The Florida Panthers have skated off the ice at Amerant Bank Arena as Stanley Cup champions two years running, and both banners now hang over the same building where you're about to park a group of fans, coworkers, or family for a game or a concert. That's a lot of people converging on one arena in Sunrise, and which parking lot you land in decides whether your night starts smooth or starts with a walk across a shopping mall parking lot in the dark.
Here's the detail that changes everything: Amerant Bank Arena sits at the exact same crossroads as Sawgrass Mills, one of the largest outlet malls in the country. On a sellout night, arena traffic and mall traffic hit the same two roads at the same time, and a charter bus or party bus routed straight into the arena's own bus lot skips that entire mess.
TLDR: Charter buses and party buses enter Amerant Bank Arena (1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise, FL 33323) through Gate 1 or Gate 7 and park in Lot D2, separate from the $40–$50 general car lots and the Sawgrass Mills traffic next door. Fill out a quick quote request or call 754-764-9650 to compare party buses, charter buses, and minibuses for your next Panthers game or Amerant Bank Arena concert.
Why Rent a Party Bus or Charter Bus to Amerant Bank Arena?
Amerant Bank Arena holds up to 19,250 fans for Florida Panthers hockey and as many as 20,000 for concerts and family shows, per the arena's own A-Z guide. On a big date — a playoff game, a rematch during a Cup run, a touring concert — nearly every one of those people is trying to get in and out of Sunrise on the same handful of roads.
A charter bus or party bus rental through Hollywoodpartybuscompany.com turns that scramble into one pickup. Your group boards once — from a Hollywood hotel, a Fort Lauderdale office, or wherever the trip starts — and rides together instead of splitting into a caravan where each car needs its own parking pass and its own route through Sunrise Boulevard traffic. One quote request covers the vehicle, the arena drop-off, and the wait until the final horn.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Amerant Bank Arena
Amerant Bank Arena runs general parking through two lots: D Lot (Gates 1 or 7) and A Lot (Gates 2 or 3), with hockey-game pricing running $40–$50 plus tax at the gate and lower pre-paid options available in advance, per the arena's official directions and parking page. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is kept separate, at the North Pedestrian Walkway near Gate 3.
Charter buses don't share those car lanes. Buses enter through Gate 1 or 7 and park in Lot D2, according to that same official page, and oversized vehicles taking up more than two spaces are billed the general parking rate for each extra space. The Florida Panthers' own official parking page lists bus parking at a flat $75 for Panthers games, entering through Gate 7.
That's one predictable stop for your whole group instead of splitting everyone across the D Lot and A Lot gate lines that fill up around tip-off.
Charter Bus and RV Parking Rules at Amerant Bank Arena — the Two-Hour Window
Parking lots open roughly two hours before an event starts, and every gate takes credit or debit only — no cash — per the arena's A-Z guide. Once you're parked and inside, exits are final: re-entry is not allowed except in an emergency, so nobody wanders back out to the bus mid-game for something they forgot.
That two-hour window matters more for a group than for a single car. A 40-passenger party bus needs time to clear Lot D2 and get everyone unloaded before the concourse fills, so a pickup time built around that window — not just "see you at puck drop" — keeps your group from being the one still filing off the bus as the anthem starts.
Rent a Bus to Amerant Bank Arena via the Sawgrass Expressway and Sunrise Boulevard
Amerant Bank Arena sits about half a mile south of the Sawgrass Expressway (State Road 869): the arena's own directions call for taking the Sawgrass Expressway to Oakland Park Boulevard, turning onto Oakland Park, then right on Flamingo Road and right again onto Panther Parkway (136th Avenue) to reach Gate 3, per the official directions and parking page. Coming from Sunrise Boulevard and I-595 instead, you exit at 136th Avenue and head north — that road becomes Panther Parkway about a mile later, arriving at the arena from the south.
Both approaches funnel onto the same short stretch of Flamingo Road and Panther Parkway right as Sawgrass Mills lets out its own dinner-and-shopping traffic. A charter bus already routed toward its own gate and its own lot means your group isn't the one stuck behind mall traffic three blocks from the arena.
Amerant Bank Arena Parking and the Sawgrass Mills Traffic Squeeze
Amerant Bank Arena and Sawgrass Mills sit at the same crossroads — West Sunrise Boulevard and Flamingo Road — with the mall's address, 12801 W. Sunrise Blvd, just a few hundred yards from the arena gates, per Sawgrass Mills' official site. Some fans have historically walked over from the mall's lot to skip the arena's parking fee, but that lot belongs to the mall, not the arena — event-night rules and enforcement are set by mall management and can change without notice, so it isn't a guaranteed free option and it adds a walk of a quarter mile or more each way, much of it alongside moving traffic.
A charter bus or party bus sidesteps that gamble entirely. Instead of hoping the mall lot is open and unenforced on your date, your group rides straight into the arena's own Lot D2 through Gate 1 or 7 — a paid, predictable spot with no walk across Flamingo Road after a night game.
What Size Party Bus or Charter Bus Fits Your Amerant Bank Arena Group?
The right vehicle for a Panthers game or an Amerant Bank Arena concert comes down to headcount and how much you're bringing along — jerseys, signs, and gear for a suite or club-level group.
- 14-passenger Sprinter limo or Sprinter van — a tight fit for suite holders or a small group heading to a club-level ticket, with leather seating and USB charging at every seat.
- 20-passenger or 30-passenger party bus — the pick for a group of season-ticket holders or a birthday crew catching a game together, with a built-in bar area, LED lighting, and a sound system to keep pregame energy up on the ride to Sunrise.
- 15–35 passenger minibus — a practical choice for a corporate suite group or a mid-size family trip, with reclining seats and strong A/C for the ride up I-95 or the Sawgrass Expressway.
- 40–56 passenger charter bus — the right call for a full season-ticket group, a school hockey trip, or an out-of-town group in for a Cup-run weekend, with overhead storage, WiFi, and onboard restrooms for the longer haul from Miami-Dade or Palm Beach County.
Browse the full vehicle lineup to see what's available for your date, or call 754-764-9650 and a support team can help match the right size to your group before you request pricing.
Amerant Bank Arena Bus Rental Prices
Hollywoodpartybuscompany.com shows all-inclusive quotes online in under a minute, and the number you see depends on a few clear factors: vehicle size, how many hours you need the bus (pregame arrival through the final horn), the date, and how far the pickup is from Sunrise.
To give you an idea: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. Pricing shifts with the date, the vehicle, and demand around marquee games — the fastest way to see a real number for your exact date is to fill out the quick form or call 754-764-9650, and you could have pricing in about a minute. Check out the Hollywood party bus prices page for more on how rates come together.
Keep in mind the arena's own bus parking fee is separate from your vehicle rental and paid directly at Gate 1 or 7 on arrival.
Leaving Amerant Bank Arena After a Panthers Game or Concert
Getting out is the hard part of any sellout night here. Exits at Amerant Bank Arena are final — no re-entry once you leave, per the arena's A-Z guide — and roughly 19,000 fans funnel out toward the same short run of Panther Parkway, Flamingo Road, and the Sawgrass Expressway all at once.
A private bus keeps that exit crawl off your plate. Your group's bus stages in Lot D2 during the event, so instead of hunting for your car in a packed lot or waiting on a rideshare at the North Pedestrian Walkway, you walk straight to a bus that's already there and ready to roll back onto the Sawgrass Expressway or Sunrise Boulevard while the rest of the lot is still clearing out.
Florida Panthers Games and Concerts at Amerant Bank Arena
Amerant Bank Arena has been home ice for the Florida Panthers since the building opened in 1998 — you may still know it as the BB&T Center or FLA Live Arena from its earlier naming eras. The Panthers clinched back-to-back Stanley Cup titles here, beating the Edmonton Oilers for the 2024 championship and again for the 2025 title — banners that now hang over every regular-season game and every concert on the arena's calendar.
Beyond hockey, the arena's concert configuration holds up to 20,000 for touring acts, and demand for both hockey and concert nights tends to spike together across the same October-through-June window the Panthers play in. Groups planning a Panthers game the same week as a Miami Heat game at Kaseya Center should plan pickup times for each trip separately — the two arenas sit roughly 34 miles apart and don't share a common approach route.
Bag Policy and Entry Rules at Amerant Bank Arena
Amerant Bank Arena allows only small bags — clutches, crossbodies, and similar bags measuring 4" x 6" x 1.5" or smaller — with backpacks and larger bags turned away at the door, per the arena's security policies page. Bag lockers sit outside the main entrance at the bottom of the Publix Plaza stairs for anything that doesn't meet the size limit.
Knowing that before you leave the bus saves your group a walk back to the lockers mid-arrival. One factory-sealed water bottle per person is allowed through the gate, and since exits are final, it's worth confirming everyone has what they need before stepping off the bus.
Groups That Rent a Bus to Amerant Bank Arena
Season-ticket groups and suite holders use a bus to keep an entire group moving together to the same seats without splitting into separate cars for a Tuesday night game. See the Hollywood sporting event transportation page for how that works across South Florida's arenas and stadiums.
Companies booking a client or staff outing to a suite lean on a minibus or Sprinter van to move a small group from a downtown Fort Lauderdale office straight to Gate 1 without anyone worrying about a parking pass — the Hollywood corporate event transportation page covers that setup. For a concert night at the arena, a party bus rental arranged through the Hollywood concert transportation page keeps the pregame energy going on the ride up to Sunrise.
Getting to Amerant Bank Arena from Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, and Nearby Cities
Amerant Bank Arena sits about 19 miles northwest of Hollywood, roughly a 25-minute drive outside of event traffic. Groups flying in through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) are looking at about 17 miles and 20–25 minutes — the airport's official ground transportation page lists arrivals-level pickup areas at GTA-1, GTA-2, and GTA-3, one coordinated stop for a bus gathering your whole group at baggage claim instead of splitting everyone across separate rideshares.
Closer to the arena, groups pull together from Sunrise itself, Plantation, Coral Springs, and Fort Lauderdale, while regional Cup-run crowds also come up from Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and Miami Gardens. Whichever city the trip starts in, one pickup covers the whole group instead of everyone finding their own way to Sunrise.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amerant Bank Arena Bus Rentals
Where do charter buses park at Amerant Bank Arena?
Charter buses enter through Gate 1 or Gate 7 and park in Lot D2, separate from the general car lots (D Lot and A Lot), per the arena's official directions and parking page. The Florida Panthers' own parking page lists bus parking at $75 for Panthers games, with entry specifically through Gate 7.
Can I still park for free at Sawgrass Mills instead of paying arena parking?
Some fans have parked in the Sawgrass Mills lot across Flamingo Road to avoid the arena's parking fee, but that lot is privately managed by the mall, not the arena, and its event-night rules can change without notice. It isn't a guaranteed option, and it adds a walk of a quarter mile or more — a charter bus dropping directly into the arena's own Lot D2 skips that entirely.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to Amerant Bank Arena?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, the date, and mileage from your pickup point. To give you an idea, 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day; fill out the quick form or call 754-764-9650 for pricing built around your exact date.
What's the bag policy at Amerant Bank Arena?
Only small bags measuring 4" x 6" x 1.5" or smaller are allowed inside; backpacks and larger bags are turned away at the gate, though bag lockers are available outside the main entrance at the bottom of the Publix Plaza stairs. One factory-sealed water bottle per person is permitted.
Is there re-entry once you leave Amerant Bank Arena?
No. Exits are final except in an emergency, per the arena's official A-Z guide, so it's worth confirming your group has everything it needs — including anything left on the bus — before heading in.
What's the closest airport to Amerant Bank Arena?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is closest, about 17 miles and 20–25 minutes away outside of event traffic. Miami International Airport sits farther south and adds meaningfully more drive time once rush hour or event traffic is factored in.
Are ADA-accessible buses available for an Amerant Bank Arena trip?
Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles can be requested; just note it in your quote request ahead of your date so the right vehicle gets arranged. At the arena itself, accessible parking is available at the north lots (Gates 1, 2, or 5) and south lots (Gates 1 or 7) on a first-come, first-served basis with a valid placard.
Get Your Amerant Bank Arena Bus Quote Today
Whether it's a Panthers game during another playoff push, a touring concert, or a suite-level client outing, Hollywoodpartybuscompany.com makes it easy to compare party buses, charter buses, minibuses, Sprinter vans, and Sprinter limos for a trip to Amerant Bank Arena. Also heading to a stop at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood the same weekend? That guide covers its own drop-off.
Fill out the quick online form or call 754-764-9650 any time for an all-inclusive price quote at no obligation — you'll see vehicles and pricing for your exact date in about a minute.
