If you have ever tried to park near the south end of Arizona State University's campus on an event night, you already know what waits at Mullett Arena. The arena sits inside the Novus Innovation Corridor at 411 S. Novus Place, Tempe, AZ 85281 — a stretch of campus where most of the surrounding lots run on ASU permits, event parking fills well before puck drop or showtime, and Rural Road backs up heading north as fans from Chandler, Mesa, and Gilbert all funnel toward the same campus access points at once. For a venue that seats between 4,500 and 5,000 depending on configuration, Mullett Arena creates an outsized parking problem because it sits inside a working university campus with limited general-public parking and streets that were not designed to absorb several thousand arrivals inside a one-hour window.
A party bus or charter bus rental changes that math entirely. Your group loads at your hotel, apartment complex, or favorite bar, rides to the arena together, and steps off near the entrance while surface lots and campus structures fill to capacity. The bus stages nearby while the game or show runs and pulls back up at the same door when everyone walks out — no permit scramble, no post-event rideshare surge pricing, no regrouping scattered groups of friends across three different lots.
Below is the complete guide: where buses drop off at Mullett Arena, which roads feed into the campus approach from the South Valley, how every transportation option honestly compares, what size vehicle fits your headcount, and everything else you need to plan a smooth trip through Chandler area group transportation.
TLDR: ASU campus parking fills before puck drop and concert doors alike — a party bus or charter bus rental drops your group at the Novus Place entrance while others circle for spots, then picks everyone up at the same door when the night ends.
Why Groups Rent a Party Bus or Charter Bus to Mullett Arena
Mullett Arena opened in 2022 as the home of ASU's NCAA Division I hockey programs and quickly became one of the more in-demand mid-size concert venues in the Phoenix metro. The 4,500-to-5,000-seat capacity makes it an intimate option for touring artists, and the campus setting gives the venue a distinct energy — surrounded by the activity of a major research university rather than a freestanding arena parking complex. That campus energy is also exactly what makes arriving by car a recurring headache for group organizers in the South Valley.
Most of the parking adjacent to Mullett Arena's Novus Place entrance is designated ASU permit parking. When events are scheduled, ASU Parking and Transit Services releases a limited number of event spaces through advance purchase, but the supply is genuinely constrained relative to the venue's capacity. On a sold-out hockey night or a well-attended concert, the closest event parking fills well before doors open — and visitors without an advance pass often end up in a lot significantly farther from the entrance than they expected, particularly if they arrive after the easiest spots are gone.
Then comes the walk in Tempe's triple-digit summer heat, or the post-event scramble to find the right lot exit in the dark.
One private bus replaces all of that. A 25-passenger party bus from Chandler takes everyone door-to-door: one pickup, one drop-off steps from the Novus Place entrance, one pickup again when the event ends. Nobody buys an advance parking pass, nobody navigates unfamiliar campus roads after midnight, and nobody has to leave early to beat the exit-lot traffic.
For ASU hockey game group transportation or a concert bus to Mullett Arena, that simplicity is the single most common reason groups in the South Valley choose a bus over splitting into separate cars.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at Mullett Arena
Mullett Arena's main entrance faces Novus Place on the south side of Arizona State University's Tempe campus. Charter buses and party buses reach the Novus Place entrance from Rural Road via the campus approach — Rural Road runs directly along the eastern edge of this part of campus, making it the primary artery for event arrivals from Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, and the rest of the Southeast Valley. Your bus pulls to the loading area near the Novus Place entrance, the group steps off, and the bus stages off the immediate lane while the event is underway.
Because Mullett Arena is a relatively new venue on an active university campus, ASU Athletics manages specific charter bus access and loading logistics for each event type — the approach and staging details can shift between a regular hockey game and a major concert or sold-out weekend show. Transportation providers serving Chandler confirm the current access configuration for your specific event date before your trip, so there is no guesswork at a closed campus gate. For general event information and transportation notes the venue publishes around home events, check the ASU Sun Devils athletics site.
The Campus Parking Reality at Mullett Arena
Here is what first-timers routinely underestimate: parking for Mullett Arena events is not like pulling into a stadium surface lot. Most of the structures and surface lots within reasonable walking distance of the Novus Place entrance are ASU permit parking — they serve students, faculty, and university employees, not general event visitors. For home hockey games and concerts, ASU makes a limited number of event spaces available through advance purchase on the ASU Parking and Transit Services site, which also notes that PTS can help arrange event parking for outside groups and organizations if you contact them ahead of your date, and those spaces are genuinely limited relative to the 4,500-plus-person venue capacity.
The situation compresses further when ASU's other major event venues are also active. Sun Devil Stadium sits just north of Mullett Arena, and when fall football season overlaps with the hockey schedule — which it does for most of September, October, and November — any remaining event parking in the south campus area gets claimed faster. Groups planning to drive and park independently should check the ASU parking site for advance purchase options, plan to arrive at least 90 minutes before the event, and expect a walk from wherever they manage to land.
A charter bus or party bus rental sidesteps all of that regardless of when you arrive.
Getting to Mullett Arena from Chandler, Mesa, and the South Valley
Mullett Arena's location on the southeastern edge of ASU's Tempe campus is reachable from every direction in the Phoenix metro, but the specific approach roads matter on event nights. Here is how the primary corridors from the South Valley actually perform.
From Chandler and the Southeast Valley: The standard route is Loop 101 (Price Freeway) northbound to the University Drive exit in Tempe, then west on University Drive toward Rural Road and the campus approach. Off-peak, the drive from downtown Chandler runs 20 to 30 minutes. On event nights — especially Friday and Saturday — the University Drive exit can back up onto the 101, and Rural Road northbound approaching University Drive compresses as everyone heading to the same event arrives within the same 45-minute window.
From Mesa and Gilbert: US-60 (Superstition Freeway) westbound to Rural Road northbound is the most direct line. The Rural Road interchange at US-60 puts you heading north toward the campus approach. Add 15 to 20 minutes to your off-peak estimate for event nights when this corridor is active.
From Phoenix downtown and the West Valley: I-10 eastbound connects to Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) east and then Loop 101, or eastbound on US-60 from the I-10 interchange and north on Rural Road. The downtown Phoenix approach runs 20 to 30 minutes off-peak and can hit 45 minutes on a busy event night headed into Tempe.
From Scottsdale and the North Valley: Loop 101 southbound to the University Drive exit is the straight shot from Old Town Scottsdale or north Scottsdale — roughly 15 to 25 minutes off-peak. Groups flying in for a big concert or hockey event can coordinate a single bus from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which sits roughly 5 to 7 miles west of Mullett Arena, directly to the venue or to a hotel stop first. For groups managing multiple flight arrivals from different terminals, see the Sky Harbor airport shuttle guide.
| From… | Approx. distance | Off-peak drive time | Event-night reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Chandler | ~18 miles | 20–30 min | Add 15–25 min; Rural Road/University Drive approach compresses on busy nights |
| Gilbert / Queen Creek | ~22–26 miles | 25–35 min | Loop 101 north to University Drive; allow extra time on sold-out Saturdays |
| Mesa (downtown) | ~10 miles | 15–20 min | US-60 west to Rural Road north is the direct line; add 15–20 min on event nights |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport | ~6 miles | 10–15 min | One of the shortest airport-to-arena runs in the metro — still congested on sellouts |
| Old Town Scottsdale | ~11 miles | 15–20 min | Loop 101 south to University Drive; plan for extra time on weekend shows |
| Downtown Tempe (Mill Ave) | ~2 miles | 5–10 min | Closest origin, but campus access and event parking still apply — a bus makes more sense than it looks |
Every Way to Get to Mullett Arena: An Honest Comparison
Mullett Arena's campus location gives groups a few real transportation options. Here is how each one actually performs for a South Valley group of 15 or more people heading to an ASU hockey game or Mullett Arena concert.
| Option | Cost shape | Group stays together? | Door-to-door? | Anyone has to drive? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split across the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival and departure | Best — drops at Novus Place entrance, picks up at the same door | No — the whole group can relax for the ride | 15–56 people from anywhere in the metro |
| Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) | Per car each way + post-event surge pricing | No — multiple cars, staggered arrivals and pickups | Moderate — drops near campus, but post-event pickup zones vary and waits spike after the game | No, but each car is a different driver and route | 1–4 people; practical when group size is small |
| Valley Metro Light Rail | Per ticket; low cost per person | Only if you board together at the same stop | No — requires a walk from the nearest station to the Novus Place entrance | No, but you still handle the walk to and from the station | Solo travelers or pairs who live near the light rail corridor |
| Drive and park | Per car (advance event pass + gas) | No — groups split across multiple cars | Depends on which lot you get; closest event spaces fill early | Yes — in and out of campus traffic both ways | 1–2 cars when you arrive very early with an advance parking pass |
For solo travelers or small groups already in Tempe, Valley Metro Light Rail or a single rideshare can be a practical call. But once your party grows past a carful of people, the coordination tax — different arrival times, separate fares, post-event surge pricing, and the designated driver problem — tips decisively toward one bus. A party bus or charter bus rental from Chandler is the only option where everyone rides together, the energy builds before the puck even drops, and the pickup after the event requires exactly zero app refreshing.
What Size Party Bus or Charter Bus Rental Does Your Group Need for Mullett Arena?
Mullett Arena group sizes vary widely — a few dozen friends heading to a Saturday hockey night need a different vehicle than a company outing of 50 or a school group field trip. Browse the full vehicle lineup or use the breakdown below to match your headcount and trip type.
| Vehicle | Typical capacity | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter Van Rental with Driver | Up to 14 | Small VIP groups, suite holders, executive outings, intimate birthday trips to a Mullett Arena show | Leather seating, individual reading lights, USB charging at every seat, tinted privacy windows |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | ~15–50 | Friend groups who want the full party-bus experience; bachelorette and birthday groups; ASU hockey fan groups | Full-length bar, color-changing LED lighting, Bluetooth/AUX sound system, flat-panel TVs, wraparound perimeter seating, dance area |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Corporate outings, mid-size fan groups, school groups, or any group that wants comfort without the party bus setup | Reclining seats, overhead storage, powerful climate control, USB charging and power outlets |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large fan groups, company outings, school field trips, concert groups arriving from across the metro | Reclining seats, overhead bins, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, undercarriage luggage bays |
For a typical hockey night with 20 to 30 friends from Chandler or Gilbert, a 25-passenger party bus with a built-in bar and LED lighting keeps the energy going from the first pickup through the Novus Place drop-off. For larger groups — 40 or more people heading to a major Mullett Arena concert — a full-size charter bus seats everyone in one air-conditioned vehicle and includes undercarriage luggage bays and an onboard restroom for the ride back from Tempe. ADA-accessible vehicles are available; note that in your quote request when you submit trip details.
Party Bus & Charter Bus Rental Prices for Mullett Arena Events
Quote requests through this site come back in under 30 seconds — you compare all-inclusive options and see the exact price before committing to anything. The quote is shaped by your group size, where the bus picks you up, how many hours you need the vehicle (including pregame time and the post-event wait for a pickup), and the event date. To give you an idea of where rates land for a South Valley run to Mullett Arena:
- 14-passenger Sprinter limo: roughly $120–$250 per hour
- 15–20 passenger party bus: roughly $130–$275 per hour
- 20–30 passenger party bus: roughly $175–$375 per hour
- 35–50 passenger party bus or minibus: roughly $250–$450 per hour
- 40–56 passenger charter bus: roughly $130–$275 per hour or $900–$2,000 per day
A typical Mullett Arena hockey night from Chandler — pickup around 5:30 PM, arena drop-off by 6:30 PM, post-game pickup around 9:30 or 10:00 PM — runs 4 to 5 dedicated hours on the vehicle. To give you an idea, a 4-hour rental for a 25-passenger party bus for that run might come to $900–$1,400 all-inclusive, which works out to roughly $36–$56 per person once the group splits it. That is often at or below what individual round-trip rideshare fares total on a Friday or Saturday event night once post-event surge pricing kicks in — and it does not require anyone to stay sober or chase a car across a dark campus lot.
These are idea-stage ranges to help you plan, not locked-in quotes; your actual pricing depends on your specific date, itinerary, and vehicle. See the Chandler party bus prices page for more detail, or call 480-535-4400 any time for a free, all-inclusive quote at no obligation.
What's On at Mullett Arena: ASU Hockey and Beyond
Mullett Arena's event calendar covers two distinct audiences — the ASU campus athletics crowd and the concert and entertainment crowd — and both generate consistent group transportation demand from the South Valley.
ASU Sun Devils Hockey. The ASU Men's Ice Hockey program plays its full home schedule at Mullett Arena from October through March, with the women's program running a parallel home calendar. Games against top-ranked opponents and rivalry matchups routinely sell out, and the combination of a compact arena and an engaged student section creates a notably different atmosphere than a downtown venue.
Groups from Chandler, Gilbert, and the Southeast Valley make up a consistent share of the home crowd for Friday and Saturday games — and the party bus ride north on the 101 is where the hockey-night energy builds before anyone takes a step inside the arena.
Concerts and entertainment events. Mullett Arena's 4,500-to-5,000-seat capacity makes it the right-size room for touring artists who would overfill a club venue but would not quite fill Footprint Center at full capacity. That sweet spot attracts a steady stream of concerts, comedy shows, and special events throughout the academic year and into the summer.
For South Valley groups heading to a sold-out Mullett Arena show, the campus location means fewer parking options and a higher concentration of post-event crowd at a small number of exit points — which is exactly when having a bus already staged and waiting at the door makes the biggest difference.
A note on timing: Sold-out Mullett Arena concerts and marquee hockey nights move Phoenix metro vehicle inventory faster than most group organizers expect, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings. If you know your event date, requesting estimates as soon as your tickets are confirmed is the difference between the right vehicle at a straightforward rate and a last-minute situation at a higher price. Call 480-535-4400 to check availability on your specific date and get a real-time answer on where inventory stands for that event night.
Types of Groups That Rent a Bus to Mullett Arena
The Novus Place drop-off works the same way regardless of who is on board — everyone arrives together, nobody navigates unfamiliar campus roads after dark, and the group has a confirmed pickup from the same door when the night ends. These are the groups that request Mullett Arena transportation most often from the Chandler and South Valley area.
- ASU hockey fan groups. South Valley fans who want the full game-night experience — bar stop first, party bus with LED lighting and a built-in bar for the ride up, everyone together from the first stop through puck drop — are the most consistent source of sporting event bus rentals to Mullett Arena. A 25- or 30-passenger party bus covers most South Valley hockey-night friend groups.
- Concert and entertainment groups. Friend groups heading to a sold-out show who would rather arrive relaxed than stressed about where to park on a campus that does not have a visitor lot three minutes from the door. Concert bus rentals to Mullett Arena are especially popular for Saturday night events when Rural Road is at its most congested and rideshare post-event demand spikes.
- Corporate and company outings. Chandler-area companies that turn a hockey game or Mullett Arena event into a team outing. A corporate charter bus rental handles pickup at the office or a Chandler hotel and returns the group afterward, so no one manages individual parking or coordinates rides home across a campus they have never navigated after dark.
- Birthday and celebration groups. A birthday party bus to a Mullett Arena concert is an easy setup: pregame at the birthday person's go-to spot, then a party bus with LED lighting and a bar on board to the arena, then the night continues wherever the group decides when the show ends.
- School groups and student organizations. ASU-affiliated groups, Chandler-area high school groups, and student organizations attending educational or cultural events at the arena. A full-size charter bus handles the whole class or organization in one vehicle, with overhead bins for backpacks and undercarriage bays for anything larger. See the school event bus rental page for specifics on educational group transportation to Phoenix-area venues.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Bus to Mullett Arena
Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Mullett Arena?
The main entrance to Mullett Arena is on Novus Place, reached from Rural Road via the south campus approach. Charter buses and party buses drop passengers near the Novus Place entrance; the exact loading area and staging arrangement for your specific event is confirmed ahead of your trip, since ASU Athletics manages event access and the configuration can vary between hockey games, concerts, and special events. Check the ASU Sun Devils athletics site for any transportation notes published around your specific home event.
How does campus parking at Mullett Arena actually work?
Most parking immediately adjacent to Mullett Arena is ASU permit parking — it serves students, staff, and faculty rather than general event visitors. For home hockey games and major concerts, ASU Parking and Transit Services releases a limited number of event parking spaces through advance purchase, and those spaces are genuinely limited relative to the venue's capacity. They fill fast on busy nights.
Visit the ASU Parking and Transit Services page for advance purchase options and current event parking details for your date, and plan to arrive significantly before the event if you are driving independently.
How far is Mullett Arena from downtown Chandler?
Mullett Arena is approximately 18 miles from downtown Chandler — about 20 to 30 minutes off-peak via Loop 101 northbound to the University Drive exit in Tempe. On event nights, especially Friday and Saturday evenings, add 15 to 25 minutes for the Rural Road and University Drive approach. A party bus makes that drive part of the experience rather than part of the stress, and everyone is already in the right mood by the time you reach Novus Place.
Does Valley Metro Light Rail serve Mullett Arena?
Valley Metro Light Rail operates along the Tempe and ASU campus corridor. Reaching Mullett Arena from the light rail requires a walk from the nearest station to the Novus Place entrance; check Valley Metro's official maps and schedules for the current closest station and the estimated walking distance. Light rail is a reasonable option for solo travelers or pairs who live along the rail corridor.
For a group of 15 or more from Chandler or Gilbert — with no light rail access at the starting point — a private charter bus or party bus rental is significantly more practical from door to door.
How much does a bus rental to Mullett Arena cost from Chandler?
To give you an idea: a 4-hour rental for a 25-passenger party bus from Chandler to Mullett Arena and back might run $900–$1,400 all-inclusive, which splits to roughly $36–$56 per person. A 40- to 56-passenger charter bus for a larger group generally carries a lower per-hour rate and is typically the right call when headcount pushes past 35. Pricing varies by date, vehicle, and total hours — your quote through this site is all-inclusive with the exact price shown before you commit.
Call 480-535-4400 or use the online quote tool for pricing on your specific event date and group size.
Can a bar stop be added on the way to Mullett Arena?
Absolutely — the itinerary is yours to build. A standard South Valley hockey night runs from a Chandler or Gilbert bar stop, then the party bus north on the 101 to the arena for puck drop, then back south after the final buzzer. Multi-stop runs are easy to include; just note the pickup location, the bar stop or stops, and the arena as your destination when you request a quote.
For brewery and bar ideas in the area to work into the route before heading north, see the downtown Chandler brewery and bar crawl guide.
What other Phoenix-area arenas and venues can be reached on the same bus?
The same trip covers any Phoenix metro stop, and multi-venue nights are straightforward to arrange. Groups heading to Mullett Arena often start on Tempe's Mill Avenue strip for dinner or drinks before the show. For other major Phoenix-area arena nights out from the South Valley, see the Footprint Center bus guide for Phoenix Suns and Mercury games in downtown Phoenix, the Chase Field guide for Diamondbacks games, the State Farm Stadium guide for Cardinals games in Glendale, and the Talking Stick Resort guide for groups that want a Scottsdale entertainment stop built into the night.
For spring training, the Salt River Fields guide covers the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community stadium that hosts the Rockies and Diamondbacks.
Are ADA-accessible vehicles available for Mullett Arena trips?
Yes — ADA-accessible buses are available through transportation providers serving Chandler and the Phoenix metro. Note your accessibility needs when you submit your trip details and the right vehicle can be arranged. Mullett Arena is fully accessible per ASU's standards; for specific accessible seating and entrance guidance at the venue, contact ASU Athletics or check your event listing before your date.
How early should a bus to Mullett Arena be booked?
For most regular-season hockey games and standard concerts, two to four weeks of lead time gives you solid vehicle availability at a straightforward rate. For sold-out shows and marquee hockey matchups — especially on Friday and Saturday nights when demand across the Phoenix metro runs high — earlier is meaningfully better. The right vehicle at a predictable price goes to the groups that lock it in first; waiting until the week of the event on a high-demand Saturday risks limited availability and higher rates.
Call 480-535-4400 as soon as your event tickets are confirmed to check what is available on your specific date.
Find Your Mullett Arena Party Bus or Charter Bus Rental Today
Whether it's an ASU Sun Devils hockey game, a sold-out Mullett Arena concert, a company outing, or a celebration night from the South Valley, the right bus for your group is a 30-second quote request away. Compare party buses, charter buses, minibuses, and Sprinter limos from transportation providers serving Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, and the full Phoenix metro — and get your all-inclusive price before committing to anything.
For groups coming from Chandler and the Southeast Valley, the ride north on Loop 101 is a straight shot, the bus drops everyone at the Novus Place entrance, and the entire campus parking question stops being something your group has to figure out. Call 480-535-4400 any time to request estimates — or use the online quote tool to check pricing in seconds. Get started as soon as your tickets are confirmed, because the right vehicle on a busy South Valley Saturday night goes to the group that reaches out first.
