If you've ever circled the lots around the Marriott Center twenty minutes before tip-off, hunting for a spot that isn't roped off for a Cougar Club pass, you already know the problem. University Parkway backs up, the closest rows fill with donor-lot cars, and your group ends up splitting into three or four vehicles just to get everyone inside before the ball goes up. One question fixes all of it: where does a bus actually drop your group, and where does it sit while you're inside?
The answer is Lot 20, curbside, directly in front of the Marriott Center — the same drop point BYU's own campus security guidance sends every group bus to. Below, using that guidance along with the arena's published policies and the 2026–27 basketball calendar, we lay out exactly how the drop-off, the overflow lot, the traffic pattern on University Parkway, and the price all work, so your group walks in together instead of arriving in pieces. For the full picture of group travel to BYU athletics, see the Provo sporting event transportation page.
Why Rent a Bus to Marriott Center?
A Marriott Center trip usually isn't two or three people in one car — it's a ward group, a family reunion, a company outing, or a block of visiting fans who all need to land at the same seats at the same time. Splitting that group into five separate cars means five different parking outcomes, and on a night when the Cougar Club rows are held for donor passes until roughly 30 minutes after tip-off, some of those cars are going to end up much farther out than others.
A Provo charter bus rental or party bus rental solves that with one arrival instead of five. Your group loads at one pickup point, rides together, and gets dropped curbside in Lot 20 instead of scattering across whichever lot happens to still have room. The built-in designated transportation provider also means nobody in the group has to skip the pregame dinner drink or the postgame stop on the way home.
One quote covers the pickup, the Lot 20 drop, and a bus staged and ready when the final buzzer sounds.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at Marriott Center
BYU's own group-visit parking guidance is consistent across the university's event pages: buses drop passengers curbside in Lot 20, directly in front of the Marriott Center. "Campus Security would like school buses to park in Lot 20," the university's own group-visit page states, and asks buses to use that same lot for both the drop-off and the pickup, per BYU's official campus parking and map guidance. That guidance also flags the one mistake first-timers make: don't keep driving deeper into campus after the drop, because there's nowhere for a full-size bus to turn around once you're past Lot 20.
One stop that used to work no longer does. Drop-offs and parking in front of the Museum of Art, just north of Lot 20, are "no longer allowed per BYU police," according to the same campus parking guidance published on BYU's official parking and directions page for campus group visits. If an older set of directions tells you to stage near the MOA, it's out of date — Lot 20 is the current answer.
Because a bus bringing a group larger than a school-bus-sized crowd is still an oversized vehicle on a campus built for pedestrians, BYU asks organizers to call ahead. University Police Parking Services can be reached at (801) 422-3906 or [email protected], and the university's guidance asks callers to describe the date, the number of buses, and the estimated arrival time before game day. That one call is what keeps your bus from getting waved off at the curb because nobody on campus knew it was coming.
Your bus drops your group curbside in Lot 20, directly in front of the arena — not in a satellite lot a quarter mile away. That's the same lot BYU's own security guidance assigns to every group bus visiting campus.
Bus Parking During the Game — Lot 20 and the LaVell Edwards Overflow
Once your group is out, the bus doesn't have to sit idle at the curb. BYU's guidance allows buses to park in the reserved section of Lot 20 for the length of the event, or to pull over to the stadium lots and return closer to the final horn, per the same BYU parking guidance. That second option points across University Parkway to LaVell Edwards Stadium, where the university opens overflow lots for buses and guests on busy nights.
Marriott Center's own venue page confirms the split: "Parking is available at the Marriott Center and at LaVell Edwards Stadium across the street," per BYU Tickets' official Marriott Center page. That page also marks state-issued disability parking in Lot 3, and notes that the closest rows — the Cougar Club reserved lots — are held for donor pass holders until roughly 30 minutes after the event starts, then open to everyone. For a bus group, none of that matters as much: Lot 20 is already the closest drop point on the map, reserved-lot timing or not.
University Parkway Traffic and the I-15 Approach
Coming from I-15, Exit 269 puts you on University Parkway heading east, and the road runs directly to the arena at 701 E University Parkway with almost no turns along the way. The catch is that every other car headed to the same game uses that identical corridor.
BYU's own reporting on football Saturdays gives a sense of how bad that corridor gets when a big campus crowd arrives at once: the university's news office has documented southbound I-15 delays running "more than double the usual amount of time" in the hours before kickoff, with transportation providers steered toward the Orem 800 North and Orem Center Street exits instead of University Parkway, per BYU News' report on UDOT's game-day traffic advisory. Marriott Center crowds run smaller than a sold-out football Saturday — the arena seats just under 18,000 — but on the biggest non-conference and rivalry nights, the same University Parkway bottleneck backs up well before tip-off. A bus built around that timing gets your group off the road before the worst of it and lets someone else deal with the merge back onto I-15 afterward.
Marriott Center Transportation: Every Option Compared
A private bus isn't the only way to reach a game, and it isn't always the right call for every group size. Here's an honest look at how the realistic options for getting to Marriott Center stack up.
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Drop point | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter or party bus | One flat rate, split by the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival | Lot 20, curbside at the arena | 15–56 |
| UVX Bus Rapid Transit | $2.50 per rider (free for BYU/UVU ID) | Only if you board the same bus | BYU Stadium Station, steps from the arena | Any, but no group control |
| Rideshare | Per car, each way | No — multiple cars, multiple ETAs | Varies by transportation provider, not curbside | 1–4 per car |
| Everyone drives & parks | Gas per car, no parking fee at Marriott Center | No — caravans split up | Whatever lot still has room | 1–2 cars |
For a couple riding in from Orem or Provo, the free UVX line or a single rideshare is genuinely the smarter, cheaper call — there's no reason to book a bus for two people. But once your group is bigger than a few carloads, the coordination problem takes over: different arrival times, different lots, no way to guarantee everyone sits together before tip-off. That's the group this guide is written for.
UVX Bus Rapid Transit and the University Place Park-and-Ride
The Utah Valley Express, or UVX, is Utah County's bus rapid transit line, and it stops right on campus. Its BYU Stadium Station sits "near the Marriott Center," one of four on-campus stops, per BYU's own rapid transit guidance page, and buses arrive every 6 to 10 minutes on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., stretching to every 15 minutes in the early morning and late evening. Fare is $2.50 for the general public, though BYU and UVU students, faculty, and staff still ride free with a valid ID, according to UTA's official UVX fare page.
Visitors can also park at University Place in Orem and ride the line in, skipping the campus lots entirely.
That works well for a small group or a single family. It doesn't work for a 40-person outing that needs to sit together, load together, and leave together the moment the final horn sounds — which is exactly the gap a private bus rental closes.
What Size Bus Fits Your Marriott Center Group?
Not every group needs the same vehicle, and picking the right size mostly comes down to headcount and how much gear — team banners, coolers for a tailgate stop before the game, folding chairs — you're bringing along.
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Small family groups, suite holders, VIP blocks |
| 18-passenger minibus | ~18 | A single youth group or work team |
| 25-passenger minibus | ~25 | A ward group or a mid-size company outing |
| 35-passenger minibus | ~35 | A large stake or reunion crowd |
| Party bus | ~15–40 | Birthday or celebration groups wanting a built-in bar and sound system on the ride over |
| Charter bus | Up to ~56 | The largest fan groups and conference blocks |
For a group hauling tailgate chairs or a stack of signage, the charter bus and larger minibuses offer underneath luggage bays so nothing rides on a lap. For a smaller group who just wants everyone in one vehicle without extra seats going unused, the 18- or 25-passenger minibus is usually the right fit. ADA-accessible vehicles can be requested through the network — just note it when you request your quote.
Marriott Center Party Bus & Charter Bus Rental Prices
There's no single sticker price for a Marriott Center trip, because the quote shifts with your group's specifics. To give you an idea of what shapes the number:
Vehicle size matters most — a 56-passenger charter bus and a 14-passenger Sprinter van aren't priced the same. Total hours counts too, since the bus is booked as a block that covers the drive in, the wait during the game, and the ride home. Date and demand shift the number as well — a Tuesday non-conference game prices differently than a Utah State rivalry night or Education Week, when Provo hotels and vehicles both get tighter.
And mileage factors in, since a pickup in downtown Provo is a shorter run than one from Salt Lake City or American Fork.
As a general range to plan around, a Sprinter van or small minibus for a Marriott Center round trip often runs in the neighborhood of $120–$170 an hour, while a full-size charter bus for a larger group tends to land closer to $180–$230 an hour. Pricing always varies by exact date, vehicle, and hours booked. Compare current options on the Provo bus rental prices page, or call 385-585-2210 any time for a free quote at no obligation to you.
A Game Night Example
To give you an idea of how a trip lays out: a 28-person group books a 30-passenger minibus for a weeknight non-conference game with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. Pickup is 5:15 p.m. from a hotel in Orem, with the group dropped curbside in Lot 20 by 5:45 p.m. — plenty of time to find seats before the entrances open, which happens roughly 60 minutes before tip-off for BYU men's basketball games. The bus stages in Lot 20 through the game and is back at the curb for a 9:30 p.m. pickup.
A 5-hour rental at that size might come to roughly $750–$900, or about $27–$32 a person, with the drive, the parking hunt, and the ride home all folded into one number.
Getting to Marriott Center: Routes, Traffic & Timing
Marriott Center sits on the east side of BYU's campus, which for most Utah County and Salt Lake Valley groups means a straight run down or up I-15 to Exit 269. Approximate distances and drive times from common pickup points, before event-day traffic sets in:
| From… | Approx. distance | Typical drive time (off-peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Provo | ~3 miles | 10–15 minutes |
| Orem | ~5 miles | 10–20 minutes |
| American Fork / Lehi | ~15–20 miles | 20–30 minutes |
| Salt Lake City | ~45 miles | 45–60 minutes |
| Spanish Fork | ~12 miles | 20–25 minutes |
Build in extra time on any night with a rivalry matchup or a marquee non-conference opponent. Entrances open about 60 minutes before tip-off for BYU men's basketball games, and arriving with your full tailgate or pregame window still ahead of that means leaving well before the University Parkway corridor fills. On a bus, that buffer is already built into the pickup time you set when you book — nobody in your group has to watch the clock and decide when to bail on dinner to make kickoff.
Salt Lake City Airport to Marriott Center
Salt Lake City International Airport is the closest major commercial airport for a group flying in for a Marriott Center game, roughly 45 miles north of Provo down I-15. A private bus turns that leg into one coordinated pickup instead of a handful of rideshares splitting up at baggage claim — the group loads once at the terminal and rides straight to campus or a hotel. Airport shuttle and limousine counters operate from the ground level of the terminal, per Salt Lake City International Airport's official ground transportation page, but for a group larger than a car or two, a private bus arranged ahead of time is the cleaner option — see the Provo airport transportation page for more on that route.
Tailgating & Bag Policy at Marriott Center
A few rules are worth knowing before your group ever reaches the gates, straight from the arena's own published policies:
- Bags stay small. Per Marriott Center's official policies page, bags are limited to 5" x 8" x 1" or smaller, with exceptions for medically necessary bags and reasonably sized diaper bags. Backpacks and full-size bags don't make it past the door.
- The prohibited list is long. Weapons, whiteboards, signs larger than 24" x 36", outside food and drinks, fireworks, glass containers, megaphones, noisemakers, sticks or poles, laser pointers, and video cameras are all turned away at the gate.
- No alcohol or tobacco, anywhere on campus. "Alcohol and tobacco are not permitted anywhere on BYU Campus, including inside the venue or in its parking lots," per the arena's own policy page. That covers the Lot 20 tailgate space as well as the seating bowl.
- Propane grills only. Tailgating is allowed directly behind or in front of your vehicle without blocking the travel lane, and propane grills are permitted, but charcoal or open-flame grills are not.
- Entrances open about an hour early. For BYU men's basketball games, gates open roughly 60 minutes before the published tip-off time.
- Re-entry requires the same ticket. Guests who leave and want back in must have their ticket exit-scanned, and that same ticket has to be presented at the door — it can't be handed off to someone else once it's scanned.
Leaving Marriott Center After the Game
Getting out is usually the rougher half of the night. When a crowd pushing 18,000 heads for the exits at once, University Parkway backs up fast, and everyone who drove is funneling through the same handful of lot exits at the same time.
A bus staged in Lot 20 skips most of that. Your group agrees on a pickup window before the game ever starts, walks straight to the bus once the horn sounds, and settles in while the University Parkway crawl becomes somebody else's problem. No hunting through a packed lot for where you parked three hours earlier, and no standing on a curb waiting for a rideshare that's fighting the same exit traffic as everyone else.
Tips for Visiting Marriott Center
- Call ahead if you're bringing a bus. University Police Parking Services asks groups to call the venue directly at (801) 422-3906 or email [email protected] with your visit date, number of buses, and estimated arrival time before you come to campus.
- Use the campus map for anything beyond Lot 20. Interactive parking maps at map.byu.edu show which lots are open for a given event, since assignments shift by date.
- Know the ticket office hours. The Marriott Center ticket office can be reached at 801-422-2981, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cougar Club questions go to a different line. For reserved-lot assignments and membership questions, call the Cougar Club directly at 801-422-2583.
- Disability parking is in Lot 3. State-issued disability parking is designated in Lot 3, near the arena, per the venue's official page.
- Non-athletic events use a separate line. For devotionals, commencement, or other non-basketball events at the Marriott Center, Special Events can be reached at 801-422-6022.
What's Happening at Marriott Center in 2026
The Marriott Center stays busy well beyond basketball season, and groups renting a bus love arriving together so the trip doesn't eat into the day.
- BYU Education Week, August 17–21, 2026. BYU's annual continuing-education conference fills campus with visiting groups all week, and the Tuesday Devotional — featuring Elder Patrick Kearon on August 18 at 11:10 a.m. — is held in the Marriott Center itself, per BYU Education Week's official site. Congregations and family groups traveling in for the week are exactly the kind of block that benefits from a single Provo group shuttle instead of a dozen separate cars hunting for parking on a packed campus.
- BYU men's basketball, 2026–27 season. The Cougars host eight non-conference games at the Marriott Center, including the October 16 exhibition against Nebraska, the November 6 home opener against Omaha, and matchups against Queens (Nov. 10), Montana State (Nov. 12), Northern Colorado (Nov. 18), rival Utah State (Dec. 9), Cal State Fullerton (Dec. 12), Weber State (Dec. 15), and La Salle (Dec. 22), per BYU Athletics' official 2026–27 schedule announcement. Big 12 home dates against Baylor, Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia follow later in conference play.
- Commencement. BYU holds commencement in the Marriott Center each April, drawing graduates' families from across the state for a single morning ceremony — another day when campus parking fills fast and a coordinated bus pickup keeps a large family group together.
For the biggest dates — the Utah State rivalry game, Education Week, and commencement weekend — the right-size vehicle goes first. Call Provominibuscompany.com at 385-585-2210 to lock in your date.
Booking Your Marriott Center Bus Rental
Lining up a bus for Marriott Center is a short process:
- Request a quote with your group size, pickup location, event, and date.
- Confirm the vehicle and the Lot 20 drop plan for your specific event, since lot assignments can shift for the biggest dates.
- Set your pickup window so the bus is staged and ready the moment the game or event lets out.
A question we hear often: how early should the bus arrive? Plan on reaching Lot 20 at least 45 minutes to an hour before tip-off, which lines up with the arena's own gate-opening window. Fill out the quick online form or call 385-585-2210, and Provominibuscompany.com can compare vehicles and prices for your Marriott Center trip in about a minute.
Also planning a football Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium or a Fourth of July trip to America's Freedom Festival? Those guides cover their own drop-offs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at Marriott Center?
Buses drop passengers curbside in Lot 20, directly in front of the Marriott Center. That's the same lot BYU's own campus security guidance assigns to every group bus visiting campus, and it's also where pickup happens afterward.
Where does the bus park during the game?
The bus can stay in the reserved section of Lot 20 for the length of the event, or pull over to the overflow lots at LaVell Edwards Stadium across University Parkway and return closer to the final horn.
Does a bus need to be registered with campus police in advance?
Yes. University Police Parking Services asks groups to call ahead at (801) 422-3906 or email [email protected] with the visit date, number of buses, and estimated arrival time.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to Marriott Center?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, the date and demand, and mileage from your pickup point. As a general range to plan around, a Sprinter van or small minibus often runs $120–$170 an hour, and a full-size charter bus runs closer to $180–$230 an hour. Call 385-585-2210 for a quote specific to your date.
Is there parking at Marriott Center, and is it free?
Public non-reserved parking is available around the Marriott Center and at LaVell Edwards Stadium across the street. The rows closest to the arena are Cougar Club reserved lots, held for donor pass holders until roughly 30 minutes after the event starts, then open to everyone.
What roads back up on game day?
University Parkway, the main corridor connecting I-15 Exit 269 to campus, is the road nearly every car and bus uses to reach the arena, and it fills fast before big non-conference and rivalry games. BYU's own reporting on major campus events has documented I-15 delays running more than double the normal drive time in the hours before a big crowd arrives.
How early should we arrive?
Entrances open about 60 minutes before tip-off for BYU men's basketball games. Building in a Lot 20 arrival 45 minutes to an hour before that gate time avoids the worst of the University Parkway traffic.
What size bus do we need?
A Sprinter van fits up to about 14, an 18- to 35-passenger minibus covers most ward, family, or company-size groups, and a full charter bus holds up to about 56 for the largest outings. ADA-accessible vehicles are available on request.
Are there alternatives to a private bus?
The UVX Bus Rapid Transit line stops at the BYU Stadium Station near the arena, with fares at $2.50 for the general public (free for BYU/UVU ID holders). It's a solid option for a couple or a single family, but it can't guarantee a large group boards together or leaves together after the game.
Can we tailgate before the game?
Yes, directly behind or in front of your vehicle without blocking the travel lane. Propane grills are allowed, but charcoal and open-flame grills are not, and alcohol and tobacco are prohibited anywhere on BYU campus, including the lots.
What's the bag policy?
Bags are limited to 5" x 8" x 1" or smaller, with exceptions for medically necessary bags and diaper bags. Weapons, large signs, outside food and drinks, and several other items are also turned away at the gate.
How far is Marriott Center from the airport?
Salt Lake City International Airport is roughly 45 miles north, typically 45 minutes to an hour by I-15 depending on traffic. A single bus pickup at baggage claim is the simplest way to move a group straight from the terminal to campus.
What's on the Marriott Center calendar in 2026?
BYU Education Week runs August 17–21, 2026, with a devotional in the Marriott Center on August 18. The men's basketball team hosts eight non-conference games at the arena between October and December 2026, plus Big 12 home games later in the season, and commencement is held there each April.
Book Your Marriott Center Bus Rental Today
Whether it's a ward group heading to Education Week, a family reunion catching a rivalry game, or a company outing for BYU basketball, Provominibuscompany.com makes it easy to compare charter buses, party buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans for your trip to the Marriott Center — and your group gets dropped curbside in Lot 20 while everyone else is still circling for a spot. Call 385-585-2210 any time for a free quote, or use the online tool for instant availability.
