Anyone who has tried to get a group up Red Wolf Boulevard on a Red Wolves game night knows the squeeze: two lots holding roughly 3,300 cars for an arena that seats up to 10,174, all of it running on cashless-only payment. Show up without a plan and your group is hunting for a spot in the outer paved fields while the doors are already open. The question that actually matters before you go: where does a bus drop your group, and does it beat fighting that lot for a space?
Short answer: a charter bus or party bus pulls up curbside near the Red, Yellow, or Green entrances at First National Bank Arena, lets your group off right at the door, and then clears out to wait instead of circling for parking. Below is exactly how that works — the entrance layout, the $10 cashless lots, the routes in from Memphis and Little Rock, and what it costs to bring your whole group in one vehicle instead of a caravan of cars searching for a $10 spot that may already be full.
Why Rent a Bus to First National Bank Arena?
The arena's own numbers explain the squeeze: 1,300 on-site spaces plus 2,000 more in adjacent paved lots, all running on cashless parking at $10, subject to increase on event days, according to the arena's official visit page. For a sellout Red Wolves game or a country-headliner concert like Parker McCollum, that's around 3,300 spaces for a building that can seat over 10,000. Splitting your group into six or eight separate cars means six or eight separate shots at finding one of those spots — and everyone needs a card, since there's no cash option at the gate.
One charter bus or party bus rental sidesteps the entire scramble. Your group loads once at a hotel, a church, or a school parking lot back home, rides together up I-555 or Highway 63, and steps off right at the entrance instead of hiking in from the far end of an adjacent lot. Jonesborominibuscompany.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Jonesboro, so you can compare vehicle sizes and pricing for your First National Bank Arena trip and lock in a plan before the parking math even becomes a problem. Fill out the quick online form or call 870-641-7970 to see what's available for your date.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at First National Bank Arena
First National Bank Arena's own accessibility guidance names three of the building's entrances directly: ramp access sits between the Red and Yellow Entrances, with elevator service at the Green Entrance, per the arena's visit page. Those color-coded doors are your reference points when a group is coordinating a curbside stop — tell your group which entrance to meet at before anyone gets off the bus, since a 40-person crowd splitting between three doors is how people get separated at a venue this size.
The arena's site does not publish a separate motorcoach lane the way some big-city arenas do, so a charter bus or party bus pulling up to First National Bank Arena works the same curb that general vehicle traffic uses near the Red, Yellow, and Green entrances, directed by event staff on arrival. For a group larger than a couple dozen people, it's worth having whoever is coordinating your quote reach out to Arena Administration at (870) 972-3870 ahead of a big date — Parker McCollum on September 17, 2026, or a Sun Belt basketball night against a rival like Louisiana — so your curb window is expected rather than improvised.
First National Bank Arena Parking Costs & the Cashless Lots
Every vehicle entering First National Bank Arena's lots pays the same $10 cashless rate, and that rate can climb for marquee events, per the arena's official parking and directions page. Because the whole operation is cashless, groups arriving by car need a working card in every vehicle just to park — one more reason a single bus rental beats splitting into a convoy. A bus is booked and paid for once, before the date, so nobody at the gate is digging for a card while a line backs up behind them.
The 1,300 on-site spaces fill first for any sold-out date, pushing later arrivals into the 2,000-space overflow lots. A bus dropped at the curb skips that overflow walk entirely — your group is inside while the cars behind you are still circling for the last open row.
Approaching First National Bank Arena on Red Wolf Boulevard
Groups driving in from Memphis take I-55 North toward Jonesboro and Blytheville, exit onto I-555 North at Exit 23, and finish the approach on Red Wolf Boulevard toward the Arkansas State campus, a route the arena spells out on its own visit and directions page at roughly 61 miles and an hour and five minutes. Groups coming from Little Rock run I-30 North, pick up US-167 N/US-67 N, and merge onto Red Wolf Boulevard from the north side of campus — about 138 miles and just over two hours. Both routes funnel onto the same short stretch of Red Wolf Boulevard and Alumni Boulevard that feeds the arena's lots, which is exactly the stretch that backs up hardest in the twenty minutes before a sellout tips off.
First National Bank Arena Charter Bus & Party Bus Rental Prices
Jonesborominibuscompany.com shows quotes in under a minute, and there's no single flat number because a few things move the price for every trip: vehicle size, total hours booked, how far your group is starting from, and how close your date sits to a high-demand night like a Red Wolves rivalry game or a touring concert. To give you an idea, groups comparing a Jonesboro charter bus rental against a smaller Jonesboro party bus rental typically see the bigger coach price out higher per hour but lower per rider once the whole group splits the cost. These figures always vary with the date and the vehicle, so the fastest way to see real numbers for your trip is the quick online form or a call to 870-641-7970.
A First National Bank Arena Game-Night Price Example
To give you an idea of how the numbers work: a 30-person alumni group books a 35-passenger minibus for a Saturday Red Wolves game. Pickup is 5:00 PM from a Memphis hotel, arrival at the Red Entrance by 6:15 PM — well ahead of a 7:00 PM tip-off — with the bus staged nearby through the game and back at the curb for an 9:30 PM pickup. Splitting a rental like that across 30 people routinely lands cheaper per head than 8 separate cars each paying the $10 cashless lot rate plus gas up I-55.
Review the Jonesboro bus rental prices page for a fuller sense of the ranges before you request your own quote.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Rental Sizes for First National Bank Arena Groups
Group size is really what decides the right vehicle for a First National Bank Arena trip. A small suite or a family group of a dozen fits comfortably in an 18-passenger minibus, while a student section, a church group, or a company outing headed to a Parker McCollum or Red Clay Strays show tends to land in the 25-passenger or 35-passenger minibus rental range. Larger fan sections or a full band and cheer squad traveling for a Sun Belt matchup are usually better served by a full-size Jonesboro charter bus rental, with room for equipment and gear in the underneath storage bays rather than stacked on laps.
For a milestone night out — a birthday group catching the Red Clay Strays or a graduation weekend built around commencement at the arena — a Jonesboro party bus rental keeps the group together with the ride itself part of the celebration instead of just a means to the door. School groups attending a weekday matinee event can compare options on the Jonesboro field trip transportation page, and browsing the full vehicle lineup is the fastest way to see what fits your headcount before you request a quote.
Getting to First National Bank Arena from Memphis, Little Rock & Northeast Arkansas
Distance and drive time shape when your group needs to leave more than anything else on this trip:
| From… | Approx. distance | Drive time (per arena's own figures) |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | ~61 miles | ~1 hour, 5 minutes |
| Little Rock, AR | ~138 miles | ~2 hours, 3 minutes |
| St. Louis, MO | ~202 miles | ~3 hours, 39 minutes |
Those figures come straight from the arena's own directions page and reflect open-road driving, not the last twenty minutes of a sellout crowd converging on Red Wolf Boulevard at once. Build extra time into a game-night pickup, especially for a Sun Belt rivalry date or a Saturday concert where the lots fill closer to showtime.
Flying Into Memphis for a First National Bank Arena Concert or Game
Groups flying in from out of state land at Memphis International Airport (MEM), roughly 70 miles and just over an hour south of the arena down I-55 and I-555. The airport's own ground transportation page lists rental cars, shuttles, and rideshare as the standard options from the terminal, none of which keep a group of 20 or 40 together on a single, coordinated arrival. A charter bus or minibus picked up curbside at baggage claim solves that in one move, gathering the whole group before the drive up I-55 even starts.
The Jonesboro airport transportation page covers pickup logistics for groups landing at MEM and connecting on to Jonesboro.
Bag Policy & Cashless Rules at First National Bank Arena
First National Bank Arena runs a strict clear-bag policy, and its own arena policies page lists backpacks, briefcases, computer bags, coolers, fanny packs, luggage, and cinch bags among the items that cannot be carried in — clear or not. Pack light before your group ever boards the bus, since anything that doesn't clear the policy has to stay behind rather than get checked at the door. One exception the arena calls out by name: diaper bags will be allowed in after a security check.
Every transaction inside the building — tickets, parking, concessions, merchandise — runs cashless only, accepting major cards and mobile payment like Apple Pay and Google Pay, per that same policies page. Remind your group before you leave: a pocket full of cash does nothing at the gate or the concession stand at First National Bank Arena.
Arkansas State Red Wolves Basketball & Concerts at First National Bank Arena
First National Bank Arena seats up to 9,536 for Red Wolves basketball and as many as 10,174 for concerts, per the arena's own about page, and the calendar runs from Sun Belt conference basketball through touring country acts. The 2026-27 Red Wolves men's basketball home slate, published on the team's official schedule page, includes home dates against South Alabama (December 16), Georgia Southern (December 19), App State (January 7), Georgia State (January 9), Southern Miss (January 16), Louisiana (January 27), ULM (February 10), Troy (February 13), and Louisiana Tech (February 26) — all played at First National Bank Arena.
On the concert side, country headliner Parker McCollum plays the arena on September 17, 2026, and The Red Clay Strays follow on November 8, 2026. Big single-night shows like these are exactly when the 3,300-space lot total tightens fastest, so a bus rental locked in early beats hoping a spot opens up in the overflow lot. Compare vehicles for a Red Wolves road trip on the Jonesboro sporting event transportation page, or plan a concert night through Jonesboro concert transportation.
Leaving First National Bank Arena After the Final Buzzer
The exit is where a bus earns its keep most. With around 3,300 parking spaces feeding out through the same handful of lot exits onto Red Wolf Boulevard and Alumni Boulevard, a sellout crowd leaving all at once turns those two streets into a slow crawl, and rideshare pickup gets harder to coordinate the moment a few thousand people are all trying to summon a car at once.
A charter bus or party bus sidesteps that scramble by staging nearby during the event and pulling back to your group's chosen entrance — Red, Yellow, or Green — once the final horn sounds or the last encore wraps. Agree on the meet-back door before anyone splits up inside, since cell service inside a packed arena bowl is not something to count on for last-minute coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions About First National Bank Arena Bus Rentals
Where does a charter bus drop off at First National Bank Arena?
A charter bus or party bus drops curbside near the arena's Red, Yellow, or Green entrances, the same doors the arena names in its own accessibility guidance. There's no separate motorcoach lane published, so event staff direct arriving vehicles on the day; for larger groups, it helps to have your quote coordinator flag the arrival with Arena Administration at (870) 972-3870 ahead of a big date.
How much does parking cost at First National Bank Arena?
Parking runs $10 per vehicle, cashless only, and that rate can rise for high-demand events, per the arena's official visit page. The arena offers 1,300 on-site spaces and 2,000 more in adjacent lots — a combined total that fills quickly for a sellout basketball game or a headline concert.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to First National Bank Arena?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, your pickup distance, and how close your date sits to a high-demand game or concert. You can compare quotes for a Jonesboro charter bus rental or party bus rental in under a minute online, or call 870-641-7970 for a free quote.
What is the bag policy at First National Bank Arena?
The arena enforces a clear-bag policy that excludes backpacks, briefcases, computer bags, coolers, fanny packs, luggage, and cinch bags — clear or not — per its official arena policies page. Diaper bags are allowed in after a security check.
Is First National Bank Arena a cashless venue?
Yes. Tickets, parking, concessions, and merchandise are all cashless, accepting major credit and debit cards along with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
How far is First National Bank Arena from Memphis?
About 61 miles, roughly an hour and five minutes via I-55 North to I-555 North to Red Wolf Boulevard, per the arena's own directions page. Build in extra time on a sellout night, since that same route feeds every car converging on the lots.
What size bus fits a Red Wolves game or concert group?
It depends on headcount. Smaller groups of a dozen or so fit an 18-passenger minibus; student sections, church groups, and company outings usually land in the 25- to 35-passenger minibus range; larger fan sections or bands and cheer squads typically need a full-size charter bus. A party bus rental works well for a celebration night built around a concert date.
What events are scheduled at First National Bank Arena?
The 2026-27 Arkansas State Red Wolves men's basketball home schedule runs from December through February, including dates against Louisiana, Troy, and Louisiana Tech. Parker McCollum plays September 17, 2026, and The Red Clay Strays play November 8, 2026 — both confirmed on the arena's own event pages.
How do we get picked up after the game or show?
Agree on a meet-back entrance — Red, Yellow, or Green — before your group splits up inside, since cell coverage inside a packed arena bowl isn't something to count on. The bus stages nearby during the event and returns to that entrance once the crowd releases.
How far in advance should we book a bus to First National Bank Arena?
As soon as your date is set, especially for a marquee concert or a Sun Belt rivalry game, when the 3,300-space lot total fills fastest. For most other dates, a couple of weeks of lead time is workable, but earlier booking means more vehicle options.
Book Your First National Bank Arena Bus Today
Whether it's a Red Wolves rivalry game, a Parker McCollum or Red Clay Strays concert, or a commencement weekend on the Arkansas State campus, Jonesborominibuscompany.com makes it easy to compare charter buses, party buses, and minibuses for your trip to First National Bank Arena. Also planning a trip to a Red Wolves football game at Centennial Bank Stadium or a night at Southland Casino Hotel? Those guides cover their own drop-offs.
Fill out the quick online form or call 870-641-7970 any time for a free quote and get your group to First National Bank Arena without ever circling that $10 cashless lot.
