Rent a Bus to Numerica Veterans Arena: Spokane Chiefs & Concert Group Guide

If you are getting a group of 15, 30, or 50-plus people to an event at Numerica Veterans Arena, the single question that decides whether your night runs smoothly is a simple one: exactly where does the bus drop you off, and where does it wait? Most transportation pages skip that detail or leave it vague. This one answers it straight, using the arena's own published information, and then walks you through everything else a group trip to 720 W. Mallon Avenue actually requires.

Numerica Veterans Arena is Spokane's largest venue — a 10,366-seat hockey house and 12,638-seat concert configuration that opened in 1995 and has been the loudest building in the Inland Northwest ever since. Home to the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, it also draws touring headliners throughout the year. For a group, that means two very different kinds of nights: a packed Chiefs game where downtown fills up hours before puck drop, and a full-scale concert where every surface parking lot in a six-block radius charges event-night rates.

Both trips are easy when you have a bus. Both get frustrating fast when you do not. This guide covers the logistics so your group can skip straight to the fun.

Why a Bus Makes Sense for Numerica Veterans Arena

Downtown Spokane on a Chiefs sellout or a major concert night is a different city than it is on a Tuesday afternoon. The 1,396 general-public parking spaces across Lots A through F fill up fast, and the lots that remain open during events charge rates set by the occasion, not posted in advance. Street parking along Boone Avenue, Howard Street, and the surrounding grid turns over to event-night enforcement.

Every rideshare heading to the arena clusters at the same two pickup zones afterward — and on a cold January night when the Chiefs just won in overtime, every one of those cars is stuck in the same crawl south on Howard.

A Spokane charter bus to Numerica Veterans Arena solves all of it in one booking. Your group boards together, the approach and drop-off are handled for you, and the bus waits nearby while you are inside — no hunting for a parking spot, no $15 lots two blocks east, no splitting into separate rideshares at midnight. The per-person cost, divided across a real group, often beats coordinating separate cars and parking once you run the math.

Call 509-753-3810 for a free, all-inclusive quote in under 30 seconds.

Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Numerica Veterans Arena

Here is the part that most transportation pages get wrong or leave fuzzy — so let's go straight to what the arena actually publishes.

Numerica Veterans Arena designates two approved drop-off zones, and drop-offs are not permitted in the main arena parking lots directly in front of the venue. Your bus needs to use one of these two approaches depending on your direction of travel:

• Lot F on W. Mallon Avenue — the south side of the arena, directly across from the historic Flour Mill. This is the designated zone for vehicles arriving from the west and is also the ADA-accessible drop-off zone. For groups coming in on I-90 westbound through downtown, this is your approach.
• Howard Street, just south of Boone Avenue near the Lot B entrance — the designated zone for vehicles traveling southbound on Howard, arriving from the east. Groups coming off I-90 at the Maple Street exit and heading north will use this approach.

Post-event pickup is at the southeast corner of the arena, at the designated turnout on the corner of Howard Street and Mallon Avenue. That is the spot to confirm with your group before you split up at the entrance — so when the game ends or the house lights come up, everyone knows exactly where to walk.

Where the Bus Parks While You Are Inside

Here is the detail that first-timers miss: the arena has two acres of dedicated truck and bus parking separate from the general public lots, plus a secured service lot for approved commercial vehicles. Bus and limousine parking is also accommodated for senior center shuttles, retirement home pickups, and tour groups, per the arena's own facility information. That means your bus has a legitimate place to wait — not a side street three blocks away.

For specific bus parking coordination, the arena's direct line is 509-279-7000, and questions about group and commercial vehicle logistics can be directed to Matt Meyer, Director of Entertainment. When you book with Party Bus Spokane, we confirm the current bus staging area for your event date so there is no guesswork on arrival. Road closures and event-specific lot assignments shift by event type, which is why confirming your approach before game day matters.

We always recommend checking the official Numerica Veterans Arena website and the Spokane Chiefs parking page before your visit to confirm current lot assignments and any closures for your specific event.

Parking Lots & the Event-Night Reality

The arena's surrounding lots break into a North section and a South section, labeled A through F, plus a VIP Lot G for suite and club ticket holders. The full count runs to 1,396 general public spaces across six lots — which sounds like a lot until you realize a full Chiefs game draws more than 10,000 fans, and every one of them is hunting the same real estate.

• Lot A — North lot, 399 spaces. The largest single lot, and the first to fill.
• Lot B — North lot, 515 spaces, near the Northeast Main Arena entrance. Contains the 40 designated ADA-accessible stalls for cars and vans.
• Lots C and D — North section, 308 and 70 spaces respectively.
• Lot E — North section, 60 spaces.
• Lot F — South lot, 44 spaces. Smaller, but it is the drop-off zone and holds additional ADA-accessible spaces. Sits directly across from the Flour Mill.
• Lot G — VIP only, suite and club access.

Game-day parking is $10, paid at the attendant booth with credit cards only — no advance purchase, no reservations, no in-out privileges once you are parked. Those lots open on a first-come basis. On a high-demand night like the home opener or a playoff run, Lots A and B can fill within an hour of gates opening.

The surrounding street parking on Boone Avenue and Howard fills almost as fast. Groups trying to coordinate separate cars into those lots routinely end up parking six or eight blocks east and walking in, which is fine on a mild September night and miserable on a February Chiefs game at 19 degrees.

A Spokane party bus or minibus rental sidesteps every piece of that. Your whole crew boards at one pickup spot, the bus drops everyone at the designated zone on Mallon or Howard, and nobody is circling the grid at midnight wondering if there is a parking spot on Cataldo.

Getting There: Routes, Traffic & Timing

Numerica Veterans Arena sits in the heart of downtown Spokane, bounded by Mallon Avenue on the south, Boone Avenue on the north, Lincoln Street on the west, and Howard Street on the east. From most Spokane-area pickup points, the drive is short — but the approach through downtown on event nights adds real time that off-peak estimates do not capture.

The standard I-90 approach from the east: exit at the Maple Street ramp, turn left on Maple to Boone Avenue, right on Boone to Lincoln Street, right on Lincoln to Mallon Avenue, then left on Mallon to the arena. The alternate approach from the west uses I-90 to the Division Street exit, north on Division, left on Mallon. Either way, Howard Street and Mallon Avenue both back up in the 30 to 45 minutes before a sold-out Chiefs game — the same streets that are your bus drop-off zone.

Arriving early is not optional on big nights; it is what separates a smooth drop-off from sitting in the same queue as everyone else.

Spokane Chiefs Game Days: What Your Group Needs to Know

The Spokane Chiefs are the cornerstone of what happens at Numerica Veterans Arena, and if your group is heading to a game, understanding the rhythm of the season helps you plan the right trip at the right time.

The Chiefs play a 34-game home schedule running from late September through March, with the 2025-26 season opening on Saturday, September 27 against the rival Tri-City Americans. The home schedule skews heavily toward weekends — 14 Saturdays, 9 Fridays, and 2 Sundays — plus 6 Wednesdays and 3 Tuesdays. Friday and Saturday night games are the ones that fill the parking lots fastest.

Weekend games from October through February, when the standings tighten and playoff positioning matters, draw the biggest crowds.

The 2024-25 Chiefs were the Western Conference Champions, averaging more than 6,500 fans per game — the highest mark for the franchise since 2008-09. That momentum carries into 2025-26. On promotional nights and rivalry matchups, the arena approaches its 10,366-seat hockey capacity.

On those nights, driving separately and hunting for a lot means paying event-night rates in garages east of Howard or walking from street parking on Cataldo. One Spokane party bus or minibus handles your whole group from a single pickup and drops everyone at the designated zone, with nothing left to figure out on arrival.

A few game nights on the 2025-26 promotional schedule worth planning around:

• Blue Moon Opening Night — September 27 vs. Tri-City. Home openers draw large groups of first-timers for the season. Book early; it is the most anticipated home game of the fall.
• Teddy Bear Toss — December 6 vs. Tri-City. Fans throw stuffed animals onto the ice after the first Chiefs goal, then they go to charity. This game draws families and large groups and consistently runs at or near capacity. Lots A and B fill before the first period.
• Military Appreciation Night — January 31 vs. Brandon. A community-focused game that draws strong attendance from military-connected groups across the region.
• Chiefs Fight Cancer — February 28 vs. Tri-City. Specialty-jersey game with a strong community draw. Pre-game activities and the jersey auction create extended foot traffic around the arena entrance.

For any of these dates — and for playoff games in March and April when demand spikes hardest — lock in your bus well in advance. Call 509-753-3810 as soon as your headcount is confirmed; the right vehicles go first for playoff weekends.

Concerts & Major Events: The Other Half of the Calendar

Outside of the Chiefs season, Numerica Veterans Arena runs a year-round concert and event calendar that fills the building to its 12,638-seat end-stage configuration. The arena has hosted tours by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Paul McCartney over the years — the kind of shows where the entire I-90 corridor between Spokane Valley and downtown backs up two hours before doors.

Upcoming 2026 events at the arena include Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire on June 20–21, Nate Bargatze on July 24, and Disney Worlds Collide Concert Tour on October 11. The arena's full 2026 schedule continues to add dates; check the official Numerica Veterans Arena events page for the current calendar.

Concert nights at the arena create a specific transportation challenge that game nights do not: all 1,396 arena lots are frequently pre-sold to the arena for staff and production vehicles on stadium-show nights, which means the general public lots are simply not available. Groups arriving by car on a concert night are directed to street parking and paid garages east of Howard Street — blocks away, at event-night rates that can run $10 to $20. A bus rental in Spokane for a concert drops your group at the designated Mallon or Howard zone, steps from the entrance, and the bus handles the rest.

No garage fees, no walking from Post Street in the rain.

Transit Options vs. a Charter Bus: The Honest Comparison

Spokane has public transit options that serve the arena, and for solo travelers or two-person groups they can be useful. Here is the honest picture for a group of 10 or more.

Spokane Transit Authority's Route 11 stops across the street from the arena and runs downtown-to-North Bank loops with service as frequent as every 10 minutes during peak hours. If you live near a Route 11 stop and are heading alone, it works. For a group of 20 that includes people coming from Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, or Coeur d'Alene — all heading to the same 7:05 PM Chiefs puck drop — Route 11 cannot pull your crew together.

A bus rental in Spokane can. You name the pickup point, the group assembles in one place, and the bus drops everyone at Mallon or Howard together. Check the STA website for current Route 11 schedules and special-event service additions.

The honest math: once your group outgrows two or three cars, parking and coordination costs routinely exceed what a bus splits out to per person. Add the $10 event-night lot rate per car, multiply by seven or eight separate vehicles, and the math favors one bus before you ever factor in the walk from the remote lots.

Which Vehicle Fits Your Group?

Not every group going to a Chiefs game or a concert at Numerica needs the same vehicle. The right pick comes down to your headcount and whether you want the bus ride itself to be part of the celebration.

For Chiefs fan groups who want the energy to build before puck drop, a 15- to 50-passenger party bus carries the whole crew with a built-in bar, LED lighting, and a sound system loaded with your pregame playlist — no one drawing straws for the designated driver. For a large corporate suite night or a school group, a full-size charter bus keeps everyone together with reclining seats and climate control for the Eastern Washington winter. ADA-accessible vehicles are available — just let us know before your departure date so we can match the right vehicle from our fleet.

Bus Rental Prices for Numerica Veterans Arena Trips

Party Bus Spokane provides all-inclusive pricing online in under 30 seconds — you will know the exact price before you ever book. Your 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 any pregame time and the post-event pickup window.
• Date and event type — a regular-season Wednesday night games differently than a playoff game or a touring headliner concert, when demand is higher.
• Pickup location and mileage — a South Hill pickup is a shorter run than Liberty Lake or Coeur d'Alene.

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 or $1,200–$2,500/day. You will never be surprised by hidden costs.

Here is the per-person framing that usually settles the decision. A 30-person group booking a party bus for a four-hour Chiefs game night — pickup, game, post-game return — typically splits out to less than the cost of parking per car plus the inevitable post-game rideshare surge. The math gets better the larger the group.

Call 509-753-3810 any time for a free, all-inclusive quote at no obligation, or use the online tool for instant availability.

A Real Game-Night Example

To put numbers behind the concept: a 32-person fan group recently booked a 35-passenger minibus for a Saturday Chiefs game in February. Pickup at 5:45 PM from a South Hill address, dropped at the Lot F zone on Mallon Avenue by 6:20 PM — plenty of time before the 7:05 PM puck drop. Undercarriage storage held a cooler and bag of snacks for the ride.

The group arranged a 10:15 PM pickup at the Howard and Mallon corner after the Chiefs won in overtime. The four-hour all-inclusive rental came to roughly $1,900 — about $59 per person, with parking, the designated-driver question, and the post-game scramble entirely solved.

Know Before You Go: Arena Policies

A few things your group should know before arriving at Numerica Veterans Arena, straight from the arena's own published guidance:

• Bag policy: Guests may carry one clear bag no larger than 14" x 14" x 6", or a small non-clear clutch no larger than 6.5" x 4.5". Medically necessary items and single-compartment diaper bags (with child present) are excepted. Backpacks and oversized bags are not permitted through security.
• No in-out privileges: Once a vehicle is parked in an arena lot for an event, there is no in-out access. For a bus group, this is a non-issue — the bus handles its own staging separately from public lots.
• Lot F drop-offs only: Drop-offs are not permitted in the main lots directly in front of the venue. Lot F on Mallon and Howard south of Boone are the only approved zones. Do not ask your group to jump out on Lincoln Street or in Lot A.
• Credit cards only at attendant booths: Game-day lot parking is $10 and requires a credit card at the booth. No cash, no advance purchase.
• Arrive early: The arena recommends arriving 30 to 60 minutes before an event to account for parking and security lines. For your bus group, plan the drop-off window accordingly — a 7:05 PM puck drop means being at the drop zone by 6:20 at the latest.

For the most current policy details, we always recommend checking the official Numerica Veterans Arena website before your visit. Bag policies and entry procedures can update between seasons.

Coming From Out of Town? Coeur d'Alene, Liberty Lake & the Tri-Cities

Numerica Veterans Arena draws groups from well beyond Spokane city limits, and a bus makes those longer trips significantly more manageable. The I-90 corridor brings fans in from Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls to the east and from the Tri-Cities and Yakima to the west. Here is how a coordinated pickup handles those trips cleanly.

For groups coming from Coeur d'Alene or Liberty Lake — about 33 and 18 miles east, respectively — the bus picks everyone up at a common meeting point (a hotel lot, a casino parking structure, or a neighborhood address), consolidates the group, and runs I-90 west to the arena. No one drives after the game. On a January playoff night, that matters: I-90 westbound from Idaho into downtown Spokane on a big game night can back up significantly at the Broadway/Sherman interchange, and it is considerably more pleasant to be in a reclining seat than behind the wheel of your own car.

Groups flying into Spokane International Airport (GEG) for a concert or a special event can connect from baggage claim directly to the arena without a rental car or rideshare scramble. GEG sits about 10 miles southwest of the arena — a 15- to 20-minute drive in normal conditions. One bus collects the group at the terminal and drops them at Mallon, keeping travel simple even for out-of-towners.

Call 509-753-3810 to coordinate airport-to-arena transfers as part of a single booking.

Trip Types We Cover to Numerica Veterans Arena

Different groups, same destination — here are the most common runs.

• Spokane Chiefs fan groups. Groups of 15 to 56 who want to arrive together, skip the parking scramble, and keep the energy up from the South Hill to Mallon Avenue. Party buses are a favorite for this run — the LED lighting and built-in bar make the pregame part of the night, not just the commute.
• Concert groups. Touring headliners at Numerica sell out the arena lots entirely for staff and production. A charter bus drops your group at the Mallon zone and cuts out the garage-hunting entirely, regardless of the show. Confirm your drop-off approach on concert nights specifically, since production equipment can occasionally limit the Lot F zone.
• Corporate and suite nights. Spokane businesses booking suite seats at the arena for client events or employee appreciation nights use a minibus or charter bus to move their group from office or hotel to suite entrance together. No one worries about the drive home.
• School and youth group trips. Youth hockey programs, school groups, and sports teams attending Chiefs games book minibuses for the convenience, the onboard climate control, and the straightforward drop-off at the group entrance on Howard. Charter buses for school groups offer overhead storage for bags and jackets and an onboard PA for chaperone announcements.
• Special events: Monster Trucks, figure skating, basketball. The arena hosts non-hockey events throughout the year, including Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, NCAA basketball, and figure skating. The same drop-off logistics apply, and group coordination is especially useful for family-heavy events where managing parking with kids is genuinely difficult.

Booking Your Numerica Veterans Arena Bus

The booking process is straightforward, and confirming a few details before the event makes the night seamless:

1. Request a quote with your group size, pickup location, event date, and how much pre-event time you want. Chiefs games typically call for a pickup 90 minutes to two hours before puck drop; concerts vary by show.
2. Confirm the drop-off zone for your event. We verify whether Lot F on Mallon or Howard at Boone is the right approach for your specific event and whether any date-specific closures affect the staging area.
3. Set your post-event pickup window. Confirm the Howard and Mallon corner pickup with your group before you walk into the arena — that is the pickup zone the arena designates for rideshare and shuttle returns, and it is the spot you want everyone heading to, not back into the lot grid.

A few timing questions we hear most often: how early should we arrive? Drop-off 45 to 60 minutes before an event for a smooth walk to the entrance and no security bottleneck. For Teddy Bear Toss or playoff games, push that to 90 minutes.

Can the bus stay with us? Yes — the bus is booked as a block of hours and can wait at the dedicated bus and truck parking area while you are inside, then pull to the Howard and Mallon corner when you are ready. Call 509-753-3810 to lock in your date, or use the online tool for instant availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at Numerica Veterans Arena?

The arena designates two approved drop-off zones: Lot F on W. Mallon Avenue on the south side of the building, directly across from the Flour Mill (recommended for vehicles arriving from the west; also the ADA-accessible drop-off zone), and Howard Street just south of Boone Avenue near the Lot B entrance (recommended for southbound vehicles arriving from the east). Drop-offs are not permitted in the main arena lots directly in front of the venue.

Where does the bus pick up the group after the event?

The designated post-event pickup zone is the southeast corner of the arena, at the turnout on the corner of Howard Street and Mallon Avenue. Confirm that spot with your entire group before you walk in — it keeps everyone heading to the same corner instead of scattering across the lot grid in the post-game crowd.

Where do buses park at Numerica Veterans Arena during an event?

The arena has two acres of dedicated truck and bus parking separate from the general public lots, plus a secured service lot for approved commercial vehicles. Bus and limousine parking for tour groups and shuttles is accommodated by the venue. For specific staging questions, the arena's direct line is 509-279-7000.

When you book with Party Bus Spokane, we confirm the current bus staging area for your event date as part of the coordination.

How much does it cost to rent a bus to Numerica Veterans Arena?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, the event date, and pickup mileage. As a guide: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; small party buses (15–20 passengers) run $204–$378/hour; mid-size party buses (20–30) run $244–$414/hour; large party buses and minibuses (35–50) run $294–$490/hour; and full-size charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. Call 509-753-3810 or use the online quote tool for an all-inclusive price in under 30 seconds.

When should I book a bus for a Spokane Chiefs playoff game?

As early as your date is confirmed. Chiefs playoff games — typically running from mid-March through May — are the highest-demand dates in the Spokane bus rental calendar. Combine a playoff run with the existing spring prom season demand (April through May), and the right-sized vehicles go quickly.

Lock in your bus within 24 to 48 hours of your game date being announced. For regular-season games, two to four weeks of lead time is workable — but the earlier you call, the better the selection.

Can a charter bus drop off at Numerica Arena for a concert?

Yes. The Lot F on Mallon and Howard at Boone drop-off zones apply to concerts as well as Chiefs games. On large concert nights, the arena lots are frequently committed to production and staff vehicles, which means the bus drop-off is actually the only reasonable close-in option.

General public lot parking at the arena may not be available at all on major touring shows, making a charter bus the practical choice for any group that does not want to park four blocks east and walk.

Do you serve groups coming from Coeur d'Alene or the Tri-Cities?

Yes. Party Bus Spokane coordinates group transportation from across the region, including Coeur d'Alene, Liberty Lake, Post Falls, Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, Yakima, and other cities in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. A single-pickup run from Coeur d'Alene to the arena consolidates a group that would otherwise split across six or eight separate cars on I-90.

Call 509-753-3810 to discuss a coordinated multi-stop or out-of-market pickup for your event.

Is there a train or public bus to Numerica Veterans Arena?

Spokane Transit Authority's Route 11 Downtown/North Bank Shuttle stops directly across the street from the arena on Mallon Avenue, with service as frequent as every 10 minutes during peak hours. Route 4 services the arena one block to the west; Routes 27 and 28 serve the east side. STA also occasionally runs enhanced special-events service for high-demand nights.

Check the STA special events service page for event-specific schedules. Public transit works well for solo riders near a stop; for a group traveling from Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, or North Idaho, a private charter bus is the only option that picks everyone up at one address and drops them at the arena door.

What is the bag policy at Numerica Veterans Arena?

One clear bag no larger than 14" x 14" x 6" per guest, or a small non-clear clutch no larger than 6.5" x 4.5". Exceptions apply for medically necessary items and single-compartment diaper bags when the child is present. Backpacks and oversized bags are not permitted.

Always verify the current policy against the official Numerica Veterans Arena policies page before your visit, as entry requirements can update between seasons.

Book Your Bus to Numerica Veterans Arena Today

Whether it is a 32-person Chiefs fan group on a Saturday night in January, a corporate suite outing, a concert with a crew of 20, or a school group heading to see the WHL in action, Party Bus Spokane has the right vehicle and the coordination to make the drop-off, the event, and the ride home the easy part of your night. Our fleet runs from 14-passenger Sprinter limos to 56-passenger charter buses, with all-inclusive pricing available in under 30 seconds. Give us a call any time at 509-753-3810 for a free quote — or use the online tool for instant availability.

Lock in your date before the parking lots do.