Rent a Bus to McCarthey Athletic Center: Gonzaga Bulldogs Game-Day Guide

Every home game at McCarthey Athletic Center sells out. Every single one — a streak that began on opening night in November 2004 and has eclipsed 300 consecutive sellouts, the longest active run in college basketball. That means 6,000 fans descend on a campus neighborhood in Spokane's University District for every tip-off, all chasing the same narrow corridor of parking on N. Cincinnati Street and the streets around Gonzaga's campus.

If your group is driving separately, one car will circle while another grabs the last open spot on Boone Avenue. The carpool texts start. Someone is always late.

The Kennel is already roaring when you finally sit down.

There is a cleaner way. When you rent a bus to McCarthey Athletic Center, the whole group rides together, the route is taken care of, and your crew steps off near the arena entrance while everyone else is still hunting for a parking space. This guide walks through the part most articles skip: exactly how a bus drops off and parks at the venue, why the neighborhood fills up faster than most fans expect, which vehicle fits your crew size, what it costs, and how groups coming in from Coeur d'Alene, Pullman, or the Spokane hotel corridor should plan the trip.

The advice below is built for the person responsible for getting everyone there together and on time — the group organizer who knows that 6,000 seats and zero available parking is a recipe for a stressful arrival.

Why the Kennel Is a Parking Problem

McCarthey Athletic Center sits in the middle of Gonzaga's compact campus in the University District, about two miles northeast of downtown Spokane off I-90. The arena is beautiful, the atmosphere is legitimately one of the best in college basketball, and the venue itself is straightforward to navigate. The parking situation is a different story.

Because the Kennel sells out for every home game — and has for over 20 years — 6,000 fans are competing for a finite pool of campus lots and neighborhood street parking every single game night. Gonzaga's campus lots are largely permit-only for students and staff, which pushes the overflow into the surrounding residential streets of the University District. The BARC (Boone Avenue Retail Center) garage on E. Boone Avenue offers covered parking on levels 2 through 4 for visitors, but it fills quickly for marquee matchups against rivals like Saint Mary's, BYU, or any nationally televised game.

Street parking on the blocks surrounding N. Cincinnati and E. Boone fills within the first 30–45 minutes of lot openings on high-demand game nights.

For a group of 15, 20, or 40 people coming in from multiple starting points, coordinating separate cars into that environment means someone is parking six blocks away and sprinting to the arena. A Spokane party bus rental handles the whole problem at once: one vehicle, one drop-off near the Cincinnati Street entrance, and zero parking stress. Your group walks in together.

Bus Drop-Off and Parking at McCarthey Athletic Center

Here is the part most rental pages gloss over, so let's be specific about it.

McCarthey Athletic Center sits on N. Cincinnati Street, with the main entrance and arena approach running along the east side of that road. A charter bus or minibus drops your group curbside on N. Cincinnati Street at the arena entrance, which puts everyone steps from the doors rather than a six-block walk from a neighborhood side street. The approach to the arena from the south runs up N. Cincinnati from E. Boone Avenue; from the north, you come in from E. Desmet Avenue.

Your group exits the bus and heads straight into the arena — no lot navigation, no tram, no connecting shuttle.

For buses that are staying on-site during the game, Gonzaga's campus lots adjacent to the arena accommodate oversized vehicles on a first-come basis. Campus lots along E. Boone Avenue and the lots surrounding the arena give buses a place to wait during the event. Because the Gonzaga campus is relatively compact and the arena is surrounded by university property rather than a commercial parking complex, it helps to confirm the current game-night setup with us when you book — Gonzaga's event services team handles large-vehicle logistics for special events, and their main contact is available at (509) 313-6000.

We always recommend reviewing Gonzaga's official parking and directions page before your visit to confirm any changes to lot access or temporary closures on game night.

The BARC Garage and Neighborhood Overflow

For context on what the bus sidesteps entirely: the BARC (Boone Avenue Retail Center) Garage is the primary covered parking option for visitors, accessible from E. Boone Avenue on the north side and E. Desmet Avenue on the south side, with visitor parking on levels 2 through 4. It fills for sellout games. Beyond the BARC, fans park in surface lots on the perimeter of campus and along the residential streets of the University District — a fine option for someone who arrives 90 minutes early, not so easy for a group of 25 trying to coordinate multiple cars arriving at different times.

One bus skips all of it.

Getting to McCarthey Athletic Center: Routes and Timing

McCarthey Athletic Center's location in Spokane's University District makes it easy to reach from most of the city, but game nights compress arrival windows and street parking fills fast on the blocks closest to campus. The arena sits about two miles northeast of downtown Spokane — a quick, direct shot up Hamilton Street or Division Street from the I-90 corridor.

Those drive times are for normal conditions. On game nights — especially for nationally televised matchups against Saint Mary's, BYU, or early-season ranked matchups — the neighborhood streets around Gonzaga fill quickly and arrival windows tighten. For groups coming in from Coeur d'Alene or Pullman, factor in the full drive plus 15–20 minutes of game-night traffic on the final approach into the University District.

Building in a 30-minute buffer is standard practice for anyone who has navigated the Kennel on a big game night.

The standard approach from I-90: take the Hamilton Street exit northbound (Exit 281), north on Hamilton Street to E. Boone Avenue, then left on Boone toward N. Cincinnati Street and the arena. That is the route your bus follows — simple, direct, and well clear of the downtown streets that back up on event nights.

Which Bus Fits Your Group?

The right vehicle for a Gonzaga game depends on two things: your headcount and whether you are hauling any gear. A typical fan group — 15 to 35 people coming in from downtown hotels or Coeur d'Alene — fits comfortably on a minibus. Larger alumni groups, church groups, or fan buses organized around a road trip from the Pullman corridor call for a full-size charter bus.

Here is how the fleet breaks down for a McCarthey Athletic Center run.

For groups driving in from Coeur d'Alene — about 33 miles and 40–50 minutes down I-90 — a 40-passenger charter bus with reclining seats, WiFi, and an onboard restroom is the right pick. Nobody has to make a pit stop on US-95, and everyone arrives together. For a Spokane-based group doing a quick hotel-to-arena run from the Davenport corridor, a 20- to 25-passenger minibus handles the two-mile hop cleanly without overpaying for a full-size coach.

ADA-accessible vehicles are always available — just let us know before your trip so the right vehicle is confirmed.

Getting to the Kennel: Every Option Compared

Gonzaga's University District location gives fans more options than many arenas — the STA City Line, rideshare, and walking from downtown hotels are all real possibilities for some groups. Here is the honest breakdown for a group of more than a few people.

The STA City Line (Route 1) is Spokane's zero-emission bus rapid transit, running from Browne's Addition through downtown and the University District with a stop at Cincinnati and DeSmet on campus — a legitimate option for individuals and couples. It runs every 7.5 minutes at peak times and costs about $2 each way. For a group of 15 or 20 people trying to stay together, though, the STA drops you at a stop and you reassemble on foot.

A charter bus drops your group at the arena entrance as a unit. That difference is the whole point. For real up-to-date schedules and fare information, check the Spokane Transit Authority website before your trip.

The honest read: for one or two people attending a game solo, the City Line or rideshare makes total sense. The moment your group passes four or five people, the coordination math tips toward one bus — one departure time, one arrival, no one stuck waiting on a rideshare surge after the buzzer.

About McCarthey Athletic Center and Gonzaga Basketball

McCarthey Athletic Center opened on November 19, 2004, with a Gonzaga win over Portland State, 98–80, in front of a packed house. The building has not had an empty seat at a men's basketball game since. The 148,000-square-foot arena holds 6,000 fans, houses 6 luxury suites and a Club Room, and is widely recognized as one of the toughest home-court environments in college basketball — the Kennel Club student section occupies a dense block behind one basket and generates the kind of sustained noise that has rattled national powers for two decades.

Gonzaga has played in the arena since 2004 as a member of the West Coast Conference, but that changes starting July 1, 2026, when the Bulldogs join the Pac-12. The 2025–26 season is Gonzaga's final year in the WCC before Pac-12 competition begins in 2026–27 — which means the current season carries extra historical weight for long-time fans who want to see the last chapter of Gonzaga's WCC era at the Kennel before rivals like Washington State, Oregon State, and Colorado State start showing up on the schedule. If there was ever a season to organize a group trip to Spokane for a home game, this is it.

Tickets are as scarce as ever — the sellout streak is one of the longest in NCAA basketball history — so book tickets well before you arrange the bus.

Coming From Out of Town: Airport, Hotels, and the I-90 Corridor

A large share of the groups that book a Spokane charter bus for Gonzaga games are coming in from outside the city — Coeur d'Alene, Pullman, Lewiston, or flying into Spokane International Airport (GEG). Here is how the logistics work from each of those starting points.

Flying Into Spokane International Airport (GEG)

Spokane International Airport (GEG) sits about 9–10 miles west of campus, roughly a 15-minute drive with no traffic. For out-of-town groups flying in for a game, a charter bus from the airport baggage claim area to the arena — and back after the game — cuts out two rideshare scrambles on the same day. The airport is small and easy to navigate: one terminal, with ground transportation curbside.

Your group assembles at baggage claim, and the bus is waiting at the commercial pickup lane when you are ready. After the game, no one is juggling surge-priced rideshares at 10 p.m. in a campus neighborhood — the bus is nearby and ready. For groups with early flights home the next morning, adding the hotel return and morning airport run to the same booking is easy to set up.

Coming From Coeur d'Alene

Coeur d'Alene is 33 miles east of Spokane, about 40–50 minutes on I-90 West under normal conditions. It is one of the most common origins for fan bus trips to the Kennel — the drive is short enough for a comfortable evening out and long enough that nobody wants to drive separately after a 9 p.m. tip-off. A 40-passenger charter bus out of Coeur d'Alene gathers the group at a central meeting point — a hotel parking lot, a brewery, a neighborhood park-and-ride — and runs straight up I-90 to the Hamilton Street exit.

After the game, the bus waits near campus and has everyone back in Coeur d'Alene by midnight. The per-person math works out well once you split the charter across 30 or 40 people, especially compared to paying for parking, gas, and a post-game designated driver from every household.

Staying at Downtown Spokane Hotels

Gonzaga's official preferred hotel is the Davenport Hotel Collection — four properties clustered in downtown Spokane within about two miles of the arena. The Historic Davenport, Davenport Tower, Davenport Grand, and Davenport Lusso are all within a short, direct shot of campus. For groups booked into the Davenport corridor, a minibus running hotel-to-arena-and-back is the cleanest option: two miles each way, easy pickup from the hotel entrance, and no one walking 20 minutes in January cold after a late game.

Other downtown options include the Hotel Indigo and the Centennial Hotel, both within similar striking distance of campus on the same two-mile run up Hamilton Street.

Groups From Pullman and the Palouse

Pullman is 77 miles south of Spokane on US-195, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. WSU Cougar fans making the trip to watch their rivals at the Kennel — or Gonzaga fans coming up from the Palouse — have been filling seats at McCarthey for years. For a group of 25 or 30 making that drive, a charter bus handles the full round trip, keeps everyone together on the highway, and takes the after-game coordination problem off the table.

An onboard restroom and comfortable reclining seats make the 1:20 ride each way a lot more comfortable than a caravan of cars on a two-lane highway in the dark.

What Does a Bus to McCarthey Athletic Center Cost?

There is no single price, because the quote depends on your group size, vehicle, total hours, and where you are departing from. A two-mile minibus run from the Davenport Hotel is a different quote than a round trip from Coeur d'Alene. Here is what shapes the number.

• Vehicle size — a 15-passenger minibus and a 56-passenger charter bus are different hourly rates.
• Total hours — the vehicle is reserved as a block, including travel time, any pre-game wait, and the post-game return.
• Distance and pickup location — Coeur d'Alene groups pay for mileage that a downtown Spokane group does not.
• Date — nationally televised games and marquee WCC or Pac-12 matchups see higher demand, and early booking gets you the right-size vehicle at the right price.

For real ranges to anchor your planning: 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. Those figures cover the vehicle; parking at the venue (if the bus stays on-site) is a separate campus lot cost. You will know the all-inclusive price before you commit — no surprises.

The per-person math is the argument that usually settles it. A 40-passenger charter bus on a Coeur d'Alene round trip, split across 35 fans, works out to a modest per-head number that already includes the designated driver, the gas, the parking problem, and the post-game logistics. Compare that to 10 cars each burning gas on I-90 and each needing a designated driver for the return — and the bus usually wins on convenience well before it wins on cost.

Call 509-753-3810 to get an all-inclusive quote in under 30 seconds.

A Real Game-Night Example

Last February, a 36-person alumni group from Coeur d'Alene booked a 40-passenger charter bus for a Thursday night matchup. Pickup was at 5:30 PM from a hotel parking lot off I-90, on campus by 6:15 PM — 90 minutes before a 7:00 PM tip-off — plenty of time to pick up will-call tickets and find seats before the Kennel Club started their pre-game chants. The bus waited in a campus lot during the game.

Post-game pickup at 9:45 PM, back in Coeur d'Alene just after 11:00 PM. The 6-hour all-inclusive rental came to $2,100 — about $58 per person, with no one needing to stay sober, no parking scramble, and nobody stranded waiting for a rideshare surge at 10 PM in Spokane's University District.

Game Day Tips: The Kennel in 2025–26

A few things every group should know before arriving at McCarthey Athletic Center, so game night goes smoothly from the moment the bus drops you off.

Clear Bag Policy

Gonzaga adopted a clear bag policy that applies to all games and events at McCarthey Athletic Center. Each fan may bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 12″ (or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag), plus a small clutch purse no larger than 4.5″ × 6.5″. Metal detection is in use at all entrances.

Bags not meeting the policy will not be permitted inside. For the current policy details, check Gonzaga's clear bag policy FAQ before your visit.

Tickets and the Sellout Streak

The McCarthey Athletic Center sellout streak is one of the longest in all of college basketball — every men's game since the building opened in 2004. Tickets are not easy to find for walk-up buyers. Season-ticket holders account for nearly the entire 6,000-seat capacity, and single-game tickets sell through the Gonzaga Athletics website and secondary markets like SeatGeek and Vivid Seats.

For marquee games — home openers, rivalry matchups against Saint Mary's, nationally televised night games — secondary market prices spike significantly. Your group should have tickets confirmed before you book the bus, not the other way around. The 2025–26 season is Gonzaga's final year in the WCC before joining the Pac-12 for 2026–27, which adds historical weight to every home date and is likely to push demand even higher for fans who want to see that final WCC era at the Kennel.

No Alcohol Served at the Arena

McCarthey Athletic Center does not serve alcohol. Concessions include traditional arena fare — hot dogs, burgers, pizza, and specialty items at prices that are notably reasonable compared to professional sports venues. If pregame drinks are part of the plan, the University District and downtown Spokane have a solid bar scene, and a party bus with a built-in bar handles that portion of the evening on the ride to the arena.

Arrive Early for the Kennel Atmosphere

The Kennel Club student section fills up well before tip-off, and the arena atmosphere is at its best in the final 20 minutes before the game starts. For most games, arriving 45 to 60 minutes early is enough to find your seats and take in the pregame energy. For major games — nationally televised matchups, rivalry nights, or games where the Kennel is expected to be especially loud — arriving 75 to 90 minutes early lets your group settle in and experience the full buildup.

The bus makes that easy: one departure time, one arrival, no one late because they could not find parking.

Post-Game Exit and Rideshare Surges

Post-game is where parking and rideshare plans fall apart. When 6,000 fans exit McCarthey Athletic Center simultaneously, the residential streets around campus fill with pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and rideshare surge pricing activates immediately. Fans who drove are blocked in by the outflow for 20 to 30 minutes.

Fans using rideshare apps face elevated fares and wait times. With a bus, your group sets a pickup window before the game starts — 15 minutes after the final buzzer, at the same drop-off point on N. Cincinnati Street — and the bus is waiting nearby when you walk out. No app, no surge, no scramble.

You just arrive.

The 2025–26 Season: Key Games and Booking Urgency

Gonzaga's 2025–26 schedule is the last under the WCC banner before the Pac-12 era begins. Conference play runs from late December 2025 through late February 2026, with the WCC tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas (March 5–10, 2026). Home conference matchups include Saint Mary's and San Francisco home-and-away, plus LMU and Pacific as home-only dates, and Washington State in a regional rivalry game that will draw particular interest given both programs' history.

For updated game-by-game dates and tip times, check the official Gonzaga men's basketball schedule.

Two booking windows worth knowing:

• Big home games against ranked opponents — any time Gonzaga hosts a nationally ranked program, or when the Zags themselves are ranked nationally (which is most of the season), the fan bus demand from Coeur d'Alene, Pullman, and Spokane Valley spikes. Lock in the bus as soon as your group confirms tickets.
• Final WCC home games — the last few home dates of the 2025–26 season carry the weight of closing out a conference era, and demand for tickets and transportation will be at its highest. Do not wait until February to book a bus for a February game.

For regular non-marquee games, two to four weeks of lead time is generally workable. For nationally televised night games, rivalry weekends, or any game where your group size is above 30 people, six to eight weeks out is the safer window. Call 509-753-3810 as soon as your group has tickets confirmed.

Trip Types We Cover to McCarthey Athletic Center

Different groups, same goal: everyone in their seats before tip-off, nobody driving home. A few of the runs we set up most often for Gonzaga games.

• Coeur d'Alene fan buses. Round trip on I-90, 33 miles each way — the most popular regional run for groups who want the game-night experience without putting anyone behind the wheel on a late-night highway drive home. A 40-passenger charter bus handles 35 fans, their gear, and the two-hour round trip cleanly.
• Downtown Spokane hotel-to-arena shuttles. Two miles from the Davenport corridor to N. Cincinnati Street — a minibus run that makes the most sense for groups staying overnight in the city for a game weekend, keeping everyone on the same schedule from hotel lobby to arena entrance and back.
• Alumni and corporate group outings. Organizations that buy blocks of tickets for Gonzaga home games and want one coordinated vehicle for the group. A charter bus with the full amenity package — WiFi, power outlets, reclining seats — makes the pre-game ride comfortable for everyone.
• Pullman and Palouse groups. The 77-mile run from the Washington State campus area to Spokane works best with a full-size charter bus for groups of 20 or more, with an onboard restroom for the 1:20 highway stretch each way.
• Out-of-town groups flying into GEG. Airport pickup, hotel drop, arena run, and return — all through one booking. The bus covers every leg of the trip so the group stays together from wheels-down to wheels-up.

Booking Your Gonzaga Game-Day Bus

Booking is straightforward. Have these details ready and the quote comes back in under 30 seconds:

1. Your group size. That determines the right vehicle.
2. Your pickup location. Downtown hotel, Coeur d'Alene meeting point, airport, or wherever the group is gathering.
3. The game date and approximate tip-off time. We build arrival time around tip-off, not just the drive.
4. Whether the bus is doing a round trip or drop-and-return. Most game-night runs are round trips; the bus waits during the game and picks up post-game at the same N. Cincinnati Street drop point.

One timing question that comes up constantly: how early should the bus leave to arrive before the Kennel's energy peaks? For most games, aim for arrival 60 minutes before tip-off — that's enough lead time to pick up will-call tickets, clear the bag check at the entrance, and be in your seats before the student section fills. For marquee games or when your group is larger than 30 people, build in 75 to 90 minutes.

The bus departure time works backward from there based on your pickup location and drive distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at McCarthey Athletic Center?

Curbside on N. Cincinnati Street at the arena entrance — the main approach road running along the east side of the building. Your group exits steps from the doors, not six blocks away in a neighborhood side street. The approach comes up N. Cincinnati from E. Boone Avenue (from the south) or down from E. Desmet Avenue (from the north).

Is parking free at Gonzaga for games?

Campus surface lots adjacent to the arena are available for visitors on game nights, and several are free on a first-come basis. The BARC Garage on E. Boone Avenue offers covered paid parking on levels 2–4. Free lots fill quickly for high-demand games.

A charter bus sidesteps the parking question entirely — one vehicle drops your group at the entrance and waits during the game.

How much does it cost to rent a bus to McCarthey Athletic Center?

Pricing depends on your vehicle, total hours, pickup location, and date. General ranges: 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger minibuses run $294–$490/hour; 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour. Call 509-753-3810 for an all-inclusive quote with your specific details — you will know the exact price before you commit.

Can the bus wait during the game and pick us up afterward?

Yes. The bus is booked as a block of hours, so it waits on campus during the game and is ready at the N. Cincinnati Street drop point when your group exits. Set your post-game pickup window with our team before tip-off so there is no confusion after the buzzer.

How far is Coeur d'Alene from McCarthey Athletic Center?

About 33 miles, roughly 40–50 minutes on I-90 West under normal conditions. It is one of the most common charter bus origins for Gonzaga games. A round trip from Coeur d'Alene, split across 30 to 35 fans, works out to a comfortable per-person cost that covers the driving, the return trip, and no designated driver problem.

What is the bag policy at McCarthey Athletic Center?

Clear bags only — one clear plastic bag no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 12″ (or a one-gallon freezer bag), plus a small clutch no larger than 4.5″ × 6.5″. Metal detection is in use at all entrances. Check Gonzaga's official clear bag FAQ before your visit for the current policy.

Is there public transit to Gonzaga for basketball games?

Yes. STA's City Line (Route 1) runs through downtown and the University District with a stop at Cincinnati and DeSmet on campus, running every 7.5 minutes at peak times for about $2 each way. It works well for individuals and small groups.

For a group of 15 or more that needs to arrive and depart together as a unit, a charter bus is the practical choice — the City Line gets you close, but it does not hold your group together on the post-game exit. Check the STA website for current routes and schedules.

When should I book a bus for a Gonzaga game?

As soon as your group has tickets confirmed. For marquee home games — nationally televised matchups, rivalry games against Saint Mary's, and final WCC-era home dates in the 2025–26 season — demand for the right-size vehicles is real, and the best options go first. Regular non-marquee home games can usually be arranged with two to four weeks of lead time.

Do not book the bus before you have tickets — but do not wait on the bus after you have them.

Does Gonzaga join the Pac-12 for the 2025–26 season?

No — Gonzaga's Pac-12 membership begins July 1, 2026, with competition starting in the 2026–27 academic year. The 2025–26 season is Gonzaga's final year as a member of the West Coast Conference. Pac-12 opponents like Washington State, Oregon State, and Colorado State start showing up on the Kennel schedule in 2026–27.

Book Your McCarthey Athletic Center Bus Today

The Kennel is one of the best game-day environments in college basketball — 6,000 fans, a student section that has been making national programs uncomfortable for two decades, and a program that has sold out every home game since the building opened. The only thing that should go wrong on a game night is the opponent's free-throw shooting. Party Bus Spokane has access to a fleet of minibuses, party buses, charter buses, and Sprinter vans across Spokane and the surrounding region — and we drop your group curbside on N. Cincinnati Street while everyone else is still circling the neighborhood. Give us a call any time at 509-753-3810 for an all-inclusive price quote in under 30 seconds, or use our online tool for instant availability.

Let's get your group to the Kennel.

Sources & Last Verified

Venue details, parking information, and transportation logistics verified in June 2026. Gonzaga athletics information, conference schedules, and game-day policies change seasonally — confirm current details against the official pages below before your visit.

• Gonzaga University Athletics — McCarthey Athletic Center Facilities
• Gonzaga University — Parking and Directions
• Gonzaga University Athletics — Clear Bag Policy FAQ
• Gonzaga Men's Basketball 2025–26 Schedule
• Spokane Transit Authority — City Line
• McCarthey Athletic Center — Wikipedia
• Gonzaga University — Pac-12 Announcement