If you've tried to reach Rick Case Arena during NSU commencement week, you already know how the math works. Eight ceremonies run back-to-back between May 4 and May 14, 2026, seating is first-come, first-seated, and every family heading to that east entrance on University Drive is funneling through the same single public parking garage — 200 yards north of the arena, event parking up to $30 a vehicle — before walking back south to Shark Circle. Add a Broward County high school graduation night or an NSU Sharks basketball playoff run in late February, and the I-595 westbound approach to University Drive slows in ways that no GPS routing fully accounts for until you're already in it.
The question every group planner should ask first: where does the bus drop off, and where does it wait? A Davie charter bus or party bus rental drops your group at Shark Circle — the east entrance to the Don Taft University Center — while the bus stages nearby until the ceremony or game wraps up. Partybusdavie.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Davie, and the guide below covers exactly how that drop-off works, which vehicle fits your headcount, what drives the price, and the route details that catch first-time visitors off-guard.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Rick Case Arena
Per Rick Case Arena's official guest services page, the designated passenger drop-off point is Shark Circle at the east entrance of the Don Taft University Center. Any vehicle — a 56-passenger charter bus, a 25-passenger party bus, a minibus, or a rideshare — unloads passengers at Shark Circle and then proceeds to parking. That's the distinction that matters: a chartered bus drops your group at the door and stages nearby for the pickup, instead of leaving someone circling the garage while the rest of the family tries to find a meeting point inside a 4,500-seat arena.
The Guest Services desk is in the East Lobby near the box office, positioned between the Shark Store and RecPlex near the east entrance elevators. Elevator access from the east lobby connects to the arena's second floor, where wheelchair-accessible seating is located. ADA parking is available on the first floor of the public garage — and buses can accommodate passengers with accessibility needs at the east entrance drop-off.
Just note the requirement when requesting your quote, at least 48 hours ahead, so the right vehicle is confirmed before departure.
One distinction worth knowing for production groups and large-scale events: equipment and load-in vehicles use the northwest corner of the complex, accessible via College Avenue. The loading dock there has two bays — a standard ramp bay and a dock-leveler bay — plus a freight door measuring 10 feet wide by 15 feet tall. That northwest entrance handles gear and production.
For every other group arriving to watch an event, Shark Circle on the east side is the drop-off, and it's the right place to coordinate your bus pickup window after the event ends.
Parking at Rick Case Arena: What Group Planners Need to Know
The public parking garage at 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd. — approximately 200 yards north of the arena entrance — is the primary venue-adjacent parking option. On non-event days, the first floor runs $1 per hour. During special events, floors 2 through 4 are reserved for event parking.
Pay at the multi-space meters near the elevator in the southeast corner of the garage, or through the PayByPhone app. Per the arena's official directions and parking page, parking fees vary by event — event parking has ranged from $5 to $30 per vehicle depending on the specific event and demand.
That range matters for group math. A family of four driving to NSU commencement pays $25 to $30 for one spot. Three cars' worth of extended family members pay that three times over before anyone's inside.
And on high-demand commencement mornings — when seating is first-come, first-seated and families are trying to arrive early enough to sit together — the upper event floors fill faster than visitors expect. There is no secondary lot, no overflow parking option on the arena's campus side of the road. One garage, one pricing structure, and a walk back south to the arena entrance whether you parked on floor two or floor four.
A 56-seat charter bus replaces roughly 14 cars — each paying $25–$30 in event parking, each finding its own floor, each doing the 200-yard walk separately. One bus, one arrival at Shark Circle, no garage math. On a commencement day or a graduation evening, that single difference changes the whole morning.
What Fills Rick Case Arena Year-Round
Rick Case Arena opened in August 2006 and has grown into one of the most-used event venues in Broward County. The 4,500-seat arena is the centerpiece of a 366,000-square-foot Don Taft University Center complex that also includes a fitness center, a performing arts wing, food court, student spaces, and a three-story marine mural by artist Guy Harvey in the central atrium. Across a given year, the calendar covers NSU athletics, community celebrations, touring entertainment, and some of the region's most-attended graduation ceremonies.
NSU Commencement 2026: Eight Ceremonies, May 4–14
All eight NSU graduation ceremonies in 2026 take place at Rick Case Arena, running from undergraduate ceremonies starting May 4 and 5 through graduate and advanced-degree college ceremonies through May 14, per NSU's official commencement page. No tickets are required for guests — but seating is first-come, first-seated, and seat-saving is prohibited. Every family is quietly racing to arrive early enough to claim seats together, which means the garage is busier well before ceremony time than most first-timers anticipate.
A group arriving by charter bus walks straight from Shark Circle to the east lobby while others are still feeding the PayByPhone meter on the upper garage floors.
NSU Sharks Basketball: November Through March
The Sharks play their home schedule on Jim Crutchfield Court — renamed in 2025 to honor the two-time NCAA Division II championship coach — inside Rick Case Arena from November through March. The 2025-26 squad went 31-2 overall, swept the Sunshine State Conference Tournament, and hosted first- and second-round NCAA Tournament games on campus. The full home schedule is posted on the NSU Sharks basketball schedule page.
Conference tournament games in late February and early March bring larger crowds that fill the garage earlier than a typical midweek regular-season game. For fan groups heading to a home game, a Davie sporting event party bus rental gets the group there together — pregame energy built on the bus, no one coordinating separate cars across University Drive as tip-off closes in.
High School Graduations, Concerts, and More
Rick Case Arena hosts graduation ceremonies for Broward County public and private high schools through May and June, making graduation season the year's most consistently high-traffic stretch for the venue. Past concerts have featured Mac Miller and Kevin Hart; ESPN Fight Night has used the arena for boxing events. Cheerleading competitions, Special Olympics events, banquets, and NSU's own performing arts productions fill the calendar beyond athletics.
For concert and event bus rentals in Davie, the drop-off is the same: Shark Circle, east entrance, bus stages nearby, no parking garage involved. NSU Convocation — the welcome ceremony for incoming undergraduate students — is scheduled for August 14, 2026 at Rick Case Arena as well.
Rent a Bus to Rick Case Arena for NSU Commencement and Graduation Season
NSU commencement is the single highest-volume group travel occasion at Rick Case Arena across the year. Eight ceremonies in eleven days means the University Drive corridor operates at near-capacity traffic for two straight weeks in May — families arriving from across the country, multiple generations traveling together, most of them unfamiliar with the campus road layout. A Davie charter bus rental turns what could be a three-car caravan that splits at the garage into one coordinated arrival at Shark Circle, and it means the extended family is already together at the east lobby instead of filtering in from three different parking floors.
The logistics most first-time NSU commencement families don't know until the day of: seating is not ticketed, guests can arrive without a reservation, but seat-saving is prohibited and seats go on a first-come basis. That means every group wants to be early, the garage is active well before ceremony start, and post-ceremony exit involves a coordinated flow of thousands of people out the same garage. A bus eliminates both ends of that problem — early arrival at Shark Circle without the parking scramble, and a staged pickup after the ceremony rather than everyone converging on the garage exit at once.
For Broward County high school graduation nights, the same pattern holds. A 40- to 56-passenger charter bus handles large extended family groups cleanly — undercarriage bays for luggage from out-of-town guests, onboard restrooms for a long family evening, and enough seats to bring grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in one vehicle rather than three. After the ceremony, the bus is already staged at Shark Circle instead of waiting on everyone to locate which floor they parked on.
NSU Sharks Basketball: Party Bus Rental to Rick Case Arena
Regular-season Sharks home games run on weekday evenings and weekend afternoons, with conference and NCAA Tournament games stretching into March. Rick Case Arena's 4,500-seat capacity makes it an intimate college basketball venue — the environment is loud, the sightlines are close, and fan energy carries. Groups heading over for a game on a Friday or Saturday night have two practical problems with driving: coordinating arrival for a group that came from different parts of Broward or Miami, and navigating the post-game garage exit when everyone leaves at once.
A party bus rental to Rick Case Arena through Partybusdavie.com solves both in a single booking.
A 25-passenger party bus is a natural fit for fan groups — built-in sound system and LED lighting keep the pregame mood going from pickup to Shark Circle, and after the final buzzer the bus is staged and ready rather than everyone sprinting back to the same garage at once. For groups of 15 to 35 where the event atmosphere matters less than the logistics, a 15- to 35-passenger minibus is a practical and comfortable alternative — powerful A/C, reclining seats, overhead storage, without paying for party-bus amenities the group doesn't need. Call 305-443-8831 or use the online form to get pricing in under 30 seconds — no account required.
Rick Case Arena Transportation: Every Option Compared
Rick Case Arena sits inside the NSU campus in west Davie — accessible from I-595 and University Drive, but not served by any direct public transit stop at the arena itself. Here's an honest breakdown of every way a group gets there:
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Drop-off point | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split across group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival | Best — Shark Circle, east entrance, steps from the door | 15–56 |
| Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) | Per car each way + post-event surge | No — multiple cars, staggered ETAs | East entrance drop-off area | 1–4 per car |
| Drive and park | $5–$30 event parking per car + gas | No — separate cars, separate floors | Walk from garage 200 yards north | 1–4 per car |
| Carpool | Shared gas + parking per vehicle | Partially — depends on coordination | Walk from garage | Up to ~7 per car |
For one or two people who know the campus, driving on a quiet Tuesday evening is straightforward. The calculus shifts the moment your group grows past two or three carloads — that's where coordination costs (different arrival times, split parking floors, everyone texting about where to meet post-ceremony) start to outweigh a flat bus rate split across the group. One bus, one drop-off, one pickup window.
The problem doesn't scale up when your headcount does.
What Size Bus Does Your Group Need for Rick Case Arena?
The event type drives the vehicle pick as much as the headcount does. Graduation families need luggage room and onboard restrooms for a long family day; fan groups want the pregame atmosphere; small groups traveling light can go with a minibus or Sprinter. Here's how the full vehicle lineup maps to the most common Rick Case Arena trips:
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van | Up to ~12–14 | Small family groups, corporate transfers, VIP arrivals | Premium leather, USB charging at every seat, climate control |
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo | Up to ~14 | Graduation VIP groups, small celebration arrivals | Premium leather, tinted privacy windows, individual reading lights |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | ~15–50 | Fan groups, birthday trips, large family arrivals who want the full experience | Full-length built-in sound system, color-changing LED lighting, flat-panel TVs, perimeter seating |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Mid-size family groups, corporate shuttles, commencement groups | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, overhead storage |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large extended family groups, out-of-town graduation parties, high school graduation shuttles | Reclining seats, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, undercarriage luggage bays |
For commencement and graduation groups, the 40- to 56-passenger charter bus handles the extended family scenario cleanly: grandparents, out-of-state relatives, plus any checked luggage for guests who timed their Florida trip around the graduation. The undercarriage bays absorb it all, and onboard restrooms keep a multi-hour family day comfortable without roadside stops. For Sharks fan groups on a Saturday afternoon game, a party bus with sound and lighting makes the ride part of the event rather than just the commute to it.
ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — note that need when you request a quote, at least 48 hours before departure.
Rick Case Arena Charter Bus and Party Bus Rental Prices
Partybusdavie.com shows rates from a large network of bus companies serving Davie, and quotes come back in under 30 seconds through the online tool — no account needed. What shapes the price for a Rick Case Arena run: vehicle type, total hours (including wait time while the group is inside), the date, and your pickup location relative to Davie. Here are planning ranges to give you an idea of what to budget.
A 15- to 35-passenger minibus typically runs $200–$250 per hour on weekdays and $200–$275 per hour on weekends. A 40- to 56-passenger charter bus runs $200–$350 per hour on either weekday or weekend dates. A 25-passenger party bus comes in at $250–$350 per hour on weekdays and $275–$375 per hour on weekends.
Those are planning ranges — the real number for your specific date, pickup point, and itinerary comes from the form or a call to 305-443-8831. You could have pricing for your actual trip in under a minute.
The per-head math is where a bus usually surprises people. A 40-person extended family group booking a charter bus for NSU commencement — hotel pickup, drop at Shark Circle, wait during the ceremony, return to the hotel — is looking at roughly a five-hour rental. At planning ranges, a 40- to 56-passenger charter bus for five weekday hours might run $1,000–$1,750 total.
Split across 40 people, that's roughly $25–$44 per person — before subtracting the $25–$30 per-car event parking cost that disappears entirely when the group goes by bus instead of driving. The Davie party bus prices page has current planning ranges across every vehicle size.
Getting to Rick Case Arena: Routes, Distance, and Timing
Rick Case Arena sits on the NSU campus in west Davie, with I-595 as the primary east-west artery and University Drive as the main north-south approach. Approximate distances and off-peak drive times from common pickup points:
| From… | Approx. distance | Off-peak drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport (FLL) | ~8 miles | 15–20 min |
| Downtown Fort Lauderdale | ~11 miles | 20–25 min |
| Hollywood / Pembroke Pines | ~12–15 miles | 20–30 min |
| Miramar | ~14 miles | 20–30 min |
| Miami / Brickell | ~28 miles | 35–50 min |
The standard approach from the east: take I-595 west to University Drive, south approximately 1.5 miles, left on SW 30th Street (Abe Fischler Blvd), then right on Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd — the parking garage appears on the right, and the arena entrance is 200 yards south. Groups coming from I-75 use I-595 east to University Drive and follow the same route. Those are normal drive times.
On NSU commencement mornings, high school graduation evenings, or any event that fills the 4,500-seat house, University Drive southbound and SW 30th Street slow noticeably in the hour before showtime. Building 30 extra minutes into the plan on those dates is not overcautious — it's just accurate.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is the closest major airport, roughly 8 miles east on I-595. For groups flying in specifically for an NSU commencement or a notable event at Rick Case Arena, a bus from the FLL terminal area is the most logical move: one vehicle collects everyone at baggage claim, handles the luggage, and runs straight to the NSU campus without anyone managing a rideshare queue on tired legs after a long flight. See the Davie airport transportation page for details on coordinating FLL group pickups.
Tips for Your Rick Case Arena Visit
- Arrive early for commencement and graduation ceremonies. Seating at NSU commencement is first-come, first-seated with no tickets or seat-saving. The arena recommends arriving at least one hour before the ceremony start time to secure seats together as a group. Groups arriving by bus and walking directly from Shark Circle to the east lobby have a clear timing advantage over families still feeding parking meters.
- Check parking details before your specific event. Event parking fees vary and the garage can reach capacity for high-demand dates. Confirm current pricing and availability through the official Rick Case Arena parking page before arrival.
- Box office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On event days, the box office typically opens one hour before the event. Will call is not available — tickets must be obtained in advance. For ticket questions, reach the box office at (954) 262-5557; for general arena information, the arena office is (954) 262-5553.
- Accessible seating is on the second floor. Elevator access is near the box office in the east lobby. Handicap parking is on the first floor of the public garage at 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd. Contact the arena in advance if your group has specific accessibility needs; the Guest Services desk in the East Lobby can also assist on arrival.
- Security screening is in effect at all events. Per the arena's guest services page, all guests go through physical search and metal detection at entry. Build extra time for this on high-attendance nights — especially NSU commencement ceremonies, where thousands of family members are entering in a compressed window.
- No outside food or beverages permitted. Three concession stands are located inside Rick Case Arena. An ATM is available inside the Don Taft University Center near Chick-fil-A.
- NSU students, faculty, and staff get complimentary admission to regular-season Sharks games with a valid ID. Children under 13 also get in free. Game times and opponent info are on the NSU Sharks basketball schedule page.
- For out-of-town groups, FLL is the closer airport. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International is about 8 miles east on I-595 — significantly closer than Miami International for groups flying in specifically for NSU graduation or a campus event.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Bus to Rick Case Arena
Where exactly does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Rick Case Arena?
Per the arena's official guest services page, the designated passenger drop-off is Shark Circle at the east entrance of the Don Taft University Center. Vehicles drop passengers there and then proceed to the parking garage 200 yards north. The bus can coordinate a post-event pickup at the same east entrance — set that window in advance before the group goes inside so the bus is staged and ready when you exit.
Where is the parking garage, and what does event parking cost?
The public garage is at 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd., roughly 200 yards north of Rick Case Arena. First-floor parking runs $1 per hour on non-event days; floors 2–4 are reserved for event parking with fees that vary by event — event parking has ranged from $5 to $30 per vehicle. Pay at multi-space meters near the elevator in the southeast corner of the garage, or through PayByPhone.
Confirm current rates for your event on the official parking page before arrival.
How do I get to Rick Case Arena from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport?
FLL is approximately 8 miles east of the NSU campus, about 15–20 minutes via I-595 west to University Drive. A group bus from FLL picks everyone up at baggage claim and goes straight to Shark Circle — no rideshare queue, no splitting a travel group across multiple cars. The Davie airport transportation page covers how to coordinate FLL group pickups.
How far in advance should I book for NSU commencement?
Book as early as your ceremony date is confirmed. May is the single busiest stretch for Broward group transportation — NSU commencement, Broward County high school graduation season, and end-of-year events all compress into a six-week window. The right-size vehicles fill first.
Two to four months of lead time gives you the best selection and the widest rate range. For most other Rick Case Arena events — Sharks basketball games, concerts, regular evenings — two to four weeks is workable, but earlier is always better.
Can a party bus drop off at Rick Case Arena?
Yes. The east entrance Shark Circle drop-off applies to party buses, charter buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans. The bus unloads the group at the Don Taft University Center east entrance and stages nearby for the pickup.
For Sharks fan groups or a touring concert night, a Davie party bus rental through Partybusdavie.com keeps everyone together and the energy going from pickup to the east lobby door.
What is the capacity of Rick Case Arena?
Rick Case Arena seats 4,500 and spans more than 300,000 square feet of the Don Taft University Center complex. The main floor holds over 1,000 permanent chair-back seats; the upper sections have more than 3,000 automated telescopic chair-back seats, plus 66 cushioned club seats. The arena hosts NSU Sharks men's and women's basketball, volleyball, graduation ceremonies, concerts, boxing, and community events year-round.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to Rick Case Arena from Fort Lauderdale?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total rental hours, the date, and pickup location. To give you an idea: a 15- to 35-passenger minibus runs $200–$250 per hour on weekdays; a 40- to 56-passenger charter bus runs $200–$350 per hour. A 25-passenger party bus runs $275–$375 per hour on weekends.
Those are planning ranges — actual pricing for your specific date and itinerary comes from the quick form or a call to 305-443-8831. Pricing in under 30 seconds, no account required.
What events should I plan ahead for at Rick Case Arena?
NSU commencement (May 4–14, 2026), Broward County high school graduation nights (May–June), NSU Sharks basketball conference and NCAA Tournament games (late February–March), and major touring concerts. Those dates drive the highest demand for group transportation in the area, and vehicles at the right size for large graduation groups book out well ahead. Locking in early on any of those dates saves both money and headaches.
Find a Bus to Rick Case Arena Through Partybusdavie.com
Whether it's a large extended family flying in for NSU commencement, a fan group heading to a Sharks basketball game on Jim Crutchfield Court, or a production group needing a charter bus for a touring event, Partybusdavie.com makes finding the right vehicle fast. Fill out one quick form and compare party buses, minibuses, charter buses, and Sprinter vans from a large network of bus companies serving Davie — pricing in under 30 seconds, no account required. Or call 305-443-8831 any time for a free quote at no obligation.
The bus drops your group at Shark Circle, waits while you're inside, and that's the whole problem solved.
Also exploring Davie while you're in town? The Bergeron Rodeo Grounds bus guide covers group transportation to Davie's other major venue. For multi-stop trips or recurring shuttle needs across Broward County, the Davie group transportation services page covers how to set those up through Partybusdavie.com.
