-minute walk from the stadium and fill on any significant home game.

Rideshares handle the inbound leg tolerably — until the final whistle blows and 21,000-plus fans open the same app simultaneously. Surge pricing kicks in, wait times stretch, and your group ends up scattered across three different pickup pins on Hampton Boulevard in the dark.

A Virginia Beach party bus rental solves every layer of that problem at once. Your whole crew boards at one location, crosses the Downtown Tunnel once, drops curbside at the stadium, and walks onto Kaufman Mall as a unit. The gear rides in the undercarriage bays.

Nobody draws the short straw as the designated driver. The return trip is planned ahead of time — the bus is right there when you walk out, while everyone else is calling rideshares. Call 571-662-5565 to get your date locked in.

About Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium

The stadium opened in its current form in August 2019 after a $67.5 million ground-up reconstruction — the original Foreman Field grandstands were demolished in November 2018, and the entire venue was rebuilt in nine months by its namesake contractor. Current capacity is 21,944, with a structural design that accommodates expansion to 30,000. Populous architects built in 228,813 square feet of facility space including 20,000 square feet of social gathering areas, premium suites, the Priority Automotive Club, and a dedicated student entry on the east side.

The playing surface carries the Kornblau name following a $3 million donation from alumnus Barry Kornblau in January 2019.

For a group coming from Virginia Beach, the approach landmarks that matter are the Hampton Boulevard main entrance and the 49th Street and Bluestone Avenue intersection for the stadium garage. The Red Garage (49th Street and Bluestone Avenue) handles ADA parking on its first level; the Yellow Garage is for ODAF members who prefer not to tailgate in the surface lots. General public parking is in the Chartway Arena garages accessed via 43rd and 45th Streets — free to all game-day attendees, and where the bus waits between drop-off and pickup.

Charter Bus Drop-Off at S.B. Ballard Stadium

Here is the part most rental pages skip or get vague about. S.B. Ballard Stadium sits on an active university campus, not in a purpose-built stadium district with dedicated commercial bus lanes. The logistics for an oversized vehicle differ from a 65,000-seat NFL venue, and knowing them before your trip is what keeps your group together instead of waiting at a closed gate.

The most practical drop-off for a charter bus is curbside on Hampton Boulevard near the 49th Street intersection — that puts your group at the stadium entrance and steps from Kaufman Mall simultaneously. The key detail: per ODU's Transportation & Parking Services, oversized vehicles that need more than one standard parking space must contact TPS in advance to confirm the current approach and any permit requirements for that specific game date. That's exactly what we take care of when you book with us.

When you call 571-662-5565, we confirm the drop-off routing for your date so your group never arrives to find out the approach changed.

Between drop-off and pickup, the bus waits in the free public garages at 43rd or 45th Street near Chartway Arena — those are ODU's designated free game-day public parking areas for general attendees. Enforcement of parking restrictions begins at 5:00 AM on game days (sometimes the evening before for large events), and illegally parked vehicles face a $100 citation and tow. Having a parking plan confirmed before your trip date avoids that entirely.

ODU Game-Day Parking: What First-Timers Don't Realize

The detail that catches most groups off-guard: the surface tailgate lots around S.B. Ballard Stadium are not open general parking. Per ODU Athletics' parking and tailgating page, only current ODAF members with a valid hang tag are permitted in those lots — passes are allocated by donation tier and issued in advance through a request process with a May 1 deadline. There is no walk-up surface-lot tailgate pass available at the gate on game day.

Here is how the full parking picture breaks down:

• Free public parking (general attendees): The Constant Center 43rd Street Parking Garage and Constant Center 45th Street Parking Garage near Chartway Arena are free to all game-day fans. The 43rd and Bluestone Garage serves as overflow when those fill. On sold-out Saturdays, these fill early.
• Yellow Garage: Open to current ODAF members who prefer a garage over a tailgate surface lot.
• Red Garage (49th Street and Bluestone Avenue): Reserved exclusively for Cox Business Loge Lounge, Priority Automotive Club, and Luxury Suite season ticket holders. ADA parking on Level 1 is accessed from Bluestone Avenue via Bolling Avenue off Hampton Boulevard.
• Tailgate surface lots: Allocated to ODAF members who are also season ticket holders, via the pre-season request process. Multiple lots serve different sections; assignments are made by donation level and priority points. Tailgating opens four hours before kickoff and must wrap within two hours after the game.
• RV lot (White Lot near Sailing Center): RVs check in five hours before kickoff. Confirm current-season location with ODU before your game date.

The walk from the Chartway Arena garages to the stadium runs 10 to 15 minutes depending on which deck you're parked on. That is manageable on the way in and considerably less pleasant after a cold November night game when 21,000 fans are all heading toward the same exit. A Virginia Beach charter bus rental takes care of both legs without the garage trek.

We highly recommend checking ODU's official parking and tailgating page before your game date for any season-specific updates to lot assignments.

The Kaufman Mall Tailgate: ODU's Pregame Hub

Kaufman Mall is the four-acre green space running from Hampton Boulevard back toward Webb Student Center, spanning 47th to 49th Streets. For football Saturdays, it is the pregame center of gravity — and since ODU's 2025 fan experience enhancements, it has become one of the better midsize college tailgate setups in the Sun Belt Conference. Food trucks, a beer garden, a kids’ play area, live entertainment, and the Monarch Marching Band performing one hour before kickoff are all on the mall.

The signature moment is the Monarch March — head coach Ricky Rahne leading the team from Webb Student Center through the crowd to the stadium roughly 75 minutes before kickoff. For a group coming in by bus from Virginia Beach, this is the sequence that makes arriving early worthwhile: drop on Hampton Boulevard, walk to your spot on the mall, and catch the Monarch March before the gates open at the 90-minute mark.

Kaufman Mall Full-Service Tailgate Packages

If your group wants to skip the setup logistics entirely, ODU Athletics offers full-service tailgate packages on Kaufman Mall through the events team. No setup, no teardown — arrive to a tent with tables, chairs, and signage already in place. Per ODU's Kaufman tailgate packages page, current tiers are:

A $200 non-refundable deposit holds the space; final payment is due 15 days before game day. Aramark handles food and beverage on-site, or bring your own. Contact ODU at (757) 683-3360 to reserve your tent.

For a group coming in by charter bus from Virginia Beach with a Kaufman package already reserved, the logistics become almost simple: drop curbside on Hampton Boulevard, walk two minutes to the tent, and the rest of the pregame is sorted. We time your pickup around your Kaufman reservation window when you book with us.

Tailgating Rules at ODU: The Full Picture

Whether your group is in a reserved ODAF surface lot or on Kaufman Mall, the tailgating rules apply everywhere. Per ODU Athletics' published guidelines:

• Tailgating opens 4 hours before kickoff. Fans must vacate lots within two hours after the game ends.
• Surface lots require ODAF vehicle pass. General fans use Kaufman Mall or the public garages — no surface-lot tailgating without a valid ODAF hang tag.
• Grills permitted in surface lots only (not public garages), elevated at least one foot above the parking surface. Gas grills limited to 10-gallon propane tanks per vehicle. Hot coals go in marked fire-retardant receptacles, not dumped on the asphalt.
• Glass containers, kegs, and party balls are prohibited anywhere in the tailgating area. Drinking games and mass-consumption apparatus are banned. Virginia state alcohol law is enforced; no serving anyone under 21.
• No gas generators, no staked tents in parking lots, no household furniture (sofas, recliners), no bicycles or scooters.
• No commercial activation unless you are an official ODU Athletics corporate partner. No unauthorized vending or ticket resale.
• Animals not permitted except certified service animals.

For groups arriving by charter bus: any gear — folding chairs, a cooler, a portable speaker — rides in the undercarriage bays and comes off curbside on Hampton Boulevard. That is a cleaner load-in than hauling equipment out of a trunk in a tight surface lot. The bus drops the gear, the group grabs it, and you walk to the mall without the parking-space math.

Getting Into the Stadium: Gates, Bags & the Re-Entry Rule

Per ODU's official stadium guidelines, gate opening times are tiered:

• South Gate opens 2 hours before kickoff for Suite and Loge Level holders
• Priority Automotive Club entrance begins 90 minutes before game time
• All other gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff

Stadium re-entry is not permitted. Once your group exits, you cannot come back in. That means anything you want to retrieve from the bus mid-game stays on the bus — plan the clear-bag-policy inventory before you walk to the gates, not after.

The clear-bag policy is in full effect. All bags are inspected at entry. One clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag per person, plus a small clutch or wristlet.

Backpacks, opaque bags, glass bottles, coolers, aluminum cans, and outside food and beverages are prohibited inside the stadium. Cashless payment only at concessions inside. Noise makers like thunder sticks and fan clappers are permitted; cowbells, horns, drums, and whistles are not.

Every Way to Get to ODU Football: An Honest Comparison

Hampton Roads has real transit options, and some of them work well for smaller groups. We will be straight with you: a charter bus is not automatically the right call for every group heading to Kornblau Field. Here is the honest picture for each option:

The honest verdict: for one or two people heading solo, The Tide or a single rideshare is perfectly reasonable — no argument there. But once your group hits ten or fifteen people, the math on separate cars breaks down fast. The Chartway Arena garages are free but fill; the surface lots require passes you probably don’t have; rideshare surge pricing post-game can double what you paid on the way in.

A bus rental in Virginia Beach solves all three problems with one booking. Your group boards together, arrives together, and walks out to a waiting bus instead of standing on Hampton Boulevard refreshing a rideshare app after the Monarchs win.

What Size Bus Does Your Group Need?

Not every group heading to Kornblau Field is the same size or after the same experience. Here is how the fleet breaks down for a Virginia Beach to Norfolk game-day run:

For groups wanting the energy to build on the road, our 15- to 50-passenger party buses come with a built-in bar, color-changing LED lighting, and a premium sound system to carry the pregame atmosphere from the Oceanfront to the Hampton Boulevard curb. For larger alumni groups or booster clubs running from across the region, a full-size charter bus keeps everyone in one vehicle with undercarriage storage for gear and a restroom onboard for the I-264 run. We offer a massive variety of vehicles, meaning you never have to pay for seats you do not actually need.

ADA-accessible vehicles are always available — just let us know before your game date.

Bus Rental Prices for a Virginia Beach to ODU Run

Party Bus Virginia Beach offers all-inclusive pricing online in under 30 seconds — you will know the exact price before you ever book. The quote is shaped by a handful of clear factors:

• Vehicle size — a 56-passenger charter bus and a 14-passenger Sprinter limo are different rates.
• Total hours — how long the vehicle is dedicated to your group, including Kaufman Mall tailgate time and the post-game pickup window.
• Game date — a September home opener against a major opponent prices differently than a mid-November finale.
• Pickup location — a Virginia Beach Oceanfront pickup runs a different mileage than a Chesapeake or Suffolk origin.

For real ranges to anchor your estimate: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour. Pricing depends on mileage, time of year, and vehicle type — but you will never be surprised by hidden costs.

The per-person math is where a bus rental makes itself obvious. A 40-person group on a 5-hour charter bus at the standard rate splits down to roughly $50–$65 per head — less than two rideshares each way once post-game surge pricing kicks in, with none of the parking scramble or designated-driver negotiation. Call 571-662-5565 any time for a free, all-inclusive quote at no obligation.

A Real Game-Day Run from Virginia Beach

Last October, a 35-person alumni group booked a 40-passenger minibus for a Friday night Monarchs home game. Pickup at 5:30 PM from a hotel near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, curbside on Hampton Boulevard by 6:45 PM — 90 minutes before the 8:00 PM kickoff. The group walked directly to a reserved Kaufman Mall Starter package tent, caught the Monarch March at 7:15, and were through the gates at the 90-minute bell.

Post-game pickup was on Hampton Boulevard at 11:15 PM. The 5.5-hour all-inclusive rental came to $1,850 — about $53 per person, with the I-264 tunnel crossing, the routing, and the post-game wait all folded into one number.

Getting There: Drive Times from Virginia Beach & Chesapeake

The Virginia Beach to S.B. Ballard Stadium run is a straight shot west on I-264 — through the Downtown Tunnel and north on Hampton Boulevard. Here are approximate distances and drive times from common pickup points before game-day traffic:

Those times are off-peak. On a Saturday home game, the I-264 corridor west of Military Highway typically starts slowing two to three hours before kickoff, and Hampton Boulevard itself backs up from 43rd Street north once the Chartway Arena garages hit capacity. Thursday night games are the specific situation to plan around: a 7:00 or 8:00 PM kickoff puts your departure squarely inside Hampton Roads evening commuter traffic, and the drive from the Oceanfront can stretch past 50 minutes on a bad evening.

Build in 90 minutes from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront for any Saturday home game where you want to arrive in time for the Monarch March — two hours if you have a Kaufman Mall tent package.

The 2025 ODU Home Schedule: Which Games to Book First

The ODU Monarchs' 2025 home schedule at S.B. Ballard Stadium runs six games. Per ODU Athletics' official schedule announcement, the home slate includes:

• September 6 — North Carolina Central (home opener)
• September 27 — Liberty
• October 4 — Coastal Carolina
• November 29 — Georgia State (regular season finale; confirm full schedule at the ODU athletics site)

Three booking-urgency notes that matter for Hampton Roads groups. The home opener on September 6 against North Carolina Central draws the strongest early-season interest from Virginia Beach groups and alumni — bus availability across the region tightens before that game because it competes with every other early-fall event on the Hampton Roads calendar. The Liberty game on September 27 has historically drawn strong rival engagement from both fan bases and tends to go fast for group bookings.

The Thanksgiving-weekend Georgia State finale on November 29 is a natural group outing — long weekend, football, and a 45-minute bus ride from the Oceanfront. All three dates are worth booking as soon as your headcount is confirmed. Call 571-662-5565 to lock in your date before vehicles go.

Leaving S.B. Ballard Stadium After the Game

Getting out of Ballard is cleaner than a 65,000-seat NFL venue, but the post-game Hampton Boulevard pattern still catches unprepared groups. When 21,000-plus fans head for the exits at once, the gates onto Hampton Boulevard back up, rideshare surge pricing spikes in the Norfolk area, and anyone waiting for a car at the curb is standing in the same crowd as everyone else. The Chartway Arena garages empty slowly on big games, and the walk from those decks back to your car is the same 10 to 15 minutes in reverse, in the dark and the cold on a November night.

With a bus, that post-game scramble is taken care of before you ever walk into the stadium. Set a pickup window with our team when you book — say, curbside on Hampton Boulevard at 30 minutes after the final whistle — and the bus is right there when your group walks out. No surge-price negotiation, no regrouping text chains, no hunting for a parking deck exit in the dark.

Your group gathers at the agreed spot, boards, and recaps the game on the ride back to Virginia Beach through the I-264 tunnel. That is where a bus rental earns its keep most: not on the way there, but on the way home.

Groups That Book This Run Regularly

Different groups, same destination. A few of the ODU game-day runs we do most often from Virginia Beach and Chesapeake:

• Alumni groups and booster clubs. Organized chapter outings where the headcount is set and a Kaufman Mall package is reserved in advance. The bus handles logistics while the group focuses on the reunion.
• Corporate tailgates. Companies entertaining clients or rewarding employees with a Monarchs game and a full Kaufman package. A minibus keeps the group together from a Virginia Beach or downtown Norfolk hotel to the stadium entrance.
• Large friend groups and birthday tailgates. A milestone birthday that lands on a home game Saturday. The party bus from the Oceanfront carries the pregame energy all the way to Hampton Boulevard.
• Hampton Roads rivalry games. Games that draw a divided crowd from across the region — groups coming from the Virginia Beach side avoid the campus parking scramble when the stadium is at full capacity.
• Thursday night games. Out-of-town groups staying at a hotel who don’t want to navigate Norfolk streets after a night game. One bus handles pickup, the stadium, and the return without the I-264 commute stress.

Booking Your Bus to S.B. Ballard Stadium

Booking is straightforward. Have your game date, approximate headcount, and pickup location ready and we build your quote in under 30 seconds. A few things to sort out before game day:

1. Pick your home game date and confirm the kickoff time at the ODU athletics site — ODU announces some kickoff times closer to the season.
2. Confirm your Kaufman Mall tailgate plan if you have a package reserved, so we can time the drop-off around your tent window.
3. Set your post-game pickup window. Agree on a pickup time and Hampton Boulevard spot before you head into the stadium so the bus is right there when you walk out.

For the home opener, the Liberty game, and the Thanksgiving-weekend finale, lock in your date as soon as your headcount is confirmed — those games drive the highest Hampton Roads demand and vehicle availability goes fast. For most regular-season home dates, two to four weeks of lead time is workable, but earlier means better options. Call 571-662-5565 any time for a free, all-inclusive price quote — or use our online tool for instant availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does a charter bus drop off at S.B. Ballard Stadium?

The most practical drop point is curbside on Hampton Boulevard near the 49th Street stadium entrance, which puts your group at the gate and steps from Kaufman Mall simultaneously. ODU requires oversized vehicles to confirm the approach with Transportation & Parking Services in advance — (757) 683-4004 or parking@odu.edu. When you book with us, we take care of that before your trip so there is no guessing on game day.

Is parking free at ODU football games?

General attendee parking is free in the Chartway Arena garages at 43rd and 45th Streets near Chartway Arena, and in the 43rd and Bluestone Garage as overflow when those fill. Campus-wide enforcement begins at 5:00 AM on game days — vehicles parked in restricted lots face a $100 citation and tow. Reserved tailgate surface lots and garage levels require an ODAF membership vehicle pass issued in advance.

How far is S.B. Ballard Stadium from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront?

About 21 miles via I-264 West — roughly 28 to 35 minutes off-peak. On a Saturday home game with full campus enforcement, budget 45 to 60 minutes from the Oceanfront. Thursday night games during the evening commute can push that further toward 50 minutes or more.

When does tailgating open at S.B. Ballard Stadium?

Tailgating opens four hours before kickoff. Kaufman Mall fan festivities — food trucks, beer garden, live entertainment, games — launch around that same window. The Monarch March takes place roughly 75 minutes before kickoff; general gates open at 90 minutes before kickoff.

Can a group arriving by bus get a Kaufman Mall tailgate package?

Yes. ODU Athletics offers full-service Kaufman Mall packages starting at $800 per game for up to 15 guests (Starter) through $9,250 for groups of 500 (Heisman). Contact (757) 683-3360 or visit the ODU Athletics site.

A $200 deposit holds the space. A charter bus from Virginia Beach drops your group on Hampton Boulevard with no parking scramble, putting everyone at the mall before the tent is even finished being set up.

What is the clear-bag policy at S.B. Ballard Stadium?

All bags are inspected at entry. Each fan may bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag plus one small clutch or wristlet. Backpacks, opaque bags, glass bottles, coolers, cans, and outside food and beverages are prohibited.

Stadium re-entry is not permitted once you exit — leave anything that doesn’t meet the bag policy in the bus before walking to the gates.

How much does it cost to rent a bus from Virginia Beach to ODU?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours including tailgate time and post-game wait, the game date, and your pickup location. General ranges: party buses run $204–$490/hour depending on size; charter buses run $150–$300/hour; Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour. Call 571-662-5565 for a free all-inclusive quote in under 30 seconds with no hidden costs.

When should I book for an ODU home game?

For the home opener (September 6), the Liberty rival game (September 27), and the Thanksgiving-weekend finale (November 29) — book as soon as your headcount is confirmed. Those games drive the highest Hampton Roads vehicle demand. For mid-season home dates, two to four weeks of lead time is workable — but earlier means better vehicle selection.

Call 571-662-5565 to lock in your date.

Do you have ADA-accessible vehicles?

Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles are always available. Let us know your group’s needs before your game date and we will arrange the right vehicle.

Book Your Virginia Beach Party Bus to S.B. Ballard Stadium

The Kaufman Mall is waiting, the Monarch March is worth catching, and the 2025 ODU home schedule gives you six strong reasons to make the trip from Virginia Beach to Norfolk. Your group skips the Hampton Boulevard parking hunt, crosses the Downtown Tunnel once, and walks off the bus steps from the stadium entrance together. Party Bus Virginia Beach has access to a wide fleet of party buses, charter buses, minibuses, and Sprinter limos across Hampton Roads — sized from a small alumni crew to a full booster club. Give us a call any time at 571-662-5565 for a free, all-inclusive price quote — or use our online tool for instant availability.

Let’s get your group to Norfolk.

Sources & Last Verified

Stadium, parking, tailgating, and schedule details verified against ODU's official publications in June 2026. Pricing, lot assignments, Kaufman package tiers, and kickoff times can shift by season — confirm event-specific details against the official pages below before your game date.

• Old Dominion Athletics — Parking & Tailgating
• Old Dominion Athletics — Stadium Guidelines
• Old Dominion Athletics — Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium
• Old Dominion Athletics — Kaufman Football Tailgate Packages
• Old Dominion Athletics — Football Fan Information
• Old Dominion Athletics — 2025 Football Schedule Announcement
• Old Dominion Athletics — 2025 Tailgating Enhancements
• ODU Transportation & Parking Services — Event Parking
• Old Dominion Athletic Foundation — Game Day Parking
• Hampton Roads Transit