Game Day Group Transportation to Benchmark International Arena

Home of the three-time Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning NHL team, located on the Channelside waterfront in downtown Tampa. Also hosts major concert tours, family shows, UFC events, and the annual Gasparilla Bowl fan fest.

Why Charter a Bus to Benchmark International Arena?

  • ✓Skip expensive stadium parking - driver drops you at the gate
  • ✓Tailgate together - arrive as a group, leave as a group
  • ✓No surge pricing after the game like rideshare apps
  • ✓Round trip with post-game pickup coordinated
  • ✓Multi-stop pickup from hotels, bars, restaurants
  • ✓ADA accessible vehicles available

Major Events at Benchmark International Arena

  • Tampa Bay Lightning NHL
  • concerts
  • UFC fights
  • Disney on Ice
  • Cirque du Soleil

Capacity: 19092 - When Benchmark International Arena fills up, parking and rideshare become a nightmare. BusBrother drops your group at the entrance and picks you up after the event.

What Should a Group Know About Benchmark International Arena (Formerly Amalie Arena)?

Amalie Arena became Benchmark International Arena on August 13, 2025; it is the 19,092-seat downtown Tampa home of the Tampa Bay Lightning at 401 Channelside Drive, and doors normally open 60 minutes before puck drop.

What bags are allowed?

Bags larger than 12 by 12 by 12 inches are prohibited, and at hockey games any bag larger than 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches goes through an x-ray scanner. Groups can leave larger bags on the coach, since the driver stays with the vehicle. Source: benchmarkintlarena.com.

Where do groups get dropped off?

The arena publishes a rideshare drop-off at the 15-minute circle just east of Morgan Street and Channelside Drive, with post-event pickup at city-signed Rider Pick Up spots including Jefferson Street and Eunice Street. It does not publish a motorcoach drop-off or bus parking rule, so the carrier confirms the unloading spot with the arena before game day. Source: benchmarkintlarena.com.

Where can vehicles park nearby?

The arena lists nearby lots and garages including the Pam Iorio Parking Garage at Channelside Drive and S Florida Avenue, the Channelside Parking Garage, the Tampa Convention Center Garage and the Fort Brooke Garage. Guests can also park and ride the TECO Line Streetcar to the arena for free. Source: benchmarkintlarena.com, benchmarkintlarena.com.

When should the bus arrive?

Doors normally open 60 minutes before puck drop for Lightning games, and 90 minutes before for Club Level, Ashley VIP Lounge and Executive Suite guests. Plan the drop-off for door opening so the group clears bag screening before warmups. Source: benchmarkintlarena.com.

How long is the drive to Benchmark International Arena?

FromRoad milesFree-flow drive
Tampa13 min
St. Petersburg2332 min
Orlando851 hr 40 min
Fort Myers1262 hr 26 min

OSRM / OpenStreetMap routing from city centers, 2026-10-08; no traffic or stops.

Official sources checked October 8, 2026.

What Do Fans Ask About Game Day Buses to Benchmark International Arena?

Yes. The Tampa Bay Lightning's arena at 401 Channelside Drive officially became Benchmark International Arena on August 13, 2025 under a multi-year naming rights deal between Vinik Sports Group and Benchmark International. It still seats 19,092, so tickets, maps and venue signs now use the new name while many fans still call it Amalie Arena.
Doors normally open 60 minutes before puck drop, and 90 minutes before for Club Level, Ashley VIP Lounge and Executive Suite guests, according to the arena's know-before-you-go page. A charter that unloads at door opening gives a group time to clear the bag x-ray, which applies at hockey games to any bag larger than 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches.
The arena publishes a rideshare drop-off circle just east of Morgan Street and Channelside Drive but no motorcoach drop-off or bus parking rule. The carrier should confirm the unloading point with arena event operations before game day and stage the coach off site, returning to the agreed pickup point before the final horn.
Game day charters to Benchmark International Arena are priced by the hour. BusBrother's Florida rate guide lists $100-$175 per hour for a 15-passenger minibus, $120-$200 per hour for a 25-passenger minibus and $150-$300 per hour for a 56-passenger motorcoach, so a typical 5-hour block covering pickup, the game and the return works out to about $500-$875 for a minibus and $750-$1,500 for a motorcoach before any minimums or peak-date premium. Request a quote with your pickup address and game date.
Charter buses drop off at the Benchmark International Arena bus loading zone set by the venue for event days. The driver stages the coach in the venue's motorcoach parking during the game and returns to the pickup zone before the final whistle. The exact location is confirmed with the carrier before game day based on the venue's event operations plan.
BusBrother is a Florida lead-matching and referral service: we connect your group with independent, licensed motor carriers who provide the actual transportation. The carrier you book with handles the driving, insurance and dispatch. All carriers in our network hold valid USDOT registration with FMCSA operating authority, satisfactory FMCSA safety ratings, and $5M+ commercial auto liability insurance. BusBrother is operated by WETYR Corporation in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

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