Benson Field at Yulman Stadium sits tucked into Tulane's Uptown campus — and on a Green Wave game day, that location is both its charm and its challenge. Ben Weiner Drive closes to all vehicular through traffic all day on gamedays. Audubon Boulevard shuts down six hours before kickoff.
Willow Street goes permit-only three hours out. By the time your group sorts all that out, the $25 day-of parking at the Ursuline Lot is competing with everyone else who figured it out at the same time — and the Diboll Garage, the one right next to the stadium, is season-pass holders only. That's the parking reality at a 30,000-seat stadium set in one of New Orleans' most densely residential Uptown neighborhoods, and it catches first-timers every single time.
A New Orleans charter bus rental skips all of it: your group boards together from one spot, the bus drops you at the official loading zone on Freret Street, and you walk straight in — no circling, no closures, no $25-a-car math multiplied by a dozen vehicles.
Everything below is built from Tulane Athletics' own published gameday guidance and verified logistics. Where the bus drops off, where it stages while you're inside, what the road closures actually mean for your approach, which vehicle size fits your group — it's all here. Call 504-497-9530 to compare party bus and charter bus options for Yulman Stadium, or use Partybusinneworleans.com's online quote tool for pricing in under 30 seconds.
Why Rent a Party Bus or Charter Bus to Yulman Stadium?
The case starts with the geography. Yulman Stadium was built on a university campus woven into a residential Uptown neighborhood — not off a highway interchange with a dedicated access road and 10,000 parking spaces. The road network around it was not designed for 30,000 fans arriving at the same time, and Tulane doesn't pretend otherwise: that's why Ben Weiner Drive, the road leading directly to the stadium, is barricaded for the entire game day, not just the hour before kickoff.
One New Orleans party bus rental changes the entire calculation. Your group loads from a hotel block on Canal Street, a house on Magazine Street, or anywhere else in the metro, and the approach is handled. Nobody figures out which surface lots still have space.
Nobody stands on Freret Street watching rideshare fares surge an hour after the final whistle. The bus is staged nearby, picks everyone up at the window you agreed on before the game started, and takes the cleared route back out. That's the whole argument for a New Orleans sporting event party bus or charter bus rental to Yulman Stadium — and for groups larger than two or three cars, it's usually the cheaper argument, too.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Yulman Stadium
The official charter bus and group vehicle loading zone at Yulman Stadium is on Freret Street at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse, per Tulane Athletics' Gameday Central guide. That's on the eastern edge of Tulane's campus, with Freret Street running north-south alongside the campus boundary and the Devlin Fieldhouse serving as the named landmark for the zone. This is where your bus pulls up, where your group walks off, and where everyone needs to reassemble postgame — not from a rideshare queue on a side street two blocks away, and not from the Ben Weiner Drive side where barricades have been up since morning.
Why Freret Street specifically? It keeps large vehicles out of the pedestrian congestion around the stadium's primary entrance while still putting your group within a straightforward walk to the gates. More practically: the Devlin Fieldhouse is a fixed, named landmark that everyone on your bus can use as a meeting point if anyone gets separated inside the stadium.
Before the game, share the "Freret Street at Devlin Fieldhouse" location with your whole group — not "the stadium side street," not "wherever the bus is" — so the postgame pickup goes smoothly. Always confirm your specific drop details when you book, since Tulane may publish updated guidance for individual games through their gameday communications.
Official loading zone: Freret Street at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. That's the specific address your group uses for both drop-off and postgame pickup. Give it to everyone on the bus before you walk in, and set your pickup window in advance so the bus is staged and ready when you exit.
Parking at Yulman Stadium: What Every Group Needs to Know
The most important thing about parking at Yulman Stadium is this: the Diboll Garage, which sits right on Ben Weiner Drive adjacent to the stadium, is reserved for season-pass holders only. There is no day-of access, no overflow arrangement, and no buying in at the gate. That single fact rules out what looks like the obvious option on any map — and sends everyone to the two day-of lots that remain.
Day-of-game parking is available at the Ursuline Lot (Nashville Avenue entrance) and the Loyola University Garages (Freret Street), priced at $25 per vehicle, credit or debit only — no cash accepted. All lots open five hours before kickoff. Here's the detail that catches people: Tulane runs fan convenience shuttles from some lots to the Stadium Hub on Claiborne Avenue near Ben Weiner Drive — but those shuttles serve the Tailgate Village Lot and the Ursuline Lot only.
No fan convenience shuttles run from the Loyola Garages, the Oak Lot, or the Diboll Garage. If your group parks at a Loyola Garage expecting a shuttle to the gates, plan to walk instead.
For ADA parking, spaces are available in the Diboll Garage for permittees, and the Ursuline Lot runs an ADA shuttle service between the lot and the stadium. Drive-up day-of ADA parking is available at the Ursuline Lot. Contact Tulane Athletic Ticket Services at (504) 861-WAVE in advance to arrange your permit.
Current lot availability and any access changes can be confirmed on Tulane's official gameday parking page before game day.
A group on one bus skips all of this. One vehicle, one drop at the Freret Street loading zone, no $25 multiplied by however many cars you'd otherwise be splitting into. On a 40-person trip, that's roughly ten cars and ten separate parking transactions — each dependent on lot availability — versus one coordinated drop at a named curb.
The math shifts further when you factor in what the approach roads look like three to six hours before kickoff.
Getting to Yulman Stadium: Routes, Road Closures, and Timing
The standard approach from most of New Orleans and I-10 runs via S. Claiborne Avenue (Hwy 90). From the east, take I-10 West, exit to S. Claiborne, head to State Street, right on Willow Street, right on Ben Weiner Drive toward Diboll Garage. From the west, same roads reversed.
The problem: Ben Weiner Drive closes to all through traffic all day on gamedays — not an hour before kickoff, all day. Willow Street goes restricted to Diboll Garage and Tailgate Village pass holders three hours before kickoff. Audubon Boulevard between Claiborne and Willow closes six hours before kickoff.
Three different roads, three different closure times, all eliminating the most direct approaches from three directions.
On top of the standard gameday closures, Tulane has flagged ongoing Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans roadwork on S. Claiborne Avenue between Broadway Street and Audubon Boulevard — the primary gameday approach corridor — and encourages fans to plan alternate routes. That combination makes the drive in genuinely complicated on a big game day, not just mildly inconvenient. Check Tulane's campus parking alerts before your game to see if any new construction or access changes have been added.
| From… | Approx. distance | Typical off-peak drive |
|---|---|---|
| French Quarter / Canal Street | ~4 miles | 10–15 minutes |
| Garden District / Magazine Street | ~2.5 miles | 8–12 minutes |
| Mid-City / I-610 corridor | ~5 miles | 12–18 minutes |
| Metairie / Kenner area | ~10–14 miles | 20–30 minutes |
| Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY) | ~11 miles | 20–25 minutes |
Those times are off-peak. On a Saturday evening game day, add the barricaded corridors, add Claiborne construction traffic, and groups showing up 90 minutes before kickoff are navigating a residential neighborhood in gridlock. Tulane opens lots five hours before kickoff for exactly this reason.
The bus handles the timing entirely — the approach is built around what's actually accessible that day, and your group is the one walking in, not the one piecing together which detour is still open.
Every Way to Get to Yulman Stadium, Compared
A New Orleans charter bus or party bus rental isn't automatically the right call for every group. Here's an honest comparison of every realistic option for a Tulane game day:
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Door-to-door access | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate split by the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival | Best — Freret St. at Devlin Fieldhouse, official loading zone | 15–56 |
| Drive & park (Ursuline Lot or Loyola Garages) | $25/car (credit/debit only) + gas + one sober person per car | No — caravan splits up en route | Ursuline: shuttle to stadium hub. Loyola Garages: walk, no fan shuttle | 1–2 cars |
| Drive & park (Diboll Garage) | Season pass required — not available day-of | Only if everyone holds a pass | Closest car parking to the stadium | Individual permit holders |
| Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) | Per car each way + surge pricing post-game | No — multiple cars, staggered ETAs | Curbside drop, but surge common after final whistle | 1–4 per car |
| RTA bus / St. Charles streetcar | Per-person fare | Only if the full group fits one car | Nearest bus stop ~4-minute walk; streetcar stop ~24-minute walk | Individuals or very small groups |
For one or two people who know their way around the RTA and don't mind the walk from Claiborne Avenue, transit is a fine call. But once your group grows past a couple of cars, the combination of limited day-of parking, layered road closures, and post-game rideshare demand in a residential neighborhood tips clearly toward one coordinated vehicle. Everyone arrives on the same approach, everyone exits at the same Freret Street curb, and nobody is marooned on an Uptown side street waiting for a car that's stuck in the post-game flow on Magazine Street.
What Size Bus Does Your Group Need for Yulman Stadium?
Yulman Stadium holds 30,000 fans — but your group needs the right vehicle for your specific headcount, not the biggest one on the lot. Partybusinneworleans.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving New Orleans so you can compare options across vehicle sizes side by side. Here's how the vehicle lineup maps to a Green Wave game day:
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Luggage & gear | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Light — bags, small cooler | Small groups, VIP groups, faculty/staff outings | Premium leather, USB charging, tinted privacy windows |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | ~15–50 | Onboard, lighter loads | Fan groups who want the pregame energy on the ride itself | LED lighting, premium sound system, flat-panel TVs, wraparound seating |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Overhead bins plus some underfloor storage | Mid-size groups, alumni chapters, corporate outing groups | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, greater maneuverability for narrow Uptown streets |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Excellent — deep undercarriage bays | Large fan groups, corporate groups, out-of-town alumni traveling together | Reclining seats, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, undercarriage storage |
For most game-day groups, the decision comes down to headcount and whether you need onboard restrooms for the ride back. Party buses seating 15 to 50 passengers typically come with LED lighting and a premium sound system that makes the drive in part of the experience — not just transit. For larger alumni or corporate outings where the group is spread across multiple hotels or neighborhoods, a full-size 56-passenger charter bus covers everyone in one vehicle, with undercarriage storage for any gear and an onboard restroom for the return trip across town.
ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — just note it in your quote request so the right vehicle can be arranged. Call 504-497-9530 any time to compare pricing across vehicle types, or use the online tool to check vehicle availability.
Yulman Stadium Charter Bus and Party Bus Rental Prices
Pricing for a New Orleans charter bus or party bus rental to Yulman Stadium depends on vehicle size, how many hours your group needs the bus (including pregame staging time and the postgame wait), the date, and the pickup location. To give you an idea of the planning ranges Partybusinneworleans.com works with: a 15–35 passenger minibus typically runs $200–$250/hour on weekdays or $200–$275/hour on weekends; a 40-passenger party bus runs roughly $300–$350/hour on weekdays or $325–$500/hour on weekends; and a full-size charter bus generally falls in the $200–$350/hour range. Those numbers shift with demand, the specific date, and the vehicle — the quote you generate is specific to your trip.
The per-head math tends to surprise people. A 40-passenger party bus for a 6-hour rental — pickup, pregame, game, postgame staging — might run around $2,400 at midrange, which works out to roughly $60 per person for a group of 40. Compare that to ten cars each paying $25 for a day-of parking spot, plus gas, plus whoever stays sober in each vehicle — and the gap closes fast.
Check the New Orleans party bus prices page for the full rate ranges by vehicle type, or call 504-497-9530 to get a quote for your specific date and headcount in about a minute.
Tailgating at Yulman Stadium: The Rules
Tailgating at Yulman Stadium works differently than at most college football programs — and knowing the setup before you arrive matters. Tailgating is not permitted in the parking lots or garages. The official pregame social scene happens at Tailgate Village on the LBC lawn (the Lavin-Bernick Center area), where Tulane sets up live bands on a dedicated tailgate stage and brings in food vendors.
That's where your group goes after the bus drops you off — not back to the Ursuline Lot, not to a garage deck.
The cleanest game-day flow for a bus group: drop at Freret Street, walk to Tailgate Village, enjoy the pregame in the designated area, head to the gates when they open. After the final whistle, meet at the Freret Street and Devlin Fieldhouse pickup point at the agreed time — set that window before the group splits up inside, so there's no scramble on the sidewalk while the neighborhood drains out around you.
Green Wave Football 2026: Home Games at Yulman Stadium
Tulane plays in the American Athletic Conference and hosts six home games at Benson Field in the 2026 season, with most falling on Saturdays — the Memphis matchup on October 16 is a Friday night game on ESPN. That makes coordinating group transportation from out of town noticeably easier. The 2026 home slate:
- September 12 — South Alabama (6:00 p.m., ESPN+)
- September 26 — Southern Miss (Battle for the Bell; time TBD)
- October 16 (Friday) — Memphis (6:30 p.m., ESPN) — the highest-profile conference home matchup of the season
- October 24 — UTSA
- November 7 — Tulsa (Homecoming; time TBD)
- November 21 — North Texas
Evening kickoffs deserve extra attention for planning purposes. For a 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. game, lots open at 1:00 p.m. — and Audubon Boulevard closes six hours before kickoff, meaning road restrictions begin at noon or 12:30 p.m. Groups planning to drive need to be in position well before that window closes, or their approach route is simply unavailable.
A bus adapts to what's actually open that day. The Memphis game in October and Homecoming in November are the dates to book transportation earliest — those weekends see the most demand on the New Orleans bus network. Call 504-497-9530 as soon as your game date is set.
Tips for First-Timers at Yulman Stadium
A few things that consistently catch visitors off guard, straight from Tulane's published policies:
- Clear bag policy is in effect for all events. Per Tulane's clear bag policy, each fan may bring one clear plastic bag no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 12″, or a one-gallon clear ziplock bag. Small clutches (no larger than 4.5″ × 6.5″) are permitted. Non-clear diaper bags with an infant are allowed after visual inspection. No backpacks, no tinted bags, no oversized purses at the gate.
- All parking lots open five hours before kickoff. For evening games, that means lots are available by noon or 1:00 p.m. — and access roads start closing before that window ends.
- Day-of parking: credit or debit only, no cash. The Ursuline Lot and Loyola Garages both charge $25 per vehicle and do not accept cash on gamedays.
- Fan convenience shuttles do not serve Loyola Garages, Diboll Garage, or Oak Lot. Shuttles run from Tailgate Village and Ursuline Lot to the Stadium Hub on Claiborne Avenue. If your group is in a Loyola Garage, plan on walking.
- Ben Weiner Drive closes all day — not two hours before kickoff, all day. Do not plan on dropping anyone at the stadium side of campus on gameday. The Freret Street loading zone is where buses go.
- Claiborne Avenue construction adds time to the primary approach. Ongoing Sewerage & Water Board work between Broadway Street and Audubon Boulevard means congestion on the main gameday corridor before the barricades even go up. Check Tulane's campus parking alerts page the week of your game for current conditions.
- Tailgating happens on the LBC lawn, not in the lots. The Tailgate Village is the designated pregame area, with live music and food. Show up expecting a lot-based setup and you'll be walking to find the actual action.
Frequently Asked Questions about Renting a Bus to Yulman Stadium
Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at Yulman Stadium?
The official charter bus and group vehicle loading zone is on Freret Street at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse, per Tulane Athletics' published Gameday Central guide. That's on the eastern side of Tulane's campus, with the Devlin Fieldhouse as the physical landmark. Confirm your specific drop details when you book — Tulane sometimes issues updated guidance for individual games — but the Freret Street zone is the published standard for group vehicles.
Why is the Diboll Garage off-limits for day-of visitors?
The Diboll Garage is reserved exclusively for season-pass holders. There is no day-of access, no general public parking, and no buying in at the gate. Day-of parking is limited to the Ursuline Lot (Nashville Avenue entrance) and the Loyola University Garages on Freret Street, both at $25 per vehicle, credit or debit only.
Do fan shuttle buses run from the Loyola Garages to the stadium?
No. Fan convenience shuttles run only from the Tailgate Village Lot and the Ursuline Lot to the Stadium Hub on Claiborne Avenue near Ben Weiner Drive. No fan shuttles serve the Loyola Garages, Oak Lot, or Diboll Garage. Groups parking at the Loyola Garages should plan on walking to the stadium.
How early should our group arrive at Yulman Stadium?
All parking lots open five hours before kickoff. For evening games (6:00–6:30 p.m. starts), that means Tailgate Village and the lots are accessible by noon or 1:00 p.m. — and Audubon Boulevard closes six hours before kickoff, so the access window for surrounding roads tightens even earlier. Three to four hours before kickoff is a comfortable arrival target for most groups; for higher-demand games like the Memphis matchup or Homecoming, build in additional buffer for Claiborne Avenue congestion.
What is the clear bag policy at Yulman Stadium?
Fans may bring one clear plastic bag no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 12″, or a one-gallon clear ziplock bag. Small clutches no larger than 4.5″ × 6.5″ are also allowed. Non-clear diaper bags with an infant are permitted after visual inspection at the gate.
Backpacks, tinted bags, and oversized bags are not allowed inside the stadium.
How far is Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY) from Yulman Stadium?
MSY is about 11 miles from Yulman Stadium via I-10 and S. Claiborne Avenue — roughly 20–25 minutes off-peak. For out-of-town groups flying in for a game, a direct charter bus pickup at the terminal and a run through Uptown is the most straightforward option — no splitting the group across multiple rideshares on arrival day, and no navigating the campus access roads for the first time on a game day. See the MSY airport group transportation guide for terminal pickup logistics.
When should I book a bus for a Tulane Green Wave game?
Four to six weeks ahead is a solid baseline for most games on the 2026 home schedule. For the season opener (September 12 vs. South Alabama), the Memphis conference matchup (October 16), and Homecoming (November 7), book as soon as your date is confirmed — those games draw more demand on the New Orleans network, and the best vehicles go first. For the Battle for the Bell on September 26 and the late November dates, three to four weeks out is workable if you're flexible on vehicle size.
Can a bus pick up our group from downtown hotels?
Yes. A New Orleans party bus or charter bus rental coordinates pickup from wherever your group is staying — Canal Street hotels, the French Quarter, Uptown Airbnbs, anywhere in the metro. One quote request covers pickup, the drop at Freret Street, and postgame staging for the return.
Fill out the online form or call 504-497-9530 to set up the full itinerary.
What if part of our group arrives by rideshare and the rest by bus?
Set a clear meeting point before anyone separates. Tailgate Village on the LBC lawn works well as a rallying point for groups arriving by different means — it's named, fixed, and staffed on game days. Communicate the plan (and the postgame bus pickup location on Freret Street) to the full group before the game starts, so there's no phone-tag loop in the crowd after the final whistle.
Book Your Yulman Stadium Charter Bus or Party Bus Rental Today
Yulman Stadium game days are worth the trip — the Uptown campus setting, the LBC Tailgate Village scene, the 30,000-fan atmosphere when the Green Wave are rolling. The access logistics don't have to be the part you stress about. Partybusinneworleans.com makes it easy to compare party buses, charter buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans from a large network of bus companies serving New Orleans, with quotes available online in under 30 seconds or by phone any time, any day. No account required.
Call 504-497-9530 for a free quote on your Yulman Stadium trip, or use the online tool to see available vehicle options. For groups also planning a Saints game or a major concert, the Caesars Superdome group transportation guide covers that venue's drop-off and parking logistics separately.
