Memorial Stadium has sold out 410 consecutive home games — an NCAA record that dates to 1962 and shows no sign of stopping. That's over six decades of capacity crowds, 85,458 fans in scarlet at every kickoff, and zero empty seats. It also means parking within walking distance of the gates is nearly impossible to find if you're not a Huskers Athletic Fund donor.
The reserved lots surrounding the stadium are exactly that — reserved. Public spots are scattered across downtown Lincoln blocks away, running $20 to $30 per vehicle, and they fill fast. Southbound 9th Street closes at the Salt Creek Roadway roundabout two hours before kickoff.
R Street, Q Street, and P Street close from 9th Street toward the stadium. The whole neighborhood essentially locks down — and your group of 30 is trying to navigate it in four separate cars. One Lincoln charter bus or party bus rental takes all of that off your plate.
This guide covers exactly where charter buses and party buses drop off and stage at Memorial Stadium, how the StarTran Big Red Express shuttle works and where it falls short for larger groups, what the road closure plan looks like on game day, and which vehicle fits your headcount — built from UNL's own published game day resources and verified City of Lincoln traffic plans. For the full picture of group transportation to Huskers events, the Lincoln sporting event transportation page covers the broader picture.
Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to Memorial Stadium?
Here is the problem with driving yourself to a Huskers home game: the parking lots immediately surrounding Memorial Stadium are reserved almost entirely for Huskers Athletic Fund donors. If your group doesn't have a donor permit, you're searching for public parking spread across downtown Lincoln — city lots and garages at $20 to $30 per car, university day-of spots at $15 to $25, or metered street parking at $1.25 per hour (or $15 all-day via the Passport app). Those public options fill quickly on sellout days, and they're blocks from the gates, not steps.
Then add the road closures that kick in two hours before kickoff, the pedestrian crush of 85,000 fans converging at once, and post-game gridlock that doesn't clear for well over an hour. That's the standard driving experience.
A Lincoln charter bus rental changes the equation. Your group boards at one pickup location — a west Lincoln hotel, an Omaha parking garage, a bar on O Street — and the bus drops the group at the designated fan vehicle cutout northwest of Lot 8 via eastbound Salt Creek Roadway, steps from the stadium gates, while the bus stages in the charter bus lot on W Street between 14th and 16th Streets. Nobody splits up between parking lots.
Nobody draws straws for who has to stay sober. The post-game pickup is arranged before your group walks through the gate, so you walk out to a bus instead of a surge-priced rideshare queue. Compare the full vehicle lineup and get pricing for your group in under 30 seconds — no account required.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at Memorial Stadium
The university's official game day information page places the fan vehicle drop-off at a designated bus cutout northwest of Lot 8 via eastbound Salt Creek Roadway. That's the coordinated group arrival point on the northwest side of the stadium — not the front entrance on Stadium Drive (which is closed to vehicle traffic on game days), but the Salt Creek Roadway cutout that puts your group within easy walking distance of the gates. Your group steps off there and walks straight in.
Rideshare and taxi drop-off is at a separate location: the bus stop in front of Henzlik Hall, 1430 Vine St., about two blocks east of the stadium. If anyone in your group arrives separately via Uber or Lyft, that's their entry point — and coordinating a split-arrival group across two different drop zones on a sellout day adds a layer of complexity that a single bus eliminates entirely.
Charter Bus Parking at Memorial Stadium
Charter buses park on the south side of W Street between 14th and 16th Streets, near the Outdoor Adventures Center, per UNL Parking & Transit Services. That's approximately one block south of Memorial Stadium — close enough that the bus can return to the Salt Creek Roadway drop zone for your post-game pickup without a long reroute, and your group doesn't hike out to a remote lot to find their ride home. Set your post-game pickup window before walking in — when you come out, the bus is right there.
The charter bus drop is northwest of Lot 8 via eastbound Salt Creek Roadway. Staging is on W Street between 14th and 16th. That's the complete picture from UNL's own published game day resources — no guessing at a closed gate, no scramble across remote parking fields.
Every Way to Get to Memorial Stadium on Game Day
Lincoln does not have a dedicated game day rail line to the stadium, and unlike suburban college venues with sprawling public tailgate lots, Memorial Stadium sits mid-city with most surrounding parking controlled by the university donor system. Here is an honest look at every option for a group — because the StarTran Big Red Express is genuinely good for certain situations, and you should know when each approach makes sense before you commit.
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Drop-off point | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split across the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival | Best — Salt Creek Roadway cutout, NW of Lot 8; bus stages on W Street | Groups of 15–56 |
| StarTran Big Red Express | $15 adult round trip ($13 advance) | Only if everyone boards the same bus | Good — R Street between 12th and 14th | Individuals or small groups already parked at a shuttle lot |
| Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) | Per car each way plus post-game surge | No — multiple cars, multiple arrival times | Poor — Henzlik Hall, 1430 Vine St., ~2 blocks east of the gates | 1–4 people |
| Everyone drives and parks | $15–$30 per car, blocks from the gates | No — donor lots reserved, public lots scattered | Varies — public lots are several blocks away | Donor permit holders only, or groups of 1–2 cars who book public lots early |
For one or two people, the StarTran Big Red Express is a genuinely solid option — $15 round trip, no parking headache, and the stadium stop on R Street between 12th and 14th is a comfortable walk to the gates. But the moment your group grows to 10 or 15 people, coordinating shuttle timing across four different park-and-ride locations — with the last outbound bus departing 45 minutes before kickoff — starts creating exactly the kind of fragmented arrival that ruins a game day before it starts. One bus, one plan.
StarTran Big Red Express Shuttle Service Details
StarTran's game day shuttle runs from four outlying park-and-ride locations for every regular-season home game: Northwest High School (49th & Holdrege), Gateway Mall (61st & O Street), SouthPointe Pavilions (27th & Pine Lake Road), and North Star High School (5801 N. 33rd St.). Buses depart on 30-minute intervals starting two hours before kickoff. The last outbound bus leaves those lots 45 minutes before kickoff — which means groups driving in from out of town and running behind on I-80 can miss the window.
The stadium stop is on R Street between 12th and 14th. Return service begins after the start of the fourth quarter.
Round-trip tickets run $15 per adult day-of, or $13 purchased in advance via the Token Transit app or at the StarTran office at 710 J St. A season pass covering all home games costs $65 at the StarTran office or $75 on the Token Transit app. One note: e-scooters are disabled across campus and surrounding neighborhoods during all home games, so that option is off the table on game days regardless of what your route looks like.
Getting to Lincoln for a Husker Game Day
Omaha sends the largest single stream of visiting fans to Memorial Stadium — about 55 miles east on I-80, roughly 50 to 60 minutes under normal conditions. On a noon game day when the entire I-80 corridor is heading west toward Lincoln, plan 75 to 90 minutes minimum. Groups coming from Kansas City are looking at a little over 3 hours, and those coming from Denver have a 7-plus-hour drive.
Whatever your origin, the City of Lincoln's recommended approach routes by direction:
- From the west: I-80 to Highway 77 (Exit 397), then south on Highway 77 into downtown
- From the south: Highway 77 northbound directly into downtown Lincoln
- From the east (for the stadium area): I-80 to I-180 (Exit 401a), then I-180 south to downtown
- From the east (for Haymarket parking): Take Exit 399 (Airport exit), follow Cornhusker Highway south — the I-180 route backs up and puts you in the wrong position for the Haymarket garages
Two hours before kickoff, southbound 9th Street closes at the roundabout at 9th Street and Salt Creek Roadway. R Street, Q Street, and P Streets close to traffic from 9th Street toward the stadium. Fans on I-180 who want to reach the Haymarket must exit at N Street and use Pinnacle Arena Drive instead.
Post-game, northbound 10th Street from Q to T streets is restricted to I-180; 16th Street closes northbound from Vine to Q streets. The city recommends Waze or lincoln.ne.gov/closures for real-time updates, since the exact timing varies by kickoff and event size. Any guide quoting a fixed approach and claiming it's definitive for every game date may already be out of date — when you reserve your bus, the current approach and staging plan for your specific game date is confirmed before you arrive.
For groups flying in, Lincoln Airport (LNK) sits about 4 miles northwest of downtown and handles limited direct service. Eppley Airfield in Omaha (OMA) — 55 miles east on I-80 — offers far more carrier options and is often the better choice for groups flying from out of state. Either way, a bus from the terminal keeps your whole group together from the moment you land instead of splitting across a rental car queue.
The Lincoln Airport LNK shuttle guide covers the arrival logistics for LNK specifically.
Memorial Stadium Party Bus Rental Prices
Partybuslincoln.net connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Lincoln, and pricing comes back in under 30 seconds — no account required, free to check. What shapes the number: vehicle size, total hours (including the pregame staging window and post-game wait on W Street), your pickup location, and game day demand. A Big Ten rivalry game in October prices differently than a September non-conference opener; an evening kickoff creates a different lot dynamic than a noon start.
To give you an idea: a 56-passenger charter bus runs roughly $200 to $350 per hour on game day weekends. A group of 50 people heading in from Omaha — pickup downtown at 9 a.m. for a noon kickoff, staging on W Street through the game, return pickup after postgame — might be looking at a 6-to-7-hour reservation at that range. Split 50 ways, the per-head cost often lands at or below what each person would pay separately for a single public parking spot, before accounting for gas, tolls on I-80, and the actual drive.
A Lincoln minibus rental for a group of 15 to 25 runs roughly $200 to $275 per hour on weekends — for a hotel-to-stadium-and-back run where two hours covers the trip, the math is straightforward. A pricing estimate for your date, group size, and route takes about a minute to pull up at 502-242-0101 or through the quick online form.
See the Lincoln party bus prices page for planning ranges across all vehicle types, or call 502-242-0101 any time for a free, no-obligation quote.
To Give You an Idea: A Husker Game Day Run
A 40-person fan group traveling from Omaha books a 40-passenger party bus. Pickup at 9:30 a.m. in Midtown Omaha, arriving at the W Street charter bus lot by 11:00 a.m. — two and a half hours before a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. The bus drops the group at the Salt Creek Roadway cutout northwest of Lot 8, then stages on W Street through the game.
Post-game pickup at 5:00 p.m., back in Omaha by 6:30 p.m. An 8-hour weekend reservation at that vehicle size might come to $2,600 to $4,000 total — divided 40 ways, that's roughly $65 to $100 per person with transportation both directions covered, no one paying $25 for a public parking spot on top of that, and no one getting separated between multiple cars on the post-game gridlock back to I-80.
What Size Bus Does Your Group Need?
Memorial Stadium draws every kind of group — a family reunion making the trip from western Nebraska, a corporate outing from a Lincoln company, a fan club loading up from Omaha's Old Market for the Ohio State game. Partybuslincoln.net compares options across a wide network, so the right-size vehicle is available for your headcount. Here is how the vehicle options break down for a Husker game day run.
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Luggage / gear | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter Van | Up to 14 | Modest — bags, a cooler | Small groups, hotel-to-stadium hops, VIP groups | Leather seating, USB charging, tinted windows |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | ~15–50 | Onboard, lighter | Fan groups who want the full game-day atmosphere on the ride in | LED lighting, premium sound with Bluetooth, flat-panel TVs, wraparound perimeter seating |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Overhead bins plus some underfloor | Mid-size groups, corporate outings, hotel shuttles | Reclining seats, powerful A/C, overhead storage |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Excellent — deep undercarriage bays | Large fan groups, Omaha-to-Lincoln runs, association trips | Reclining seats, overhead storage, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, undercarriage bays |
For groups driving in from Omaha or further — where the trip is 50-plus miles each way — a full-size charter bus with undercarriage bays and an onboard restroom is the smart call. No pit stops on I-80, everyone has overhead storage for gear and jackets, and 56 seats keeps the per-head rate reasonable even after you total the full day. For groups already in Lincoln just needing a shuttle from a west-side hotel to the stadium and back, a minibus is usually the tighter fit in both size and cost.
ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — just note it when you request your quote.
Know Before You Go: Memorial Stadium Policies
Several policies changed at Memorial Stadium for the 2025 season, and a few of them directly affect how your group plans the day:
- No re-entry. Once you leave Memorial Stadium after initial entry, your ticket is no longer valid for re-entry. Make sure everyone in your group has what they need before walking through the gate — going back out to the bus is not an option once you're inside.
- Cashless venue. Memorial Stadium is fully cashless for all transactions inside. Bring a card or have mobile payment ready before you arrive.
- Clear bag policy. One clear plastic bag no larger than 12" × 6" × 12" (or a one-gallon clear zip-lock bag), plus a small non-clear clutch. Backpacks are not permitted. Review the current policy at huskers.com/football-game-day-information before game day.
- Outside food and beverages banned. Since 2025, outside food and drinks are prohibited. Personal empty water bottles can be brought in for refilling at stadium fountains.
- Walk-through gate screening. The stadium uses walk-through screening technology rather than manual wand checks, which speeds up entry lines — but gates still open only 90 minutes before kickoff (student gates open 2.5 hours early), so arriving at least 75 minutes before kickoff gives your group enough time to clear the entry.
- E-scooters disabled on game days. E-scooters are inoperable across campus and surrounding neighborhoods during all home games. Plan transportation accordingly.
The Cornhusker Kickoff pre-game fan fest at the Hawks Championship Center opens four hours before kickoff — free admission, live entertainment, food, merchandise, and athlete appearances. No game ticket required, making it a solid early gathering spot for groups who arrive in Lincoln with time to spare before gates open.
2026 Home Games at Memorial Stadium
Nebraska's 2026 home schedule puts seven games at Memorial Stadium, including a late-November showdown with Ohio State that will be among the most competitive charter bus and party bus booking weekends of the entire fall. Groups targeting any of these dates — especially the Big Ten home games — should check availability and lock in a vehicle well before the game-day window arrives. The 2026 home slate:
- September 5 vs. Ohio — 11 a.m. kickoff on FS1. Season opener. The most available vehicle weekend of the fall, but a full sellout crowd is already confirmed.
- September 12 vs. Bowling Green — 6 p.m. on FS1. Evening kickoff means campus lots open at 11 a.m., compressing the pre-game parking scramble into a shorter window.
- September 19 vs. North Dakota — 6:15 p.m. on BTN. Another evening game; same late-lot-opening situation applies to anyone driving and parking independently.
- October 3 vs. Maryland — Big Ten play opens; Homecoming. Full campus energy, the Haymarket at capacity by noon, and a strong Omaha-metro group transportation demand.
- October 10 vs. Indiana — Mid-October Big Ten Saturday. Peak fall weather in Lincoln, and one of the busiest periods for group charter bus bookings from the surrounding region.
- October 31 vs. Washington — Halloween weekend. One of the most anticipated home dates of the 2026 slate; book early.
- November 21 vs. Ohio State — The marquee home game of the year. Vehicle availability for this weekend goes fast. If Ohio State is on your bucket list at Memorial Stadium, book as soon as your date is confirmed.
Call 502-242-0101 to check availability for your specific date — or use the quick online form for pricing on any game day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at Memorial Stadium?
The university's official game day information places the fan vehicle drop-off at a designated cutout northwest of Lot 8 via eastbound Salt Creek Roadway. That's the coordinated group arrival point on the northwest side of the stadium — not the front entrance on Stadium Drive, which is closed to vehicle traffic on game days. From the Salt Creek Roadway drop, your group walks straight to the gates.
Rideshare and taxi drop is at a separate zone: Henzlik Hall, 1430 Vine St., about two blocks east of the stadium. The official reference for both is the Nebraska Huskers game day information page.
Where do charter buses park during the game at Memorial Stadium?
Charter buses stage and park on the south side of W Street between 14th and 16th Streets, near the Outdoor Adventures Center — approximately one block south of Memorial Stadium — per UNL Parking & Transit Services. The bus can return to the Salt Creek Roadway drop zone for post-game pickup without a long reroute. Set your pickup window before walking in, and the bus is there when you come out.
Is parking available to the public near Memorial Stadium?
Almost all of the lots immediately surrounding Memorial Stadium are reserved for Huskers Athletic Fund donors and are not available to the general public on game days. Public options include city garages and meters at $20 to $30 per car, plus university day-of lots at $15 to $25 — but these fill quickly and require a walk of several blocks. The Lot 9 parking garage at 14th & Avery Ave. is one available public option at $25 game-day with accessible parking.
For any group larger than two or three cars, the per-head math on a charter bus almost always beats individual public parking — one flat rate covering everyone, no separate parking fees per vehicle, and no one walking six blocks in the cold after the fourth quarter.
How does the StarTran Big Red Express work?
StarTran's Big Red Express runs from four park-and-ride locations: Northwest High School (49th & Holdrege), Gateway Mall (61st & O), SouthPointe Pavilions (27th & Pine Lake Road), and North Star High School (5801 N. 33rd St.). Service starts two hours before kickoff, with the last outbound bus leaving 45 minutes before kickoff. The stadium stop is on R Street between 12th and 14th.
Return service starts after the fourth quarter begins. Round-trip tickets are $15 per adult day-of (or $13 advance) via the Token Transit app or at the StarTran office at 710 J St. A season pass for all home games runs $65 at the StarTran office or $75 on the app. The Big Red Express does not run for the spring game — only regular-season home games.
How much does it cost to rent a charter bus or party bus to Memorial Stadium?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, your pickup location, and game day demand. A 56-passenger charter bus runs roughly $200 to $350 per hour on game day weekends; a minibus for a smaller group runs roughly $200 to $275 per hour. These are planning ranges — a pricing estimate for your specific date and group is available in under 30 seconds at 502-242-0101 or through the online form.
See the Lincoln party bus prices page for ranges across every vehicle type.
What roads close around Memorial Stadium on game day?
Two hours before kickoff, southbound 9th Street closes at the roundabout at 9th Street and Salt Creek Roadway. R Street, Q Street, and P Street close to traffic from 9th Street toward the stadium. Fans on I-180 who want to reach the Haymarket area must exit at N Street and use Pinnacle Arena Drive instead of continuing south on 9th.
Post-game: northbound 10th Street from Q to T streets is restricted to I-180 traffic; 16th Street from Vine to Q streets closes northbound. The City of Lincoln's closure page and Waze both provide real-time updates specific to each game — the exact plan can shift by kickoff time.
What is the best route to Lincoln for a Husker game?
From the west (western Nebraska, Colorado), take I-80 to Highway 77 at Exit 397, then south on Highway 77 into downtown. From the east (Omaha, Iowa), take I-80 to I-180 at Exit 401a for the stadium and campus area — or take the Airport Exit 399 and follow Cornhusker Highway if you're parking in the Haymarket garages. Highway 77 from the south is the recommended approach for groups coming up from Kansas or Missouri.
All four corridors get significantly slower in the two hours before a noon kickoff; plan 30 to 45 minutes more than your off-peak drive time for any major game.
Should my group fly into Lincoln or Omaha?
Lincoln Airport (LNK) handles limited direct service and is about 4 miles northwest of downtown. Eppley Airfield in Omaha (OMA) has far more carrier options and is typically the better arrival airport for groups flying from out of state — at 55 miles on I-80, a charter bus from Omaha to Lincoln keeps the whole group together for the ride in and the return trip, rather than splitting into rental cars on a crowded I-80. The Lincoln Airport LNK shuttle guide covers LNK arrival logistics in detail.
What is the no re-entry policy at Memorial Stadium?
Starting with the 2025 season, once a ticketed fan exits Memorial Stadium after initial entry, the game ticket is invalid for re-entry. This matters for groups traveling by bus: make sure every person in your group has everything they need — clear bag packed, phone charged, any prescriptions, a jacket if the weather is turning — before walking through the gate. Going back to the bus mid-game means you cannot return to your seat.
How early do I need to arrive at Memorial Stadium?
Stadium gates open 90 minutes before kickoff for most fans; student gates open 2.5 hours early. Campus lots open at 6 a.m. for kickoffs before 6 p.m., and at 11 a.m. for evening kickoffs. The Cornhusker Kickoff fan fest at the Hawks Championship Center opens four hours before kickoff.
For groups arriving by bus from Omaha or further on a noon game day, a 9 to 10 a.m. departure puts you in Lincoln well before the 9th Street closure at T-minus 2 hours — which is the right window. Getting there after that closure adds a reroute, not just traffic.
Are ADA-accessible buses available for Memorial Stadium trips?
Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network. Note it in your quote request, and the right vehicle can be arranged. At the stadium itself, accessible parking permits are available in donor lots 5, 8, and 9 on a limited basis; golf cart shuttle service runs between Memorial Stadium and the 14th & Avery Garage for patrons with mobility limitations on football game days.
Contact UNL Parking & Transit Services at 402-472-1800 for accessible lot details specific to your game date.
Book Your Memorial Stadium Party Bus or Charter Bus Today
Memorial Stadium sells out every home game — which means 85,000 people all sharing the same streets, the same road closures, and the same public parking scramble. One charter bus or party bus reservation skips all of that. Partybuslincoln.net makes it easy to compare options and pricing from a large network of bus companies serving Lincoln in under 30 seconds, with no account required and no obligation. Whether your group is 15 people coming from a Lincoln hotel or 56 fans making the I-80 run from Omaha for the Ohio State matchup, the right vehicle and the right quote are one quick call away.
Call 502-242-0101 any time — or use the online form for pricing on your game day. Also heading to a Huskers basketball game or a concert in Lincoln? The Pinnacle Bank Arena bus guide covers drop-off and parking details for that venue.
