Rent a Bus to S.B. Ballard Stadium: The Complete S.B. Ballard Stadium Transportation Guide

Hampton Boulevard carries the whole region's game-day momentum right to ODU's front door — and if you've ever arrived without an ODAF parking pass and found the Chartway Arena garages already full at 90 minutes before kickoff, you know exactly what the parking situation looks like for fans who drove themselves. The free general garages on 43rd and 45th Streets off Hampton Boulevard handle non-member traffic, and they fill fast. The reserved tailgate surface lots are ODAF members only.

Everyone else is circling the campus grid or hiking from wherever they managed to land. A charter bus or party bus rental to S.B. Ballard Stadium skips the whole exercise: one drop-off on Hampton Boulevard, everyone walks in together, and the Kaufman Mall Fan Fest is already running when your group steps off.

Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium (5115 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23529) holds 21,944 fans and has been the home of Old Dominion Monarchs football since its $67.5 million reconstruction opened on August 31, 2019. The 2026 home schedule gives Hampton Roads six game days to work with — including the September 5 rivalry opener against Norfolk State and a Thursday night showdown with Georgia Southern on October 15 where Hampton Boulevard will be handling evening rush hour and game arrivals at the same time. Below is the full drop-off breakdown, parking reality, and everything your group needs to arrive together and get home without the post-game scramble.

Call 757-447-5000 any time or use the quick online form to compare buses and get pricing in under 30 seconds.

Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to S.B. Ballard Stadium?

The case for a bus to Ballard Stadium isn't abstract — it's the specific geometry of ODU's campus on game day. S.B. Ballard Stadium sits embedded in a residential university campus with limited surface parking controlled by ODAF membership, two public garages that serve the entire general-public fan base, and a main artery (Hampton Boulevard) that only gets one direction of the student-and-fan funnel right. For groups coming from Virginia Beach via I-264, from the peninsula via the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel on I-64, or from Chesapeake — each of those approach routes funnels onto the same final stretch of Hampton Boulevard.

One bus makes one approach. A caravan of eight cars makes eight.

Then there's the October 15 problem. The Georgia Southern game is a Thursday night kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2 — and Hampton Boulevard is one of Norfolk's busier weekday commuter corridors during the evening rush. ODU's own program acknowledged the scheduling challenge when the game was announced.

A Norfolk charter bus picks your entire group up from one location, rides through the Hampton Boulevard commute once, drops everyone at the stadium curb, and stages for the post-game pickup — nobody in your group stuck alone in that double-traffic run home. That's the whole argument, and it's operational, not theoretical.

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

S.B. Ballard Stadium sits directly on Hampton Boulevard at 5115 Hampton Blvd, and the commercial curb on Hampton Boulevard near the stadium's main entrance is the practical drop point for buses and large vehicles arriving on game day. ODU does not publish a designated charter bus gate in its public fan information — the specific commercial vehicle staging arrangement for each game is coordinated through ODU Transportation & Parking Services at 757-683-4004 or via the ODU event parking page. Contact that office before your game date to confirm where your specific bus should stage.

That step matters most for the Sept. 5 home opener and any Sun Belt Conference games where crowd volumes approach capacity.

One operational detail worth knowing immediately: the campus parking garages cannot accommodate a full-size charter bus or motorcoach. The Constant Center garages on 43rd and 45th Streets — the free general-public garages most fans use — have clearance heights of 8'2" on the ground floor and 6'9" on upper levels. The 43rd & Bluestone Avenue Garage runs 8'2" on the first level.

A standard charter bus at 13'6" tall cannot use any of them. The bus drops on Hampton Boulevard and stages, rather than pulling into a structure — which actually simplifies post-game pickup considerably. Your group has one agreed-upon spot, and the bus is there when you come out.

49th Street Closes for Stadium Events — What That Changes for Your Approach

49th Street between Hampton Boulevard and Bluestone Avenue closes for stadium events. That closure matters because 49th Street is the cut-through between Hampton Blvd and the 49th Street Stadium Garage and Red Garage on Bluestone Avenue. Fans driving to those structures on game day must use the alternate approach: take Hampton Boulevard to Bolling Avenue, turn left onto Bolling, then left onto Bluestone Avenue — the Stadium Garage will be on your left just past the stadium building.

ADA parking is on the first level of the Red Garage at 49th Street and Bluestone Avenue, accessed the same way. For a bus group doing a curbside drop on Hampton Boulevard, the 49th Street closure doesn't change the drop logistics — but it's the detail that catches anyone following GPS straight down 49th Street into a closed road. Review the official ODU parking and tailgating page and the event parking page before each game for current road arrangements, which can shift by event.

Getting to S.B. Ballard Stadium: Routes and Drive Times from Hampton Roads

Almost every approach in Hampton Roads eventually feeds Hampton Boulevard, which runs north-south directly past the stadium. The two main corridors are I-64 from the peninsula (through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel) and I-264 from Virginia Beach (through the Downtown Tunnel into Norfolk), and both land you on the same final stretch of Hampton Blvd headed toward the ODU campus.

From Hampton and Newport News on the peninsula: Take I-64 East, exit at Exit 276 (Naval Base/Terminal Blvd), follow I-564 to Terminal Boulevard, and turn left onto Hampton Boulevard. The stadium is approximately 3 miles south on Hampton Blvd — about 10-15 minutes from that turn under normal conditions. Door to door from Hampton or Newport News before the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, figure 30-40 minutes off-peak.

The HRBT is the critical variable: it compresses eight lanes to four through the tunnel bore, and on game-night backups the crossing alone can add 20-40 minutes. A charter bus group makes that crossing once in each direction — not as a caravan of 10 separate cars, each needing the same bottleneck twice.

From downtown Norfolk: Brambleton Avenue leads directly to Hampton Boulevard — approximately 5 miles from the downtown core to the stadium, typically 15-20 minutes off-peak, longer during game-day arrival windows as Hampton Blvd thickens up north of 40th Street. From Virginia Beach, I-264 West connects through the Downtown Tunnel to Brambleton and Hampton Boulevard; depending on your origin in the Beach, figure 25-40 minutes without traffic. From Chesapeake, I-64 West or I-264 routes funnel into the same Norfolk corridors — roughly 20-30 minutes off-peak from most of Chesapeake.

The Thursday Night Hampton Boulevard Situation

October 15 is the schedule's logistical wildcard. Georgia Southern kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on a Thursday on ESPN or ESPN2, which means game-day arrivals overlap directly with the tail end of Hampton Boulevard's weekday evening commute. ODU's football program acknowledged the challenge openly when the Thursday date was announced — "Hampton Boulevard on a Thursday night, that should be interesting" was the characterization.

A party bus or charter bus rental for the Georgia Southern game picks your group up at one location, navigates the commute-plus-game-day traffic as a single vehicle, drops at the Hampton Blvd curb, and is already staged for the post-game run home before the final whistle. Book that date early — Thursday evening games in college football have limited bus availability as demand clusters around an unusual night of the week.

S.B. Ballard Stadium Parking: What Your Group Needs to Know Before Game Day

Free general parking is in the Chartway Arena garages on 43rd and 45th Streets, both directly off Hampton Boulevard. The 43rd Street Garage (at Hampton Blvd and 43rd St) and the 45th Street Garage (at Hampton Blvd and 45th St) take the bulk of non-ODAF game-day traffic — no pass required, no cost, and a 5-10 minute walk to the stadium gates. The 43rd & Bluestone Avenue Garage (corner of 43rd St and Bluestone Ave) is faculty/staff priority on game days but opens to the public after 3:45 p.m.

On high-demand games — the Norfolk State rivalry, a conference date with rankings on the line, any nationally televised evening game — the public garages fill well before kickoff. ODU's event parking page notes that enforcement begins at 5:00 a.m. on game days, with a $100 citation and tow for vehicles parked outside permitted locations; towed vehicles are relocated to Lot 43.

The reserved surface tailgate lots — the color-coded sections closest to the stadium — require a valid ODAF membership and a current ODU football season ticket. The ODAF allocates these spots by membership donation level, then by priority points within each tier, with no day-of purchase option for general fans. The 49th Street Stadium Garage (at 49th St and Bluestone Ave, approached via Bolling Avenue when 49th Street is closed) and the Red Garage at that same corner are reserved for Cox Business Loge Lounge holders, Priority Automotive Club members, and Luxury Suite ticket holders — with ADA parking available on the Red Garage's first level.

The White Lot near the ODU Sailing Center serves as the designated RV area.

The Kaufman Mall Pregame and Your Party Bus Rental to S.B. Ballard Stadium

Kaufman Mall — the four-acre green space between Hampton Boulevard and the Webb Student Center, running from 47th to 49th Streets — is where ODU's game day actually begins. Starting four hours before kickoff, the Fan Fest opens with a beer garden, food trucks (including Hot Mamas for southern-style cooking, Ghost Kitchen for burgers, and I Love Kookies for desserts), live music, cornhole and yard games, and ax throwing. Two and a half hours before kickoff, the ODU Marching Band performs on the mall.

About two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, the football team makes the Monarch March from Webb Center through Kaufman Mall to the stadium entrance — one of the signature traditions of an ODU home game. For a 6 p.m. kickoff like the September 5 Norfolk State opener, Kaufman Mall starts at 2 p.m. That is four full hours of fan fest before you ever need to think about the stadium gates.

A Norfolk party bus rental that drops your group on Hampton Boulevard at 2:00 p.m. puts everyone directly into that scene — no parking hustle, no separate meet-up point, no splitting the group at the garage. ODU also offers full-service Kaufman Mall tailgate packages starting at $800 for up to 15 people and scaling up to 500-person configurations for large corporate or alumni groups — tents, tables, chairs, and catering available — if your group wants the full setup without hauling gear across town. Check that page for 2026 availability and current pricing for the specific game dates your group is targeting.

Tailgating at S.B. Ballard Stadium: The Rules

Surface lot tailgating opens four hours before kickoff and all fans must vacate the lots within two hours after the game ends — that's the hard rule from the official ODU parking and tailgating page. The specific restrictions worth knowing before you load the bus:

• Charcoal and gas grills are allowed, but open fires are not. Charcoal grills must be elevated at least one foot above the pavement. Propane tanks are capped at 10 gallons per vehicle. Bonfires and pit fires are prohibited.
• No glass containers anywhere in the tailgate zones. Glass is prohibited in parking and tailgating areas.
• No gas generators. Battery-powered equipment is fine; gas generators are not permitted.
• Tents may not be staked into the pavement. Weighted tents are fine; anything pegged into the lot surface is not.
• No household furniture. Standard folding chairs and camp tables are permitted; indoor furniture is not.
• Service animals only. No pets in the tailgating areas.

For groups arriving by bus, the deep undercarriage bays on a full charter bus handle grills, folding chairs, coolers, and portable tables in one load — no separate gear vehicle, no second trip. Everything rides in, gets unloaded at the lot, and gets loaded back up at the two-hour-after-game window. That's considerably simpler than dividing gear across a caravan of personal vehicles.

2026 ODU Monarchs Football Home Schedule at S.B. Ballard Stadium

Six home games fill the 2026 ODU football calendar at Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Per the 2026 schedule announcement from ODU Athletics:

The September 5 opener against Norfolk State is a rare in-city rivalry — both schools are located in Norfolk, and ODU is 4-0 all-time in the series. Demand for that game across Hampton Roads tends to run high, which means Kaufman Mall and the public garages get congested early. The back-to-back evening home games on September 5 and 19 both kick off at 6 p.m., which keeps them clear of Hampton Boulevard's rush-hour peak.

The October 15 Thursday night game is the scheduling anomaly: 7:30 p.m. kickoff, prime-time network, and the worst possible overlap with weekday commuter traffic on every Norfolk approach road. Book transportation for that date well in advance — Thursday evening slots go fast.

Rent a Bus to S.B. Ballard Stadium: Vehicle Options for Every Group

Partybusnorfolk.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Norfolk and the Hampton Roads region, with options ranging from compact Sprinter vans to full 56-passenger motorcoaches. The right vehicle comes down to headcount and how much tailgate gear your group is hauling. Here's how the full vehicle lineup lines up for a Ballard Stadium game day:

For tailgate-heavy groups with grills, folding chairs, and coolers, a full charter bus is the clear fit — the undercarriage bays carry everything without needing a separate gear run, and the onboard restroom covers the drive back to Virginia Beach or across the HRBT without a pit stop. For a mid-size fan group shuttling from a hotel in the Ghent neighborhood or from downtown Norfolk, a minibus gives you the right capacity with easy navigation on the campus side streets. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — note it in your quote request at least 48 hours before your game date.

S.B. Ballard Stadium Party Bus and Charter Bus Rental Prices

Partybusnorfolk.com shows you pricing in under 30 seconds — no account needed, no commitment required to look. Rates move with vehicle size, total reserved hours (your pregame window plus the post-game staging and return), the specific game date, and your pickup location in Hampton Roads. To give you a planning frame: a 15-35 passenger minibus runs roughly $200–$250 per hour on weekdays and $200–$275 per hour on weekends, with per-day pricing from around $1,100 to $2,150.

A 40-56 passenger charter bus runs approximately $200–$350 per hour. Party buses range from around $275–$400 per hour for a smaller 18-passenger option up to $325–$500 per hour on a weekend game day for a 40-50 passenger bus. Pricing for your specific date and itinerary comes from a quick quote — those are planning ranges, and the actual number depends on your run.

Once you split one bus across 30 or 40 people, the per-head figure tends to undercut the combination of gas, per-car parking fees, and the post-game rideshare surge on Hampton Boulevard. For the Thursday night Georgia Southern game where rideshare surge pricing kicks in after a late weeknight final whistle, that math shifts even further toward the bus. See the Norfolk party bus prices page for more context, or call 757-447-5000 any time — a support team can work through your exact headcount, pickup point, and game date.

A Sample Game Day Run

To give you an idea: a 35-person fan group heading to the September 5 Norfolk State opener books a 40-passenger party bus from Virginia Beach. Pickup at 2:00 p.m., on Hampton Boulevard by 3:15 p.m. — just under three hours before the 6 p.m. kickoff. The group walks into the Kaufman Mall Fan Fest in time to catch the Monarch March and the opening band set.

After the game, the bus is staged and picks everyone up at the Hampton Blvd curb. A seven-hour rental at that size on a weekend evening might run around $2,275 — about $65 per person — with the HRBT crossing, the parking hunt, and the post-game rideshare search all gone from the equation.

Stadium Policies at S.B. Ballard Stadium: What to Know Before You Go

The official ODU stadium guidelines page is the authoritative source on entry policies at Kornblau Field. The essentials for any group planning around gate timing and the bag policy:

• Clear bag policy. Each person may bring one clear plastic bag no larger than 12" × 6" × 12" (or a one-gallon resealable clear plastic bag), plus one small clutch or purse no larger than 6.5" × 4.5". Cell phones, binoculars, wallets, and keys go inside the clear bag. Backpacks, fanny packs, binocular cases, and any opaque bag are prohibited.
• Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. The South Gate opens two hours before kickoff for premium ticket holders. Plan your arrival from the bus accordingly — 90 minutes out is the earliest the main gates accept general fans.
• Mobile ticketing only. ODU uses digital tickets for the 2026 season — have each person's phone charged and ticket accessible before the Hampton Blvd drop-off.
• No re-entry. Once your group exits the stadium, re-entry is not permitted.
• No outside food or beverages. Outside food, drinks, glass containers, and coolers are prohibited inside the stadium. Concessions inside require cashless payment through Aramark.
• ADA seating is available in sections E101, E105, E106, W114, W117, N121, N122, and additional loge and suite areas. ADA parking on game day is in the Red Garage's first level at 49th Street and Bluestone Avenue, accessed via Bolling Avenue.

For ticketing questions, the ODU Box Office is available at (757) 683-4444. The full up-to-date policy list lives on the ODU football fan information page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bus Transportation to S.B. Ballard Stadium

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

S.B. Ballard Stadium sits directly on Hampton Boulevard at 5115 Hampton Blvd, making the commercial curb on Hampton Boulevard near the main stadium entrance the practical drop point for buses. ODU does not publish a specific designated bus gate in its public fan information — contact ODU Transportation & Parking Services at 757-683-4004 or via the event parking page before your game date to confirm the exact commercial vehicle arrangement for your specific game. The bus then stages and is positioned for your group's agreed post-game pickup at the same Hampton Blvd location.

Why can't a charter bus use the campus parking garages?

Full-size charter buses and motorcoaches are typically 13'6" tall. The Chartway Arena garages on 43rd and 45th Streets have upper-level clearances as low as 6'9", and even first-floor clearances top out at 8'2" — not workable for a commercial-height bus. The bus drops on Hampton Boulevard and stages externally rather than pulling into any campus structure.

This is standard for campus-embedded stadiums with residential garage systems.

Does 49th Street close for ODU football games?

Yes. 49th Street between Hampton Boulevard and Bluestone Avenue closes for stadium events. Fans driving to the 49th Street Stadium Garage or the Red Garage on Bluestone Avenue must use the alternate approach: Hampton Boulevard to Bolling Avenue (left), then left again onto Bluestone Avenue.

The garage is on the left just past the stadium. For a bus group dropping on Hampton Blvd, this closure doesn't affect the drop itself — it's the detail that catches anyone navigating directly from Hampton Blvd toward Bluestone on game day.

Where is the free parking at S.B. Ballard Stadium?

Free general parking is in the Chartway Arena garages on 43rd and 45th Streets off Hampton Boulevard, available to any fan without a reserved ODAF pass. Both garages are free and about a 5-10 minute walk to the stadium gates. On games where ODU approaches capacity, these garages fill well before the 90-minute gate opening — arrive at least two hours before kickoff if you're driving.

What time does tailgating open at S.B. Ballard Stadium?

Tailgating areas open four hours before kickoff. The Kaufman Mall Fan Fest — the main public pregame gathering space — also opens four hours before kickoff. Fans must vacate the tailgating lots within two hours after the game ends.

Parking enforcement begins at 5:00 a.m. on game day, and vehicles left improperly parked face a $100 citation and tow to Lot 43.

How does the Thursday night Georgia Southern game affect transportation planning?

The October 15 Georgia Southern game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on a Thursday — squarely in Hampton Boulevard's weekday evening commuter window. Game-day arrivals and the regular evening rush overlap on every approach road to ODU's campus. For groups coming from Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, or Newport News, this is the game where a Norfolk sporting event charter bus or party bus rental pays for itself most clearly: one vehicle makes the approach once, drops at the Hampton Blvd curb, and is positioned for the post-game run home before Hampton Boulevard's late-night volume clears.

Book that date early.

How far is S.B. Ballard Stadium from downtown Norfolk?

About 5 miles — typically 15-20 minutes via Brambleton Avenue to Hampton Boulevard under normal conditions. On game day evenings, Hampton Boulevard thickens up north of 40th Street in the 90 minutes before kickoff, so arriving early gives you the better window.

How long is the drive from Virginia Beach to S.B. Ballard Stadium?

From most of Virginia Beach, 25-40 minutes via I-264 West through the Downtown Tunnel into Norfolk, then Brambleton Avenue to Hampton Boulevard without traffic. For the Thursday Oct. 15 game, add time — departing Virginia Beach during the tail end of rush hour toward a 7:30 p.m. kickoff compresses what is normally a manageable drive. A bus that leaves with the group together and rides through it as one vehicle is more predictable than a caravan of personal cars navigating that window separately.

How long does it take from Hampton or Newport News across the HRBT?

Off-peak, 30-40 minutes from Hampton or Newport News via I-64 East through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, then Exit 276 to Terminal Boulevard and on to Hampton Blvd. The HRBT compresses eight lanes to four and is one of the Hampton Roads region's most consistent congestion points — on a sold-out Saturday evening, add 20-40 minutes to your estimate for the tunnel crossing alone. A bus group makes that crossing once rather than as a string of separate cars.

What's the clear bag policy at S.B. Ballard Stadium?

One clear bag per person, no larger than 12" × 6" × 12" (or a one-gallon resealable bag), plus one small clutch no larger than 6.5" × 4.5". Backpacks, fanny packs, and opaque bags are prohibited. All bags are inspected at entry.

The full policy is on the official stadium guidelines page.

What size bus do I need for a group of 20? Of 40?

For around 20 people, a 20-passenger party bus or a minibus fits the group without paying for unused seats. For 40 people, a 40-passenger party bus or a full charter bus covers the headcount comfortably and still gives you room for tailgate gear in the undercarriage bays on the charter option. Call 757-447-5000 with your exact headcount and Partybusnorfolk.com can match you to the right vehicle from the network.

How far in advance should I book for ODU football?

For most weekend games, two to four weeks of lead time is workable. For the September 5 Norfolk State home opener and the Thursday October 15 Georgia Southern game, book earlier — in-city rivalry games and Thursday night network slots both generate concentrated demand for group transportation in Norfolk. The better vehicle options go first, and the Thursday evening window is genuinely limited in Hampton Roads.

Lock in your date as soon as your headcount is set.

Book Your S.B. Ballard Stadium Bus Today

Whether it's the September 5 in-city rivalry against Norfolk State, a Sun Belt Conference game with regional implications, or the Thursday night Georgia Southern showdown where Hampton Boulevard turns into both a commuter road and a game-day approach at the same time, Partybusnorfolk.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Norfolk and the entire Hampton Roads region — charter buses, party buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans — with pricing available in under 30 seconds, no account needed. One call or one quick form covers your itinerary from Hampton, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, or downtown Norfolk, through the Hampton Roads corridors, to the Hampton Boulevard curb outside Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

Call 757-447-5000 or use the online form to request estimates and compare vehicles for your game date. The support team is available any time, any day, to build a quote around your headcount, pickup point, and kickoff time. For other Norfolk destinations your group might be planning around the same trip, the guide for Norfolk Scope Arena and the guide for Harbor Park each cover their own drop-off logistics.

Address: Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium — 5115 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23529
ODU Ticket Office: (757) 683-4444
ODU Transportation & Parking Services: (757) 683-4004