Hampton Boulevard is already one of the most heavily traveled corridors in Hampton Roads on a normal Tuesday — it shoulders Naval Station Norfolk, the Port of Virginia terminals, and the entire ODU campus, all funneled through four lanes of city street. On an ODU basketball night or a major Chartway Arena concert, that same corridor compresses into something much slower. First-timers from Virginia Beach planning a group trip to Chartway Arena at the Ted Constant Convocation Center (4320 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23529) usually have two questions: how long does the drive actually take, and where exactly does a bus drop off?
The honest answers are "longer than Google says on event nights" and "it's specific — and your bus cannot use the parking garages at all."
That second point is the one that catches most charter groups off guard. ODU's Constant Center garages have clearance limits that physically exclude a full-size coach at every level — and the university requires oversized vehicles to coordinate with Transportation & Parking Services before arriving on campus. This guide walks you through where the bus drops, how to arrange surface lot access, what parking costs (and what it doesn't, for basketball), the cleanest route in from Virginia Beach, and which vehicle fits your group.
Virginiabeachpartybus.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Virginia Beach so you can compare party bus and charter bus options without calling around — fill out the quick online form or call 757-447-5000 and you'll have pricing in under a minute, no obligation.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at Chartway Arena
The main vehicle drop-off at Chartway Arena is curbside on Hampton Boulevard, directly in front of the arena at 4320 Hampton Blvd. For any bus or group vehicle, that means pulling to the curb, unloading the group at the arena entrance, then relocating while your group is inside. The accessible and ADA-specific entrance — with dedicated curbside pickup and drop-off — is at the corner of 45th Street and Hampton Boulevard on the arena's northside, where an elevator connects directly to the concourse and VIP levels, per the official Chartway Arena accessibility page. That 45th Street corner is also the most practical bus unloading point for the main lobby approach, given its proximity to the entrance and the extra curb space on the side street compared to Hampton Blvd's main frontage.
After drop-off, a charter bus cannot pull into either Constant Center garage — the height limits make that impossible (full details in the parking section below). Your bus needs surface lot access on the ODU campus for the duration of the event. ODU's Transportation & Parking Services requires that any oversized vehicle — a charter bus counts — contact the TPS office before arriving on campus, per the ODU visitor parking page.
Reach TPS at parking@odu.edu with your event date and vehicle type, and they direct you to the appropriate surface lot. Building that call into your planning — not the morning of — is the difference between a staged bus and a $100 citation.
Parking at Chartway Arena: The Garage Height Problem for Bus Groups
Two garages flank the arena: the Constant Center 43rd Street Garage and the Constant Center 45th Street Garage. Both are close, both are free for basketball (more on that below), and neither can take a charter bus. The 43rd Street Garage clears 8'2" on the first floor and 6'9" on upper floors.
The 45th Street Garage is the taller of the two — 11'3" on the first floor and 8'2" on upper floors — but a standard charter bus runs 12 to 13 feet tall, making every level of both structures a physical non-starter. This is confirmed by the ODU parking garages page, which lists clearances for all campus structures. A minibus at around 8-9 feet might clear the first floor of the 45th Street Garage on a good day, but oversized-vehicle policy requires TPS clearance regardless — over-height vehicles must use surface lots, period.
For ODU basketball games, parking in the upper levels of both Constant Center garages is free and open to the public. That's a genuine standout for a major college arena, but the catch matters: the lower levels of both garages are reserved for VIP donors, with enforcement beginning at 4:30 PM on game days, per ODU's event parking page. Any vehicle still in the lower levels past that time faces a $100 citation or a tow to an upper floor.
If people in your group drive separately, they want the upper levels from the start. For the bus itself, none of this applies — the bus goes to a surface lot that TPS assigns in advance.
For concerts, graduation ceremonies, and non-athletic events, parking shifts to a paid model. The official Chartway Arena directions and parking page strongly recommends purchasing parking passes in advance, noting that on-site prices run higher than advance rates. When the two Constant Center garages fill, overflow goes to the Elkhorn Garage off 43rd Street.
For a bus group, the pre-arranged surface lot through TPS is the correct approach regardless of event type — the garage option simply doesn't exist for oversized vehicles.
The number to call before your trip: ODU Transportation & Parking Services — 757-683-4004 or parking@odu.edu — to arrange surface lot access for a charter bus or other oversized vehicle. This call cannot happen at the arena entrance on event day.
Driving from Virginia Beach to Chartway Arena on a Bus Rental
The distance from Virginia Beach to Chartway Arena is approximately 21 miles — about 28 minutes in clear conditions. The standard route is I-264 West from Virginia Beach toward downtown Norfolk, then following to Hampton Boulevard north to the 43rd/45th Street arena area. One common approach from I-264: take the exit for Brambleton Avenue, follow to Church Street, turn right onto Hampton Boulevard, and continue north until the arena appears on the right.
The ODU campus directions also route groups through St. Paul's Boulevard after the Downtown Tunnel if approaching via that path — the official directions on the Chartway Arena directions page lay out all six approach routes with full turn-by-turn instructions.
Twenty-eight minutes is the optimistic version. Hampton Boulevard runs the full length between downtown Norfolk and the ODU campus carrying Naval Station Norfolk shift traffic, Port of Virginia terminal trucks, hospital employees, and campus commuters simultaneously — traffic volume on this corridor has quadrupled over recent decades according to the City of Norfolk's own transportation studies. On an event night with 8,000-plus fans converging, the four-lane street backs up predictably in both directions.
The post-game exit can turn a 28-minute ride into something much longer. A bus rental from Virginia Beach to Chartway Arena doesn't fix Hampton Blvd — but it means your group rides one vehicle through the congestion instead of eight separate cars, nobody gets separated, and the post-game pick-up is already handled before tip-off.
What Size Bus Fits Your Chartway Arena Group?
Chartway Arena holds 8,472 for basketball and 9,520 for concerts — a mid-size arena that draws groups ranging from a dozen colleagues at a corporate outing to 50-person fan sections coming in from the Oceanfront. Here's how the full vehicle lineup maps to a Chartway Arena run.
A 15-35 passenger minibus fits the smaller group perfectly — a department night out, a birthday group, a fraternity section at a Monarchs rivalry game. Minibuses are more maneuverable on Hampton Boulevard's city-street grid than a full coach, which matters when you're working around the campus surface lots after drop-off. They also handle the post-game curbside pickup without needing the full approach logistics of a 45-foot coach.
For fan groups wanting energy built into the ride itself — on the way in and on the way back — a party bus in the 25-passenger to 40-passenger range covers most Virginia Beach group sizes headed to ODU. LED lighting, sound systems, and seating that keeps the whole group together from pickup to Hampton Blvd drop-off. The post-game ride home is already staged and waiting.
A 40-56 passenger charter bus is the right call for larger groups — corporate outings, school trips for graduation ceremonies, large fan sections, or multi-stop itineraries around Norfolk. Deep undercarriage bays handle the gear, onboard restrooms make the round trip comfortable, and one bus replaces the 12-car caravan problem entirely. The TPS coordination happens once, upfront, for the whole group — instead of a dozen separate vehicles figuring out surface lot logistics on arrival day.
See the Virginia Beach group transportation services page for more on how multi-vehicle arrangements work for large events.
Chartway Arena Party Bus Rental Prices from Virginia Beach
A Virginia Beach party bus or charter bus rental to Chartway Arena is priced by vehicle size, total hours reserved, and the date of the event. To give you a planning-level sense of the ranges: a minibus rental runs in the range of $200-$275 per hour on weekends; a mid-size party bus comes in around $275-$400 per hour depending on the vehicle; and a full charter bus typically runs $200-$350 per hour. The real number for your specific trip — vehicle, hours, date, and pickup location — takes about a minute to get.
Fill out the quick form on this site or call 757-447-5000 any time, and Virginiabeachpartybus.com pulls options from a large network of bus companies serving Virginia Beach so you can compare pricing and vehicles side by side. The Virginia Beach party bus prices page gives a fuller picture of what to budget across all vehicle types.
Here's one way to think about the per-person math: a 28-person group from the Oceanfront books a 28-passenger party bus for a Saturday Monarchs-vs.-Norfolk State game. Five hours reserved, weekend rate in the $300-$375 range. Total comes to roughly $1,500-$1,875 — about $54-$67 per person.
ODU basketball parking in the upper garage levels is free, so that rate covers the full transportation cost of the night. Against 7 cars, each burning gas, each working out Hampton Blvd after the buzzer, and at least 7 people who can't have anything at the tailgate — the math closes fast once you count the headcount.
ODU Monarchs Basketball Season at Chartway Arena
The ODU Monarchs — members of the Sun Belt Conference — have led the conference in basketball attendance three of the past four seasons. Chartway Arena's home season runs November through March, with weeknight games typically starting at 7 PM and weekend games spread across afternoon and evening tip times. The arena seats 8,472 for basketball and routinely fills its upper levels for rivalry dates.
The TowneBank Royal Rivalry against Norfolk State is the one that draws close to capacity — the 2025-26 edition attracted 7,951 fans, meaning less than 600 seats to spare. That's the game where Hampton Blvd earns its event-night reputation and advance planning earns its keep.
The 4:30 PM lower-level enforcement window is the logistical detail most first-timers miss. If part of your group is driving separately and parked in the lower levels of the Constant Center garages before that deadline hits, they're getting ticketed. Upper-level parking is free all night.
For a full bus group from Virginia Beach, none of that applies — the bus handles the approach and stages on a TPS-arranged surface lot while your group watches the Monarchs. Check the current schedule on the ODU Athletics Chartway Arena page for tip times and home dates. For more on group transportation to ODU athletic events, the Virginia Beach sporting event transportation page covers how game-day bus rentals work across Hampton Roads.
Concerts & Events at Chartway Arena
Beyond basketball, Chartway Arena operates as a full-service entertainment venue. With 9,520 seats in concert configuration, it's earned a ranking of No. 1 on a college campus and No. 7 worldwide among venues under 10,000 seats by Pollstar Magazine — a compact room with strong sightlines and a reputation that draws legitimate touring acts. ODU's Homecoming Concert brings an artist to campus each fall; high school graduation ceremonies from multiple Hampton Roads school districts use the arena each spring (typically May through June); and family shows, lectures, and career fairs fill the calendar year-round.
The Chartway Arena events page is the right place to confirm what's coming up and when.
Graduation season is worth planning around specifically. When the arena hosts multiple ceremonies in quick succession — several districts schedule back-to-back graduations across a single week — both Constant Center garages fill, the Elkhorn overflow lot activates, and parking on the surrounding campus streets gets chaotic. A bus from Virginia Beach sidesteps all of that: one vehicle drops the family group at the 45th Street entrance, parks in the surface lot, and is staged when the ceremony ends.
No one's hunting for a parking spot while wearing dress shoes. For concerts, the Virginia Beach concert party bus rental page covers how to set up a round-trip for your group to any Hampton Roads venue, including Chartway Arena.
Out-of-Town Groups: Norfolk International Airport to Chartway Arena
If part of your group is flying in for an ODU game or a major event, Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is the closest major airport — roughly 10 miles northeast of Chartway Arena. One bus collects the group at baggage claim and runs directly to the arena or to a nearby hotel, without the per-person rideshare scramble that splits arriving groups across multiple ETAs. The Norfolk International Airport ORF shuttle guide covers exactly how bus pickup at ORF works, including the arrival-level staging area.
From ORF, the approach to Chartway Arena avoids the full I-264 stretch from Virginia Beach — a shorter run that cuts out the westbound congestion entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chartway Arena Bus Rentals
Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Chartway Arena?
The main drop-off is curbside on Hampton Boulevard in front of the arena. The accessible entrance — with dedicated curbside drop-off and pickup — is at the corner of 45th Street and Hampton Boulevard on the north side of the arena, with an ADA elevator to the concourse and VIP levels, per the official accessibility page. Both points are on the arena's campus-facing side, close to the main lobby entrance and box office.
Can a charter bus park in ODU's Constant Center garages?
No — not at any level of either garage. The Constant Center 43rd Street Garage clears 8'2" on the first floor and 6'9" on upper floors. The 45th Street Garage clears 11'3" on the first floor and 8'2" on upper floors.
A standard charter bus is 12 to 13 feet tall. ODU's policy also prohibits over-height vehicles from all campus garages, per the ODU garages page. Bus groups must arrange surface lot access through ODU Transportation & Parking Services at 757-683-4004 or parking@odu.edu before the event date.
Is parking free at Chartway Arena for ODU basketball games?
Yes — the upper levels of both Constant Center garages are free and open to the public for basketball games. The lower levels are reserved for VIP donors with 4:30 PM enforcement: vehicles still in the lower levels by that time face a $100 citation or tow to an upper floor. For concerts and non-athletic events, advance parking purchase is recommended, and on-site rates run higher.
See ODU's event parking page for current details before your visit.
How far is Chartway Arena from Virginia Beach?
Approximately 21 miles, about 28 minutes in clear conditions via I-264 West to Hampton Boulevard. Budget significantly more on event nights — Hampton Boulevard handles naval base, port, hospital, and campus traffic all at once, and the corridor backs up predictably before and after major events. The official directions page has full turn-by-turn routes from six different approach directions including I-264 West from Virginia Beach.
How do I arrange bus parking on the ODU campus for a Chartway Arena event?
Contact ODU Transportation & Parking Services before your event date — not on arrival day. Reach TPS at parking@odu.edu with your event date and vehicle details. They assign a surface lot and provide approach instructions.
Their office is at 4310 Elkhorn Ave, Norfolk. Showing up on game day without a pre-arranged surface lot assignment risks a $100 citation for an improperly parked oversized vehicle.
When should I book a Virginia Beach bus to Chartway Arena?
Two to four weeks out is workable for most regular-season basketball games and standard events. For the TowneBank Royal Rivalry against Norfolk State, graduation ceremony weekends in May and June, and major touring concerts, book as soon as your date is set — those events pull from the same Virginia Beach and Norfolk bus network, and availability on popular dates narrows faster than a standard Tuesday night game. Call 757-447-5000 or use the online quote form to check what's available on your specific date.
Can I contact Chartway Arena directly about group visits?
Yes. For group event coordination, contact Todd McKeating at Todd.McKeating@oakviewgroup.com or 757-683-5653. The box office is reachable at (757) 683-4444 and the main arena administration line is (757) 683-5762.
Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM. For accessibility questions, the admin line handles wheelchair assistance coordination and ADA arrangements.
Is there anything else nearby worth adding to a Chartway Arena trip?
The Scope Arena in downtown Norfolk — about 4 miles south — is the other major arena in the market and hosts its own independent events calendar. A bus from Virginia Beach can cover both venues on a multi-stop itinerary without anyone coordinating separate parking. The Norfolk Scope Arena transportation guide covers that venue's drop-off and parking specifics in the same detail as this one.
For groups coming in from outside Hampton Roads on a longer trip, the Norfolk party bus rental page covers transportation throughout the Norfolk metro.
Book Your Virginia Beach Bus to Chartway Arena
Whether it's a Monarchs rivalry game in January, a spring graduation ceremony, a touring concert, or a corporate group night at the No. 1-ranked college arena in the country — a Virginia Beach charter bus or party bus to Chartway Arena keeps your group together from Hampton Blvd curbside to the final buzzer and back. Virginiabeachpartybus.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Virginia Beach so you can compare party buses, minibuses, and charter buses across pricing and vehicle options in seconds. No account required, quotes available online or by phone any time.
Call 757-447-5000 now to check availability on your date, or fill out the quick form to see options right away.
