Rent a Bus to Mullett Arena: The Complete Mullett Arena Transportation Guide

Here's what nobody tells you before a Mullett Arena event: the Packard Parking Structure — with over 1,700 spaces, it's the closest garage to the arena — fills before most sellouts, Packard Drive can close outright for major events, and the official rideshare drop zone in Lot 10 leaves your group 0.2 miles from the entrance on a stretch of Tempe campus that feels a lot longer when it's 105 degrees outside or midnight after a hockey triple-overtime. One question cuts through all of it: where exactly does the bus drop us, and what does parking actually cost?

A charter bus or party bus rental to Mullett Arena solves the campus-parking equation cleanly. Your group rides together, the bus stages nearby during the event, and the post-event pickup is already built into your booking — no scramble for rideshares, no three trips to the garage elevator, no designated driver math. This guide covers exactly how that works, using the arena's own published rules: the approach roads, the parking structures and their event-night rates, what triggers road closures, which vehicle fits your headcount, and what shapes the price.

Whether you're coming from Chandler 12 miles south or connecting from Sky Harbor 5 miles west, the logistics below give you everything you need before you ever set foot on campus. For a broader look at group transportation in the area, the Chandler sporting event transportation page covers multi-venue planning across the East Valley.

Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to Mullett Arena?

Mullett Arena is not a suburban stadium with a sea of surface lots. It's a 5,000-seat venue embedded in the middle of ASU's main Tempe campus — and campus parking rules do not care that your group drove 20 miles from Chandler. Two structures serve the whole building: the Packard Drive Parking Structure immediately adjacent to the arena, and the Novus Parking Garage at 601 S. Mill Ave as the secondary option.

Parking runs $15 per vehicle for ASU athletics events, $20–$40 for concerts and premium events, and is controlled entirely by ASU Parking, which means no overflow lot and no day-of flexibility when the Packard fills. The official Mullett Arena parking page confirms that all event parking requires pre-purchase through Ticketmaster or a ParkMobile payment on arrival, with the garages opening three hours before showtime.

Run the numbers on a 15-car group: at $30 a vehicle, you've already spent $450 before a single person walks through the gate — and that's before gas from Chandler, before the coordination problem of 15 cars hitting the Packard entrance at the same time, before anyone draws the short straw on staying sober for the drive home. One charter bus to Mullett Arena covers 40 people for one predictable rate, drops the group at the door, and stages nearby until you're ready to leave. The parking cost is zero per vehicle because there's only one vehicle.

That arithmetic flips decisively once you're past a handful of cars, and it's the core reason Chandler groups book buses for ASU hockey nights and Valley Suns games instead of trying to carpool the Loop 202.

There's also the rideshare reality. Lyft is the official rideshare partner at Mullett Arena, and the official drop-off and pickup point is Lot 10 at the northeast corner of Rio Salado Pkwy and Packard Drive — approximately 0.2 miles from the arena entrance, per the arena's own directions page. Post-event Lyft surge in Tempe after a sold-out hockey game can spike pricing significantly, and you're still walking 0.2 miles in both directions.

A party bus or charter bus rental to Mullett Arena skips that entirely: the bus drops you as close to the entrance as current event logistics allow and is staged when you walk out.

Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Mullett Arena

The arena sits at 411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe, AZ 85287, on ASU's Tempe Main Campus west of Rural Road, south of Rio Salado Parkway. For rideshare and general drop-off, the designated zone is Lot 10 at the northeast corner of Rio Salado Pkwy and Packard Drive — the arena's published pickup and drop-off point for all rideshare services, per the official directions page. From Lot 10, the walk to the arena entrance runs approximately 0.2 miles.

For charter buses and larger vehicles, plan for drop-off on Packard Drive near the arena's main entrance — but pay close attention to event-night closures. For major events, Packard Drive closes between Rio Salado Pkwy and 6th Street. ASU confirmed a full Packard Drive closure (8:00 p.m. through the following afternoon) for at least one major arena event, with possible restrictions on 6th Street as well.

When Packard Drive is closed, approach and drop-off routes shift — which means your group's approach changes depending on the specific event's traffic management plan. Because closure timing varies by event, it's worth contacting the arena directly at Info@MullettArena.com in advance of any large-scale event to confirm the current curbside plan for your date.

One firm rule applies regardless of how your group arrives: Mullett Arena does not permit re-entry, and there is no bag check or luggage storage at the venue. Any bags your group brings must comply with the clear bag policy — a 12″×6″×12″ clear bag or one-gallon ziplock, plus a small clutch no larger than 4.5″×6.5″. No backpacks, no oversized totes, no luggage of any kind can be stored at the arena, so plan accordingly before your group loads up at home.

The full guest policy lives in the arena's A‑Z Guide.

After the Event: Post-Game Pickup at Mullett Arena

Getting out is where a bus earns its keep most visibly. When 5,000 people leave at once, Lot 10 fills with rideshare requests and the Packard Structure exits back up. Rideshare surge pricing after major events in Tempe is real and can double or triple standard fares.

With a charter bus or party bus rental to Mullett Arena, you set a pickup window before anyone goes inside — the bus stages nearby, and when you walk out it's right there. No surge fare, no waiting on the rideshare app while the crowd pours out, no re-grouping outside the arena while half those 5,000 people are trying to do the same thing. Agree on the post-event meeting point and time when you book, and the exit is as clean as the entrance.

Mullett Arena Parking: What Groups Need to Know

Two structures handle all event parking at Mullett Arena, both controlled by ASU Parking. The Packard Drive Parking Structure, immediately adjacent to the arena at 411 S. Packard Drive, is the closest option — a seven-story facility with over 1,700 spaces, including 100 accessible spaces on the first floor for guests with valid disabled placards or plates. The Novus Parking Garage at 601 S. Mill Ave serves as the secondary option for events when Packard fills or when Packard Drive itself is closed.

Both garages are cashless: payment is handled through ParkMobile on your smartphone or by pre-purchasing through Ticketmaster. No ATMs are on site — Mullett Arena is a fully cashless venue, which means cash is useless at the garage entrance just as it is inside.

Published rates at the Packard Structure break down by event type. ASU athletics events run $15 per vehicle, while concerts and special events run $20–$40 per vehicle depending on the show. Parking opens three hours before events, and the structure's limited capacity means arriving close to showtime for a sellout puts you at real risk of full garages and a longer walk from a third-party lot off campus.

The official parking page recommends pre-purchase through Ticketmaster for guaranteed spots on high-demand nights.

For one or two people, the light rail from the Veterans Way/College Avenue station (about a half-mile from the arena) is a clean, inexpensive option — single fares run $1–$2, day passes $2–$4. But the moment your group grows past three or four cars' worth of people, the coordination cost — different arrival times, multiple parking passes, a designated driver for every car, and separate post-event rideshares — tips decisively toward one bus. At that point, one charter bus or party bus rental handles everyone for a single, predictable total.

Driving to Mullett Arena from Chandler and the Valley

Mullett Arena sits at the north edge of ASU's Tempe Main Campus, which makes the approach intuitive from most East Valley points but prone to event-night congestion at the Rural Road and Packard Drive intersection. From Chandler, the distance is approximately 12 miles and runs about 18–20 minutes off-peak. The direct route north on Scottsdale Road (which becomes Rural Road as you enter Tempe) delivers you straight to campus — at that point, turn left on E. 6th Street and right on Packard Drive, and the arena is on your right.

For groups coming from south Chandler or Gilbert, this straight north shot up Scottsdale/Rural Rd is the simplest path.

From the north, Scottsdale, or the West Valley, the arena's published approach is Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway), exit at Scottsdale Rd/Rural Rd heading south, right onto Rio Salado Parkway, then left onto Packard Drive — the arena will be on your left, per the official Mullett Arena directions page. This is also the approach from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which sits roughly 5–6 miles west of the arena and is typically a 10–15 minute drive off-peak via the Loop 202 corridor.

Those times are pre-event numbers. On a sold-out ASU hockey Friday or a concert night, Rural Road and the Packard Drive intersection back up starting about 90 minutes before doors, and Packard Drive itself can close between Rio Salado and 6th Street for major events — which reroutes all vehicle traffic and can add significant time to an approach that's normally a straight shot. On a bus, that approach becomes somebody else's problem.

The route gets built around the day's closures, and the group arrives together on schedule regardless of what Rural Road is doing.

Rent a Bus to Mullett Arena: Choosing the Right Vehicle for Your Group

Mullett Arena holds 5,000 people — which makes it one of the more intimate venues in the Phoenix metro and means the crowd dynamic is fundamentally different from a 65,000-seat stadium run. Groups here tend to skew smaller and tighter-knit: hockey season-ticket holders, Valley Suns superfans, concert groups, ASU alumni groups. A 15-passenger minibus or a 25-passenger party bus handles the majority of Mullett Arena runs coming out of Chandler, Mesa, and Gilbert perfectly — and you're not paying for seats you don't need.

Here's how the full vehicle lineup maps to the most common trip types.

For most Chandler hockey groups and Valley Suns fan groups, a 15- to 35-passenger minibus is the right pick — enough seats for a full friend group or small office outing, powerful A/C for the Arizona heat, and the maneuverability to navigate the ASU campus streets. For groups wanting the pre-game energy built into the ride itself, 25- to 50-passenger party buses feature LED lighting and a premium sound system from pickup to parking lot. And for large-scale groups — a company outing, an alumni association, a school trip — a full-size charter bus provides undercarriage bays for gear, an onboard restroom for longer runs from south Chandler or Queen Creek, and enough seats to move a 40-plus-person group in a single trip.

ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network; just note the need when you submit your quote request.

One vehicle note specific to Mullett Arena: the arena has no bag check and permits no luggage on site, per the official A‑Z Guide. If your group is coming from out of town with bags, leave them at the hotel before the run to the arena — the vehicle's overhead or undercarriage storage is the right place for gear before you arrive, not the arena floor.

Charter Bus and Party Bus Rental Prices for Mullett Arena Trips

Pricing for a party bus or charter bus rental to Mullett Arena from Chandler depends on a few clear factors: the vehicle size, the total hours the vehicle is reserved (including pre-game and post-event wait time), the day of the week, and your pickup and drop-off locations. Partybuschandler.net connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Chandler so you can compare rates in under 30 seconds — no account required, no obligation. To give you a planning range, here's how the rates generally look by vehicle type.

These are planning ranges — the actual quote moves with your specific date, headcount, trip hours, and pickup location. Call 602-627-0325 or use the online form to get pricing for your trip in about a minute.

A Mullett Arena Game-Night Example

To give you an idea: a 40-person group books a 40-passenger party bus for a Friday night Valley Suns game. Pickup at 5:30 PM from south Chandler, at the arena by 6:30 PM for a 7:00 PM tip-off. The bus stages while the group watches the game, and a 10:15 PM pickup gets everyone rolling back down Scottsdale Road before the post-event rideshare surge hits.

A 5-hour rental for a 40-passenger party bus on a weekend evening might run around $1,625–$2,500 for the group — roughly $41–$63 per person. Compare that to 14 cars paying $30 each at the Packard Structure ($420 in parking alone), plus gas, plus the post-event rideshare scramble. Split across 40 people, the bus often comes out cheaper per head before you even account for the coordination it eliminates.

Check out the Chandler party bus prices page for more rate context.

Events at Mullett Arena: When to Book Your Charter Bus Early

ASU Sun Devil Hockey is the arena's anchor tenant, with a home slate of roughly 16 games run in Friday-Saturday weekend series from October through February at 411 S. Packard Drive. Weekend series against strong opponents — Denver, Colorado College, Western Michigan, and North Dakota among them — generate the strongest demand and often approach sellout capacity. The current ASU Sun Devil hockey schedule is published on thesundevils.com.

For home series featuring ranked opponents, book your bus 4–6 weeks ahead — Packard Structure parking for those events goes fast, and so do the right vehicles.

Valley Suns — the NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns — play their full home schedule at Mullett Arena, typically running November through April. The home opener generally falls in mid-November; the full schedule is updated at valley.gleague.nba.com. G League game nights run at a lower demand level than sold-out hockey series, which means parking pressure is usually lighter — but if your group is coming from Chandler, a minibus or party bus rental still beats coordinating separate cars across 12 miles of East Valley freeway.

Concerts and special events at Mullett Arena bring a different transportation calculus — parking at the Packard Structure jumps to $20–$40 per vehicle for concert events, and the combination of limited garage capacity and heavy rideshare demand makes post-show extraction genuinely painful. Upcoming shows at the arena include OLE 60: Off The Grid Tour (August 6, 2026), Hudson Westbrook: Hits Me Tour (October 2, 2026), YG: The Gentlemen's Club Tour (October 17, 2026), and Morrissey (November 10, 2026). The 2026 Street League Skateboarding: Tempe Takeover (August 29, 2026) is a full-day spectator event at the arena.

Current and upcoming events are listed on the official Mullett Arena events page. For concerts, the Packard Structure tends to fill 45–60 minutes before showtime on high-demand nights — a Chandler charter bus rental sidesteps all of that. For Chandler concert transportation, the same group bus network handles Mullett Arena runs alongside every other major Valley venue.

When to book. For regular ASU athletics events and most Valley Suns nights, two to three weeks of lead time is workable. For sold-out hockey series (ranked-opponent weekends), concert events, and special events like Street League Skateboarding, book four to six weeks out minimum.

The right-size vehicles go first on high-demand dates, and waiting until the week of a sold-out event typically means higher rates or limited availability. Call 602-627-0325 as soon as your event date is confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting to Mullett Arena

Where does a charter bus drop off at Mullett Arena?

The official rideshare and passenger drop-off zone is Lot 10 at the northeast corner of Rio Salado Pkwy and Packard Drive, per the arena's published directions — approximately 0.2 miles from the arena entrance. For charter buses and larger vehicles, curbside drop on Packard Drive is the closest option when the road is open. For major events, Packard Drive closes between Rio Salado Pkwy and 6th Street, which shifts approach and drop-off routing.

Contact the arena at Info@MullettArena.com before large events to confirm the current vehicle access plan for your specific date.

How much does parking cost at Mullett Arena?

ASU athletics events run $15 per vehicle; concerts and premium events run $20–$40 per vehicle, per published parking information. Parking is cashless and controlled by ASU Parking — payment is handled through ParkMobile or by pre-purchasing on Ticketmaster. The Packard Drive Parking Structure opens three hours before events.

No ATMs are available on site. Review the official Mullett Arena parking page before your visit for current event-specific rates and pre-purchase availability.

Where is the rideshare pickup location at Mullett Arena?

Lyft is the official rideshare partner, and all rideshare pickup and drop-off is in Lot 10 at the northeast corner of Rio Salado Pkwy and Packard Drive, as stated on the arena's official directions page. This is approximately 0.2 miles from the arena entrance — a walk that happens twice, with the post-event leg typically coinciding with peak rideshare demand. Post-event surge pricing in Tempe after sold-out events is common.

Does Packard Drive close for events at Mullett Arena?

Yes, for major events. Packard Drive between Rio Salado Pkwy and 6th Street has been closed for large arena events, with possible restrictions on 6th Street as well. The closure affects both vehicle and pedestrian access on Packard Drive during the event window.

Because closure timing and scope vary by event, check with the arena directly at Info@MullettArena.com before any high-capacity event.

How far is Mullett Arena from Chandler?

Approximately 12 miles, about 18–20 minutes off-peak via Scottsdale Road/Rural Road heading north. On event nights, Rural Road approaching campus can back up significantly starting 60–90 minutes before doors. From south Chandler or Queen Creek, add 5–10 minutes to the base time.

How far is Mullett Arena from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport?

About 5–6 miles, typically 10–15 minutes off-peak via the Loop 202 east. The arena is one of the closest major venues to Sky Harbor in the Phoenix metro — a single bus pickup from the terminal curb handles out-of-town groups with no rideshare juggling. See the Phoenix Sky Harbor shuttle guide for airport pickup logistics.

What is the clear bag policy at Mullett Arena?

All guests may bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12″×6″×12″ (or a one-gallon clear ziplock bag), plus one small clutch bag no larger than 4.5″×6.5″. Backpacks, non-clear bags, oversized totes, and luggage are not permitted. Diaper bags and medical bags are allowed and subject to search.

One factory-sealed water bottle is permitted; all other outside food and beverages are not. The full policy is in the official Mullett Arena A‑Z Guide.

Is there a Valley Metro light rail stop near Mullett Arena?

Yes. The two closest Valley Metro light rail stations are Veterans Way/College Ave (approximately 0.5 miles from the arena) and Mill Ave/3rd St. Single fares run $1–$2; day passes $2–$4.

For individuals or pairs, the light rail is a solid option. For a group of 10 or more coming from Chandler or the southern East Valley, coordinating light rail connections is more complicated than one bus — and the light rail doesn't pick up at your door or drop you curbside at the arena.

Can the bus wait during the event and pick us up after?

Yes. A charter bus or party bus rental is reserved as a block of hours, which includes the window while your group is inside the arena. You set the post-event pickup window when you book, the bus stages nearby, and it's positioned when you walk out.

Agree on a specific meeting point near the arena before everyone goes in — that eliminates any post-event confusion when the crowd exits at once.

Are ADA-accessible vehicles available for Mullett Arena runs?

Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network. Note the accessibility requirement when you submit your quote, and confirm at least 48 hours before your trip. Inside the arena, 100 accessible parking spaces are available on the first floor of the Packard Structure for guests with valid disabled placards, and accessible seating is located in sections 106/107 (Level 1), 105, 114, and 111 (Level 2), per the arena's A‑Z Guide.

How far in advance should I book a bus for Mullett Arena?

For regular Valley Suns and ASU athletics games, two to three weeks of lead time is typically workable. For sold-out hockey series (ranked-opponent weekends), concert nights, and special events like Street League Skateboarding, book four to six weeks out minimum. Waiting until a week before a high-demand event usually means premium pricing or no availability in the right vehicle size.

Call 602-627-0325 as soon as your date is set.

Book Your Mullett Arena Party Bus or Charter Bus Today

Whether it's a Friday night ASU hockey series, a Valley Suns home opener, a concert at the arena, or a full-day event like Street League Skateboarding, the right bus for your group is one quick form or one call away. Partybuschandler.net connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Chandler — compare party buses, minibuses, charter buses, Sprinter vans, and Sprinter limos in under 30 seconds with no account required and no obligation. Your group arrives at 411 S. Packard Drive together, the post-event pickup is already arranged, and the Packard Structure garage costs zero because there's one vehicle that doesn't park there.

Call 602-627-0325 any time for a free quote, or use the online form to compare vehicles and rates instantly. A support team is available to walk through options, build a custom package for your headcount and trip hours, and answer any question about the Mullett Arena run. Also heading to a Sun Devil game at a different venue?

The Sun Devil Stadium transportation guide covers the Mountain America Credit Union Stadium run for football season.