Panther Parkway is a single road in and a single road out. Every fan leaving a Florida Panthers game or a sold-out concert funnels onto that same stretch at the same time, and the arena won't take a crumpled twenty at the gate to speed things along — Amerant Bank Arena is completely cashless, card only, every transaction. Add a bus lot that isn't anywhere near the rideshare curb, and a group that's never done this before can burn twenty minutes just figuring out where the bus is even supposed to go.
Here's the short version: a charter bus or party bus enters Amerant Bank Arena through Gate 1 or Gate 7 and stages in Lot D2 — not the Gate 3 rideshare curb, not the Gate 1 taxi line. Knowing that one fact before your group leaves Pembroke Pines is the difference between rolling in as one unit and spending puck drop circling Sunrise. Below is everything else that matters for a group headed to 1 Panther Parkway: where the bus parks, what that parking actually costs, which roads out of Pembroke Pines get you there fastest, what size vehicle fits your group, and what's on the arena's 2026 calendar.
For the full picture of group travel to Panthers games and Sunrise concerts, see the Pembroke Pines sporting event transportation page.
Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to Amerant Bank Arena?
Drive yourself to a Panthers game and you're doing all of it solo: finding a spot in the general lot, feeding a card reader instead of cash, walking in from wherever you land, and then sitting in the same slow release onto Panther Parkway as everyone else once the final horn sounds. A Pembroke Pines charter bus rental takes every one of those jobs off your group's plate. Your bus parks in Lot D2 while the group is inside, and it's staged and ready the moment you walk back out — no hunting for your own car in a lot that looks identical from every row.
A party bus rental takes it further for a group that wants the night to start before puck drop. Fifteen to fifty riders board together, the built-in designated transportation provider means nobody in the group has to skip a drink to get everyone home, and the whole group arrives at Gate 1 or 7 as one unit instead of trickling in car by car. Whether it's a birthday outing, a company night out, or a dozen buddies headed to see the Panthers, one bus replaces the whole scramble of separate cars, separate parking charges, and separate walks from the lot.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off and Parking at Amerant Bank Arena
Amerant Bank Arena separates its ground transportation by vehicle type, and buses use a different gate than rideshare or taxi traffic. Per the arena's own directions and parking page, buses and large RVs enter through Gate 1 or Gate 7 and park in Lot D2. That's a separate routing from rideshare, which drops at Gate 3 and picks up at Gate 2, and from taxis, which use Gate 1 for both.
A first-timer who follows the Uber signage will end up at the wrong gate entirely — your bus needs Gate 1 or 7 from the start.
Charter buses and party buses park in Lot D2, entering through Gate 1 or Gate 7. That's the one fact worth writing down before your group leaves Pembroke Pines — it's not the same gate rideshare or taxi traffic uses, and following the wrong signage costs your group time at the worst possible moment.
ADA parking splits by side of the building: north-side accessible parking is reached through Gates 1, 2, and 5, and south-side accessible parking through Gates 1 and 7, per the same directions page. If anyone in your group needs that routing, mention it when you request your quote so it's built into the route your bus takes in.
Amerant Bank Arena Bus Parking Costs — What a Group Actually Pays
General car parking in Lot A or Lot D runs $40 to $50 at the gate for a Panthers game, per the arena's directions and parking page — and every one of those cards gets charged separately, since the arena takes no cash at all. Buses and large RVs follow a different structure entirely: the arena's own parking rules state that oversized vehicles taking up more than two spaces are charged the standard general-parking rate for each additional space beyond the first two, and that limousines and other two-space vehicles pay double the general rate. A single bus splits that cost across your whole group instead of every rider paying their own $40-plus at the gate.
Because the arena is cashless top to bottom — the box office, concessions, and every parking lot all run on card only, per the venue's A-Z guide — make sure whoever's handling the group's parking has a card ready before you reach the gate. There's no fallback lane for cash.
Amerant Bank Arena Transportation: Every Option Compared
| Option | Where it lands you | Group stays together? | Card or cash? | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charter bus / party bus | Gate 1 or 7, Lot D2 | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival | One card, split across the group | 15–56 |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Gate 3 drop, Gate 2 pickup | No — separate cars, separate ETAs | Card per rider | 1–4 per car |
| Taxi | Gate 1 | No — multiple cabs needed | Card per rider | 1–4 per cab |
| Drive & park yourself | Lot A or D, $40–$50 per car at the gate | No — caravans split up in the lot | Card only, per car | 1–2 cars |
For a couple of people, driving yourself or grabbing a rideshare from Gate 3 is the simpler call. But the moment your group grows past a car or two, separate parking charges, separate cars finding each other in the dark after the game, and nobody agreeing on who's staying sober all add up fast. That's the group a Pembroke Pines charter bus rental is built for.
Getting to Amerant Bank Arena from Pembroke Pines
Pembroke Pines sits south of Sunrise, and the most direct approach runs north on I-75 or up Flamingo Road before connecting to the Sawgrass Expressway, which the arena's own directions page names as one of its primary access roads alongside I-595, I-75, and I-95. Once you're on the Sawgrass headed toward the arena, the directions page routes traffic to exit at Pat Salerno Drive for Gates 1 and 2 — the same corridor your bus uses to reach Gate 1 for the bus lot.
| From… | Approx. distance | Typical drive time (off-peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Pines | ~16 miles | 25–35 minutes |
| Miramar | ~15 miles | 25–35 minutes |
| Weston | ~9 miles | 15–20 minutes |
| Fort Lauderdale (downtown) | ~13 miles | 20–30 minutes |
Those times stretch on game nights, since the Sawgrass Expressway and Panther Parkway both carry the bulk of arena-bound traffic onto the same stretch of road in the final half hour before puck drop. Build in extra time rather than cutting it close — a bus that's already sorted the approach route is one less thing your group has to think about in that crawl.
What Size Charter Bus or Party Bus Fits Your Group?
A couple of buddies headed to a weeknight game don't need the same vehicle as a 40-person office outing. Here's how the lineup breaks down for a trip to Amerant Bank Arena.
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Small groups, suite holders |
| Party bus | ~15–35 | Groups wanting the ride to be part of the night |
| 25-passenger minibus | ~25 | Mid-size groups, quick Sunrise hops |
| Charter bus | Up to 56 | Large fan groups, company outings |
A party bus rental to Amerant Bank Arena typically comes with a built-in bar area, colored lighting, and a sound system, so the pregame energy starts building before you're anywhere near Gate 1. A full-size charter bus trades that for undercarriage storage and onboard restrooms — the better fit for a longer haul or a group hauling gear for a tailgate. Browse the full vehicle lineup to compare what's available for your date.
Amerant Bank Arena Party Bus & Charter Bus Rental Prices
There's no single number that covers every trip to Amerant Bank Arena, because the quote is shaped by a few clear factors: vehicle size, total hours booked, the date and event — a random Tuesday against Columbus prices differently than a Saturday against the Lightning — and mileage from your Pembroke Pines pickup point. Compare vehicles and pricing for your date on the Pembroke Pines bus rental prices page, or call 954-777-8870 any time for a free quote.
A Panthers Night, By the Numbers
To give you an idea: a 25-person group books a 25-passenger minibus for a Saturday Panthers game. Pickup from Pembroke Pines at 5:30 PM, arrival at Lot D2 by 6:15 PM — well ahead of a 7:00 puck drop. The group heads in through Gate 1, and the bus is staged and ready in D2 for an 11:00 PM pickup once the crowd clears.
A 6-hour rental at that size might run in the neighborhood of $900 to $1,200 — roughly $36 to $48 per person, with the parking cost, the walk, and the post-game crawl all folded into one flat number instead of 25 separate cards at the gate.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport to Amerant Bank Arena
If part of your group is flying in for a Panthers weekend, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) sits closer to the arena than Miami International, at roughly 13 miles. Every ground transportation option at FLL, including buses, operates from the lower-level arrivals roadway outside baggage claim, per the airport's own ground transportation page, with a dedicated Ground Transportation Area at each terminal — GTA-1 at Terminal 1, GTA-2 between Terminals 2 and 3, and GTA-3 between Terminals 3 and 4. One bus can gather your entire group at their terminal's GTA and run them straight to the arena or your Pembroke Pines hotel, instead of splitting everyone across separate rideshares on arrival day.
See the Pembroke Pines airport transportation page for more on that leg of the trip.
Bag Policy & Entry Rules for an Amerant Bank Arena Group
Pack light. Per the arena's security policies page, the only bags allowed inside are small clutches, crossbodies, or wristlets smaller than 4in x 6in x 1.5in. Backpacks, coolers, and hard-sided bags are turned away at the door, and there's no storage inside or near the arena for anything that doesn't pass — so tell your group before they leave Pembroke Pines, not when they're standing at the metal detector.
Every guest passes through a walk-through metal detector, and permitted bags get a visual or X-ray check on top of that. And once your group is inside, they're inside — per the arena's A-Z guide, all exits are final and re-entry is not allowed except in an emergency. Anyone who steps out for the bus early is done for the night, so agree on the group's pickup plan before puck drop, not during intermission.
What's on the Calendar at Amerant Bank Arena in 2026
Amerant Bank Arena runs a full calendar well beyond hockey, and quote requests for bus and party bus groups pick up ahead of every marquee date. Per the arena's events page, the 2026 lineup includes:
- Florida Panthers hockey — preseason opens with Carolina on September 20 and Tampa Bay on September 26, with the home opener against Minnesota on October 10, followed by a full regular-season slate through the spring.
- Monster Jam — August 22–23, one of the arena's biggest family-draw weekends.
- Disney On Ice presents Spotlight Magic! — September 10–13, a multi-show run that pulls school and family groups.
- Journey: Final Frontier Tour — October 16.
- Weezer: The Gathering — October 13, and Teddy Swims: The UGLY Tour — October 23.
Concert and Panthers playoff dates are exactly when Lot D2 and the general lots fill fastest, so a group locking in a bus for one of these nights is better off booking as soon as the date is on the calendar rather than the week of the show.
Leaving Amerant Bank Arena After the Final Horn
Getting out is the part everyone forgets to plan for. With one road in and out through Panther Parkway to the Sawgrass Expressway, large numbers of guests hit that same stretch within minutes of each other, and with no re-entry once you've left, nobody's ducking back in to wait out the crowd. A charter bus staged in Lot D2 is already parked and ready when your group walks out — no hunting through rows of identical cars, no standing in a rideshare queue at Gate 2 while surge pricing climbs.
Your group climbs aboard and heads for Pembroke Pines, while everyone else is still working out where they parked.
Booking a Charter Bus or Party Bus to Amerant Bank Arena
- Request a quote with your group size, Pembroke Pines pickup point, and the event date.
- Compare vehicles and pricing — a large network of bus companies serving Pembroke Pines shows you options in seconds, no account required.
- Confirm your pickup window for after the game or show, so the bus is staged and ready in Lot D2 when your group walks out.
Also planning a trip to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino or a game day at Hard Rock Stadium? Those guides cover their own drop-off details. For anything involving more than one Broward stop, the Pembroke Pines group transportation services page covers multi-stop itineraries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a charter bus drop off at Amerant Bank Arena?
Charter buses and party buses enter through Gate 1 or Gate 7 and park in Lot D2, per the arena's directions and parking page. That's separate from the Gate 3 rideshare drop and the Gate 1 taxi line, so don't follow rideshare signage with a bus group.
Where do buses park at Amerant Bank Arena?
Lot D2, accessed through Gate 1 or Gate 7. It's the designated lot for buses and large RVs under the arena's own parking rules.
How much does it cost to park a bus at Amerant Bank Arena?
General car parking runs $40 to $50 at the gate. Buses and large RVs taking more than two spaces are charged the general parking rate for each additional space, and that cost is split across your whole group rather than paid car by car.
Is Amerant Bank Arena cashless?
Yes. Per the arena's A-Z guide, the box office, concessions, and every parking lot accept card only — no cash anywhere on site.
What's the bag policy at Amerant Bank Arena?
Only small clutches, crossbodies, or wristlets under 4in x 6in x 1.5in are allowed inside. Backpacks, coolers, and hard-sided bags are prohibited, and there's no bag storage available near the arena.
Can we leave and come back in during the event?
No. Per the arena's A-Z guide, all exits are final and re-entry isn't allowed except in an emergency, so plan your group's pickup for after the event ends.
How much does a party bus rental to Amerant Bank Arena cost?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, the date and event, and mileage from your Pembroke Pines pickup point. A 6-hour, 25-person minibus rental for a Panthers game runs roughly $900 to $1,200 to give you an idea — call 954-777-8870 for a quote on your date.
What roads should we take from Pembroke Pines?
I-75 or Flamingo Road north to the Sawgrass Expressway is the most direct approach, exiting at Pat Salerno Drive for Gates 1 and 2, the same corridor bus traffic uses to reach Lot D2.
Is there a shuttle from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport?
There's no dedicated arena shuttle. FLL's ground transportation, including buses, operates from the lower-level arrivals roadway at each terminal's Ground Transportation Area, and a private bus can gather your group there for the roughly 13-mile run to the arena.
Can the bus wait for us during the game?
Yes. The bus is booked as a block of hours, so it stages in Lot D2 during the event and is ready at an arranged pickup window when your group walks out.
Are ADA-accessible buses available?
Yes, through the network of vehicles compared on this site — just note it in your quote request. At the arena itself, ADA parking runs through Gates 1, 2, and 5 on the north side and Gates 1 and 7 on the south side.
How far in advance should we book for a Panthers game or concert?
As early as your date is set, especially for playoff hockey or a concert like Journey or Weezer, when Lot D2 and the surrounding lots fill fastest. For a regular-season weeknight game, a couple of weeks of lead time is usually workable.
Book Your Amerant Bank Arena Bus Today
The right vehicle for your Amerant Bank Arena trip is one quick form or a call away. Whether it's a Panthers game, a Monster Jam weekend, or a concert at 1 Panther Parkway, Pembrokepinesminibuscompany.com makes it easy to compare charter buses, party buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans serving Pembroke Pines and the rest of Broward County — with your group parked in Lot D2 and ready to walk in together. Call 954-777-8870 or use the online quote tool for pricing on your date.
