Any Warriors fan who has driven to Chase Center on a game night already knows how this goes. You cross the Bay Bridge on I-80 West, think you're in the clear, and then discover that 16th Street — the most obvious approach to the arena — is completely closed to through traffic. It shuts down two hours before every event.
Warriors Way closes too. And the roughly 950 on-site parking spaces, split between the Mercedes-Benz Garage and the Warriors Way Garage, are prepaid-only and frequently gone before the day of the game. By the time your group finds a spot, you're blocks away, slightly late, and already worn out from the logistics.
That's exactly what a Berkeley charter bus rental skips. One vehicle picks up your group in the East Bay, crosses the bridge once, and drops everyone at the designated loading zone on Terry A. Francois Boulevard — steps from the arena entrance. The parking scramble, the closed streets, the post-game rideshare wait that averages 10 to 25 minutes at the official pickup zone: none of that lands on you. Berkeleypartybuscompany.com makes it fast and easy to compare vehicles and pricing from providers serving Berkeley and the East Bay — fill out the quick form or call 341-234-4160 and you'll have quote options in under a minute.
Why Rent a Bus to Chase Center
Chase Center opened in September 2019 in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood, and it immediately became one of the trickiest arenas in the Bay Area for group travel. The venue sits at the corner of 3rd Street and 16th Street in a neighborhood with almost no surplus street parking — meters charge special event rates during big games, and residential permit zones around Mission Bay are enforced hard on Warriors nights. The on-site parking is prepaid via Ticketmaster and sells out.
For a group driving over from Berkeley or anywhere in the East Bay, the math gets rough fast: multiple cars, multiple Bay Bridge tolls, and someone in each vehicle has to handle the commute back at midnight.
A Berkeley party bus or charter bus rental changes all of that. One vehicle, one pickup, one drop-off at the arena, and one pre-arranged pickup after the final buzzer or the encore. No one coordinates three rideshare ETAs from a cold Mission Bay sidewalk.
The bus handles the bridge approach, navigates around the closed streets, and stages nearby while your group is inside. Once you split the cost across 20, 30, or 50 people, the per-head rate routinely beats two Bay Bridge tolls plus a prepaid parking pass per car. For Berkeley sporting event transportation, Chase Center is one of the most-requested runs on this site.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Chase Center
Charter buses and party buses dropping at Chase Center use the designated white-curb passenger loading zones on Terry A. Francois Boulevard — the waterfront boulevard running along the arena's east side. Lyft, Chase Center's official rideshare partner, also uses the corner of Warriors Way and Terry A. Francois Boulevard as its dedicated pickup and drop-off point, per Chase Center's official transportation page. That puts your group within a short walk of the main entrance, without crossing the streets that close before every event.
One detail most first-timers miss: the arena requires contactless entry through the Warriors + Chase Center Mobile App. Have your mobile tickets pulled up and ready before your group steps off the bus — the arena moves thousands of fans quickly, and fumbling with printed tickets slows things down for everyone behind you in the queue.
Street Closures That Change Your Chase Center Approach Every Event Night
16th Street between 3rd Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard closes to through traffic two hours before every event and reopens one hour afterward, per the SFMTA's Chase Center street restrictions map. Warriors Way between 3rd Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard closes at the same time. Northbound 3rd Street between 16th Street and Warriors Way closes after events conclude.
Illinois Street between 16th and Mariposa drops to local access only. That's four approach corridors locked down — for every Warriors game, every Valkyries game, every concert.
The consequence for anyone driving in late: you're rerouting on the fly through an unfamiliar San Francisco grid while 18,000 other fans try to do exactly the same thing. A bus on a pre-coordinated approach along 3rd Street and Terry Francois has none of that problem. Always check the SFMTA's official restrictions map before your event date to confirm current closures — they're updated for every game and show, and details do shift.
16th Street closes two hours before every Chase Center event. Warriors Way closes at the same time. A bus with a confirmed approach via 3rd Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard skips the rerouting entirely — your group arrives at the loading zone while everyone else is still looking for the open lane.
Chase Center Transportation: Every Option Compared
Chase Center is in San Francisco, which means every option from Berkeley involves at least one toll or one transit transfer. Here's an honest breakdown for a group planning the trip from the East Bay — scored on what actually matters when 15 or more people need to arrive together and get home on the same schedule.
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Door-to-door | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split across the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival | Best — Terry A. Francois Blvd loading zone, steps from entrance | 15–56 |
| BART + 78X Arena Express | ~$5–7 per person each way (Muni leg free with event ticket) | Only if everyone rides the same train and stays together across platforms | Good — 78X drops at 16th St & Illinois, short walk to arena | Any, but no group control |
| Muni T Third Street | Free with event ticket on event day | Only if you get on the same car (packed post-game) | Best transit option — UCSF/Chase Center Station is at the arena's south side | Small groups with tight timing |
| Rideshare (Lyft / Uber) | Per car each way + 10–25 min post-game surge wait | No — multiple cars, multiple ETAs | Good drop-off — Terry A. Francois Blvd, but long post-game wait | 1–4 per car |
| Everyone drives and parks | $30–$118 prepaid per car + Bay Bridge toll per car + gas | No — caravans split up at the bridge or garages | Varies — depends on lot availability, often sold out before game day | 1–2 cars, solo trips |
For one or two people, the BART + 78X combination or the T Third Street Muni is genuinely hard to beat — especially since your event ticket covers Muni all day. But the moment your group grows past a few cars' worth of people, the coordination required to keep everyone together across BART platforms, post-game trains that fill fast, and a 10-to-25-minute rideshare wait after the final whistle tips decisively toward one bus. That's the group the rest of this guide is written for.
BART and the 78X Arena Express to Chase Center
BART from Berkeley. From Downtown Berkeley BART Station, take BART west to either Powell Street Station (transfer to the S Shuttle Mission Bay or T Third Street) or to 16th Street Mission Station (board the 78X 16th Street Arena Express for a direct express run to the arena). The 78X runs from 2.5 hours before events through about an hour after — event-specific, not a regular route — and drops at 16th Street and Illinois, a short walk from the arena's entrance.
Your Chase Center event ticket rides free on all Muni service on event day, including the T Third, S Shuttle, and 78X.
Total time from Downtown Berkeley BART to Chase Center via the 78X runs roughly 50 to 60 minutes. That's a reasonable solo or pair option. For 25 friends keeping track of each other across two platforms and an event-night Muni car, the logistics multiply.
A minibus from Berkeley handles that group in one vehicle, door to arena, in about 35 to 45 minutes before game-night traffic builds. The BART option is the fallback if a bus isn't in the budget; the bus is the simpler call for any group over 10 or 12 people.
What Size Bus Does Your Group Need for Chase Center
Chase Center draws all kinds of groups — small suite clusters, large fan sections, company outings for a corporate Warriors night, and concert parties that span a full section. Berkeleypartybuscompany.com shows a wide range of vehicles from providers serving Berkeley and the East Bay, so you can compare and find the right size without paying for seats you don't need. Here's how the full vehicle lineup breaks down for a Chase Center run.
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Small groups, suite holders, VIP arrivals | Leather seating, USB charging at every seat, tinted privacy windows |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | ~15–50 | Fan groups wanting an energized ride across the bridge | Color-changing LED lighting, Bluetooth sound system, flat-panel TVs, wraparound seating |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Mid-size groups, corporate outings, quicker East Bay hops | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, overhead storage |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large fan sections, company groups, multi-origin pickups across the East Bay | Reclining seats, climate control, overhead bins, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, undercarriage luggage bays |
Chase Center's Mission Bay location — dense, urban, with narrow approach streets on event nights — makes a minibus a sharper fit than a full-size coach for most groups under 35 people. It navigates the 3rd Street and Terry Francois corridor more cleanly and has an easier time staging nearby while your group is inside. For larger East Bay fan sections or groups arriving from multiple pickup points in Berkeley and Oakland, a 40–56 passenger charter bus covers everyone in one run with undercarriage bays for gear and an onboard restroom for the Bay Bridge haul.
ADA-accessible vehicles are available — just note it in your quote request.
Chase Center Charter Bus and Party Bus Rental Prices
Berkeleypartybuscompany.com shows quote options in under 30 seconds — you see pricing before you ever commit. There's no single sticker number, because the rate shapes around a few clear factors: vehicle size, how many hours the bus is reserved (including pre-game staging and the post-game pickup window), the date and event type (a regular Warriors game prices differently than a playoff run or a stadium-scale concert), and your pickup origin in Berkeley or the broader East Bay.
To give you an idea, based on current planning ranges: a 15–35 passenger minibus typically runs $200–$250 per hour on weekdays and $200–$275 per hour on weekends, with per-day rates in the range of $1,100–$2,150. A 40–56 passenger charter bus generally runs $200–$350 per hour on weekdays or weekends, with per-day rates of $1,350–$2,850. Party buses for Warriors or Valkyries runs typically run $250–$500 per hour on weekends depending on size.
These are planning ranges — final pricing for your specific date, vehicle, and route comes from the quote. See the Berkeley party bus prices page for more detail, or call 341-234-4160 any time for a free quote at no obligation.
Once you split one bus across 30, 40, or 50 people, the per-head cost typically beats the combined Bay Bridge toll plus a prepaid on-site parking pass per car — before you even count the time cost of finding and exiting the garage. One flat rate covers the bridge, the parking headache, and the post-game pickup in one number.
A Game-Night Example
To give you an idea: a 32-person Warriors fan group books a 35-passenger minibus for a Saturday playoff game. Pickup at 4:45 PM from a Berkeley hotel block, at Chase Center's Terry Francois Boulevard loading zone by 5:45 PM — 30 minutes before doors open. The group watches the game, and the bus stages nearby until the arranged 10:30 PM pickup window.
A 6-hour weekend rental at that size might come to around $1,400 — about $44 per person — versus each of six cars paying a prepaid parking pass plus the Bay Bridge toll plus gas, often $50–$70 per car in costs alone before the post-game rideshare scramble.
Getting to Chase Center from Berkeley and the East Bay
Berkeley sits about 13 miles from Chase Center across the Bay Bridge — roughly 20 to 30 minutes off-peak on I-80 West. On a Warriors game night or a sold-out concert, that same run can stretch to 45 minutes or more, depending on when you hit the bridge and how backed up the Mission Bay approach is once you cross. The Bay Bridge doesn't discriminate: the westbound lanes stack up on event nights, and once you're across, the neighborhood closures around Chase Center mean rerouting regardless of your GPS.
The recommended approach for any vehicle — bus or car — is I-280 and 6th Street rather than US-101 and 4th Street on weekday evening games. The 4th Street corridor backs up with Caltrain commuter traffic between 5:30 and 6:30 PM, adding time on top of the arena-night crowd. From Berkeley specifically, a bus takes I-80 West across the Bay Bridge, routes through 3rd Street toward Terry Francois Boulevard, and arrives at the designated loading zone without navigating the closed pedestrian streets.
Your group is in their seats on time.
Approximate drive times from common East Bay pickup points, before event traffic:
| From… | Approx. distance | Typical drive time (off-peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Berkeley / UC Berkeley campus | ~13 miles | 20–30 minutes |
| Oakland (Downtown / Jack London Square) | ~8 miles | 15–25 minutes |
| Richmond / El Cerrito | ~18 miles | 25–35 minutes |
| Walnut Creek | ~32 miles | 35–50 minutes |
| Alameda | ~12 miles | 20–30 minutes |
All of those times add substantially on Warriors game nights and major concerts. A bus picking up at one or two East Bay stops — say, a Berkeley hotel block and a spot near downtown Oakland — lets the group depart earlier together rather than coordinating four separate cars and hoping everyone clears the bridge before 16th Street closes.
Parking at Chase Center: What It Actually Costs
There are two on-site garages at Chase Center. The Mercedes-Benz Garage (99 Warriors Way) is directly attached to the arena on the south side, with vehicle entrances on 16th Street and South Street and escalator access straight into the building. The Warriors Way Garage (150 Warriors Way) sits adjacent.
Both require prepaid passes through Ticketmaster — no cash, no walk-up purchasing on game day. Passes average around $118 for Warriors games and major events, though smaller shows can run lower. Both garages sell out before game day with enough regularity that Chase Center's own guidance tells fans to buy as early as possible.
Off-site, UCSF Mission Bay parking lots sit within 5 to 10 minutes' walk at roughly $20–$30 on event days. Parking meters near the arena shift to a special event rate during major events with more than 10,000 expected attendees. Residential streets in Mission Bay are permit-only and aggressively enforced on game nights — free street parking within walking distance is effectively gone by the time you're looking for it.
Tailgating is also prohibited in all Chase Center parking lots, worth knowing if your group was planning to set up outside.
Five cars coming from Berkeley means five prepaid parking passes — potentially $590 at Warriors game prices — plus five Bay Bridge tolls and five post-game garage exits. One bus covers your whole group for one flat rate, with the Terry A. Francois Boulevard loading zone instead of a garage queue. Run that math for your headcount before you default to driving.
Review the official Chase Center transportation page before your visit to confirm current garage availability and pricing. On-site passes move fast for playoff games and high-demand concerts, and there is no last-minute option if they sell out.
Events to Rent a Bus to at Chase Center
Chase Center runs nearly 200 events per year. The Golden State Warriors (NBA) are the anchor — the regular season runs October through April, with playoffs extending into June. The arena also added the Golden State Valkyries (WNBA) in 2025, now into their second season in 2026.
Valkyries home games have been consistently loud and frequently sold out, with energy that's made an impression across the league. Both Warriors and Valkyries games from Berkeley are high-volume requests for a Berkeley sporting event bus rental.
On the concert side, Chase Center hosts stadium-scale artists and touring acts across virtually every genre — it's one of the busiest arena venues on the West Coast. For major concert nights, the same street closures apply, and the post-show rideshare crunch is just as real as on basketball nights. Concert groups from the East Bay are the second most common request for a Berkeley concert bus to the venue.
When a marquee tour hits, the right-size vehicles fill quickly — if your group has a confirmed show date, the earlier you check availability, the better your options and your rate.
Chase Center also hosted the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, which gives you a sense of the venue's event footprint and the scale of traffic and demand it generates for big dates. Corporate groups attending suite nights, sponsored events, or partner events in Thrive City (the adjacent outdoor plaza and development) will find a Berkeley corporate charter bus or minibus a clean fit for shuttling teams across the bridge without the parking puzzle. See the Berkeley group transportation services page for multi-stop and custom itinerary options.
Leaving Chase Center After the Game or Show
Getting out of Chase Center is where the transportation math becomes most visible. When 18,000 fans exit at once, Terry A. Francois Boulevard and 3rd Street congestion builds immediately, the official rideshare zone on Terry Francois sees wait times of 10 to 25 minutes on a typical game night — and longer on sellouts. Chase Center itself recommends walking toward the 4th and King Caltrain station before requesting a rideshare post-event, to get away from the immediate crowd and reduce your wait.
The northbound 3rd Street closure after events compresses more traffic onto the remaining streets.
A chartered bus handles all of this differently. You set your post-game pickup window and staging location before anyone goes inside. When your group walks out, the bus is already there — everyone loads up instead of standing on a cold Mission Bay sidewalk watching a spinning rideshare ETA.
The bus routes back toward I-80 and the Bay Bridge on the cleared post-event roads while your group recaps the night on board. That pickup window is the detail most groups don't think to arrange in advance and wish they had.
Know Before You Go at Chase Center
Bag policy. Backpacks of any size are prohibited at Chase Center. All bags larger than 14″×6″×14″ are not allowed inside, per the venue's official bag policy page.
Small bags within those dimensions are subject to security screening. Exterior bag check is available on Warriors Way for items that don't meet policy. This catches a lot of first-timers — tell your group before you arrive.
Mobile tickets only. Chase Center requires contactless entry through the Warriors + Chase Center Mobile App. Printed tickets at the gate slow things down considerably.
Have everyone in your group set up their app and load their tickets before the bus reaches Terry Francois Boulevard.
On-site parking passes sell out before game day. If any portion of your group drives separately, those cars need prepaid parking through Ticketmaster in advance — the Mercedes-Benz Garage and Warriors Way Garage do not sell passes on arrival.
Event meter rates apply near the arena. Street meters near Chase Center shift to a special event rate during major games and shows. The SFMTA's Chase Center page covers current transportation and meter information for the area.
Address for reference. Chase Center is at 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158 — corner of 3rd Street and 16th Street in Mission Bay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Bus to Chase Center
Where exactly does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Chase Center?
Charter buses and party buses use the designated white-curb passenger loading zones on Terry A. Francois Boulevard, which runs along the arena's east side. The official Lyft pickup and drop-off point is at the corner of Warriors Way and Terry A. Francois Boulevard. Your group steps off and walks a short distance to the arena entrance — no remote-lot hike involved.
What streets close around Chase Center on game and event nights?
16th Street between 3rd Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard closes two hours before events and reopens one hour after. Warriors Way between 3rd Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard closes at the same time. Northbound 3rd Street between 16th Street and Warriors Way closes post-event.
Illinois Street between 16th and Mariposa drops to local access only. These closures apply for Warriors games, Valkyries games, and concerts. Check the SFMTA street restrictions map before your event date.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to Chase Center from Berkeley?
Planning ranges: a 15–35 passenger minibus typically runs $200–$275 per hour on weekends, with per-day rates of $1,100–$2,150. A 40–56 passenger charter bus runs $200–$350 per hour, with per-day rates of $1,350–$2,850. Party buses run $250–$500 per hour on weekends depending on size.
Your actual quote is shaped by vehicle size, hours, date, and pickup origin. Call 341-234-4160 or use the online quote tool — pricing takes under a minute.
Can I take BART from Berkeley to Chase Center?
Yes. From Downtown Berkeley BART, ride west and either transfer at Powell Street to the T Third Street or S Shuttle Mission Bay, or ride to 16th Street Mission and board the 78X Arena Express, which runs from 2.5 hours before events through about an hour after. Your Chase Center event ticket covers Muni fare all day.
Total transit time from Berkeley: roughly 50–60 minutes each way. A great option for individuals; for groups of 15 or more, a bus is usually faster door-to-door and significantly easier to keep together.
Does Chase Center have charter bus parking on-site?
The on-site garages are designed for standard vehicles with prepaid passes. Charter buses staging for groups typically wait along Terry A. Francois Boulevard and in the surrounding Mission Bay streets while your group is inside. The exact staging location for your event date is confirmed in advance, so the bus knows where to hold and where to pull for your post-game pickup.
How much does parking cost at Chase Center?
The Mercedes-Benz Garage (99 Warriors Way) and Warriors Way Garage (150 Warriors Way) both require prepaid passes through Ticketmaster. Prices average around $118 for Warriors games and major events, with lower rates for smaller shows. Both sell out before game day.
UCSF Mission Bay off-site lots run approximately $20–$30 with a 5–10 minute walk. Street meters near the arena charge special event rates during major events.
What is the bag policy at Chase Center?
Backpacks of any size are prohibited. All bags larger than 14″×6″×14″ are not allowed inside. Small bags within that limit are allowed but subject to security screening.
Exterior bag check is available on Warriors Way. See the official Chase Center bag policy page for full current details.
How far in advance should I book a bus to Chase Center?
For regular Warriors or Valkyries games, two to four weeks of lead time is workable for most dates. For playoff games, major concerts, and sellout events, book as early as your date is confirmed — the right vehicles at the right size book out quickly, and last-minute availability is limited and more expensive. Call 341-234-4160 to get started.
Are ADA-accessible buses available for Chase Center trips?
Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles are available. Just note your needs when you request a quote, at least 48 hours before your event date. Chase Center itself offers accessible parking at the on-site garages for guests with a valid disabled placard.
Compare Chase Center Party Bus and Charter Bus Options Today
The right bus for your Chase Center group is one quick form away. Whether it's a 25-person Warriors fan group crossing the Bay Bridge together, a company outing for a suite night, a sold-out concert run, or a Valkyries game with the whole group — Berkeleypartybuscompany.com makes it easy to compare party buses, charter buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans from providers serving Berkeley and the East Bay. No account required, quotes in under 30 seconds online, or call 341-234-4160 any time, any day.
Also heading to a Giants game in the same part of town? The Oracle Park bus guide covers that run with the same level of detail.
