Rent a Bus to Criterion: The Complete Transportation Guide

Bricktown fills up fast on a big concert night, and The Criterion fills up faster. The venue caps at 4,000 guests, the paid lot directly west of the building holds a fraction of that, and the streets around East Sheridan Avenue are already narrow enough that a single sold-out show turns the whole quarter into one long horn-and-headlights stalemate. The question every group organizer needs answered before buying tickets is the one most rental pages skip entirely: where exactly does the bus drop off, and where does it wait?

This guide answers that plainly, using The Criterion's own published information, and then walks you through everything else a concert group needs — which vehicle fits your party, what the ride costs split across your crew, and how an Oklahoma City party bus rental turns the whole evening from a logistics puzzle into the first act of a great night. We do Bricktown runs all season, so the advice below comes from doing it, not from a press release.

What and Where Is The Criterion?

The Criterion opened in 2016 at the corner of East Sheridan Avenue and Charlie Christian Avenue, right in the heart of Oklahoma City's Bricktown Entertainment District. It is the city's mid-size indoor concert anchor — too big to feel like a club, too intimate to feel like an arena — with a standing-room capacity of up to 4,000 guests and a calendar that runs everything from national touring acts to comedy nights and private events. Opened by the same family behind Chesapeake Energy Arena (now Paycom Center), it slots neatly between the arena and the smaller rooms in the city, which is exactly why nationally touring acts choose it when they want something closer to the crowd.

Its address — 500 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 — places it one block east of the Bricktown Canal, walking distance from Mickey Mantle Drive, and about six blocks from Paycom Center. That Bricktown location is a draw on any normal night. On a sold-out show night, it is also exactly the problem: Bricktown's streets are narrow, its parking inventory is finite, and everyone with a ticket arrives in the same two-hour window before doors.

The Parking Reality on Show Nights

Here is the part that trips up every first-timer planning a group outing: The Criterion's own FAQ states that parking "may be limited at the venue and its surrounding neighborhood" and recommends carpooling, rideshare, or public transit. That is the venue itself telling you not to count on driving. The paid lot directly west of the building is the most convenient option, but it is small relative to a 4,000-person show, and on popular nights it fills long before the opening act takes the stage.

The next-closest free option is Bass Pro Shops, roughly two blocks south — available only when that store's own lot isn't at capacity. From there, you are looking at a five- to ten-minute walk back to East Sheridan, which is fine in October but miserable in July. The Bricktown Parking Garage at 222 E Sheridan Ave sits half a block from the venue entrance and is one of the faster-filling structures on big nights.

Surface lots scattered along Mickey Mantle Drive and E.K. Gaylord Boulevard offer overflow, but rates climb on event nights — $10 to $20 per vehicle depending on the lot and the demand — and walking distances extend accordingly.

Rideshare pickup and drop-off along Sheridan Avenue moves reasonably during arrival windows, but post-show is a different story. When 4,000 people pour out at the same time, surge pricing kicks in immediately, and the Sheridan Avenue corridor backs up from rideshare vehicles idling while they wait for their passengers. Groups who booked rideshares separately discover they booked six different pickup times, four different cars, and one split group that never quite reconvenes.

That is the Friday-night version of the problem. A charter bus or party bus in Oklahoma City sidesteps all of it — one vehicle, one pickup spot, one departure, and no one circling Bricktown looking for their Lyft.

Where the Bus Drops Off at The Criterion

The Criterion sits on the south side of East Sheridan Avenue, with its main entrance at the corner of Sheridan and Charlie Christian Avenue. The standard approach for charter buses and party buses is curbside drop-off on E Sheridan Ave at the main entrance — your group steps off directly in front of the doors, within a few steps of the security line. The venue's own rideshare guidance points guests to 500 E Sheridan by the main entrance, so that curb is the established drop zone for oversized vehicles as well.

There is no dedicated commercial bus lot adjacent to the building, which means after drop-off, the bus typically waits in one of the nearby surface lots on Mickey Mantle Drive or along E.K. Gaylord Boulevard while your group is inside, then returns to the same East Sheridan curb for pickup when the show ends.

Confirm the exact plan with our team when you book, because the approach can shift slightly depending on what else is happening in Bricktown that night. Paycom Center is six blocks away and runs its own event calendar; when both venues are active on the same evening, Sheridan and Reno both fill quickly, and which lot the bus waits in matters. We sort that out for your specific show date so there is no guessing the night of.

Getting to Bricktown: Routes and Timing

Oklahoma City is a car city built around interstates, which makes the final half-mile into Bricktown the most consistently frustrating part of any downtown concert night. The two most common approaches are the I-40 eastbound exit at Sheridan Avenue (Exit 153A) and the I-35 southbound exit at NE 4th Street dropping south toward Reno — both of which funnel directly into the Bricktown corridor and both of which back up reliably on sold-out show nights. Coming from the north on I-235 puts you on Lincoln Boulevard, then east on Sheridan.

None of these approaches are complicated in off-peak traffic. On a Friday night with a headliner at The Criterion and a Thunder home game at Paycom Center happening the same evening, each of those exit ramps becomes a slow crawl before you ever touch Bricktown's surface streets.

Approximate drive times from common OKC-area pickup points, before event traffic:

Add 15 to 30 minutes to every one of those on a sold-out night. A bus skips the stress of that calculation — the route is taken care of, the drop-off is right at the door, and the only thing your group has to do is show up at the pickup spot when the show ends.

The OKC Streetcar Option (and When It Works)

Oklahoma City's streetcar system runs two routes through downtown and Bricktown, operated by EMBARK. The Bricktown Loop is a 2.04-mile circuit with nine stops, covering the canal district and connecting through to Scissortail Park and the Arena stop near Paycom Center. On Fridays and Saturdays, it runs until 2 a.m. — which means for a show at The Criterion that ends around midnight, the streetcar is a legitimate post-show option for small groups staying in the area.

The practical limits for a larger group: the streetcar carries individual passengers, not groups as a unit. You board when a car arrives, you ride with the general public, and on a post-show surge with 4,000 people trying to get out of Bricktown at once, the streetcar fills quickly and wait times extend. EMBARK parking garages in the area — the Arts District, Century Center, Convention Center, and Sheridan Walker garages — offer two free streetcar day passes per parking transaction, which works beautifully for a couple or a small group driving in from a nearby neighborhood.

For a group of 20, 30, or 40 people who want to stay together from pickup through drop-off and not scatter across multiple streetcar runs, a party bus or charter bus is the cleaner answer.

The honest verdict: if two or three people are heading in from the Midtown area and want a cheap, easy trip, the streetcar is worth it. Once your party grows past a carload or two, the coordination cost of managing a group on public transit — different boarding times, split arrivals, variable waits — tips toward renting a bus in Oklahoma City and controlling the whole evening from one vehicle.

Which Vehicle Fits Your Concert Group?

Not every show calls for the same setup, and we offer enough variety that your group never has to pay for capacity it doesn't need. Here is how our fleet breaks down for a Criterion run:

For a birthday group or a bachelorette crew rolling into Bricktown, a 25- to 40-passenger party bus makes the ride itself part of the evening — the LED lighting, the sound system pumping the headliner's catalog, and a built-in bar mean the energy is already at concert pitch before the bus even reaches East Sheridan. For a larger office group or a coordinated outing with pickups in Edmond, Yukon, and Moore, a full-size charter bus consolidates everyone into one vehicle and handles the mileage with reclining seats and a climate-controlled cabin. ADA-accessible vehicles are always available — just mention it when you request a quote so the right vehicle is reserved for your date.

How Much Does a Bus to The Criterion Cost?

Party Bus In Oklahoma City provides all-inclusive pricing in under 30 seconds online — you will know the exact number before you ever book. That said, the quote is shaped by a handful of factors, and understanding them makes the number make sense:

• Vehicle size — a 56-passenger charter bus and a 14-passenger Sprinter limo are different rates.
• Total hours — how long the vehicle is reserved, including pre-show pickup time, any pre-concert stop (dinner in Bricktown, a house party start), and the post-show pickup window.
• Date and demand — a big national act on a Friday prices differently than a Wednesday comedy night.
• Pickup locations and mileage — a single pickup in Midtown is simpler than sweeping Edmond, Yukon, and Moore on the way in.

For real ranges: 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 depends on mileage, the date, and vehicle type — and you will never be surprised by hidden costs.

Here is the per-person math that usually settles the debate. Say a 4-hour rental for a party bus runs $1,200 all-in. Split across 24 people, that is $50 per head — less than parking and a round of surge-priced rideshares combined, and everyone gets door-to-door service together.

The bigger the group, the better that math looks. Call 405-493-6563 or use our online quote tool for a real number built around your specific headcount, date, and pickup plan.

Bus vs. the Alternatives: An Honest Comparison

We'll be straight with you: a party bus or charter bus isn't the right call for every situation. Here is an honest look at how the options stack up for a concert group heading to The Criterion.

For one or two people heading in from a nearby neighborhood, the streetcar or a single rideshare is often the simpler call — no reason to charter a bus for a pair. The moment your group grows past a carload, the coordination cost of separate vehicles adds up: different arrival times, scattered parking, post-show surge fares, and the who-stays-sober question nobody wants to answer. One bus solves all of it.

Pre-Show Dinner and Post-Show Bricktown: Making a Night of It

One of the advantages of booking an Oklahoma City party bus rental for The Criterion is that the vehicle stays with your group, which means the evening has no fixed end point. A typical itinerary our concert groups run:

• Pre-show dinner — the bus picks everyone up, swings through Bricktown for dinner at Vast (downtown, if the group wants elevated OKC), Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill (right in Bricktown), or any of the canal-side restaurants, then drops the group at The Criterion's east entrance in time for doors.
• The show — the bus waits nearby while your crew is inside.
• Post-show Bricktown — the bus is waiting curbside on East Sheridan when the crowd spills out, and the group decides on the spot whether the night continues at Tapwerks Ale House, Bricktown Brewery, or somewhere in Midtown — all covered by one bus rate, no surge fare required.

That kind of flexibility is what separates a bus from every other option. The itinerary bends to your group, not to a transit schedule or a rideshare's availability. Tell us the show, tell us how many people, and we will build the pickup and timing plan around your evening.

Call 405-493-6563 any time to get started.

When to Book — and Why It Matters for Criterion Shows

The Criterion's calendar runs hot, and certain shows create genuine urgency for group transportation. A few specific booking windows to keep in mind:

Sold-out national headliners. When acts like a major touring artist move through OKC and sell out The Criterion's 4,000-person capacity in hours, group transportation demand follows the same spike. The right-size vehicles go fast.

If a show is sold out on Ticketmaster but still has tickets through secondary markets, the transportation demand is already at peak — book as soon as the group count is confirmed.

Weekend shows through the fall concert season. September through November is The Criterion's busiest window, with national acts cycling through before the holiday slowdown. Friday and Saturday shows in that window consistently generate the most demand for party bus and charter bus rentals in Oklahoma City.

Two to four weeks of lead time is workable for most shows in this period, but the earlier you call, the better the vehicle selection.

Holiday and New Year's Eve events. Any show booked for the week between Christmas and New Year's — or New Year's Eve itself — sees a massive spike in group rental demand citywide. Book by early November for New Year's Eve if your group wants a party bus; by December, the best vehicles are committed and pricing reflects remaining supply.

Concurrent Bricktown events. When The Criterion and Paycom Center are both active on the same night — a Thunder game and a Criterion headliner, for instance — parking in the entire Bricktown quarter reaches critical mass. Group transportation becomes less a convenience and more a necessity on those nights, and the same supply crunch applies to bus availability.

Check both calendars before you settle on your date, and book earlier than you think you need to.

For most shows outside peak periods, two weeks of lead time is fine. For the biggest dates, call the moment your group decides to go. Reach us any time at 405-493-6563.

Venue Rules and What to Know Before You Go

A few things every group should have sorted before the bus reaches East Sheridan, straight from The Criterion's own FAQ:

• No backpacks of any kind: The venue enforces a strict no-backpack policy. Small purses are permitted, but bags larger than 14″ × 14″ × 6″ are not allowed in. Bag searches and walk-through metal detectors are used at all entrances — plan for that queue time, especially with a large group.
• Card only since April 2025: The Criterion stopped accepting cash as of April 16, 2025. Every member of your group needs a debit or credit card for anything purchased inside — drinks, merch, coat check.
• Door time vs. show time: Times listed are door times. The first act typically goes on about an hour after doors open, and arriving early is always the right call with a group going through bag check together.
• ADA accessibility: The venue is ADA accessible. Email the box office at least 72 hours before your show to arrange specific accommodations — and let us know when you book if your group needs an ADA-accessible bus, so we have the right vehicle confirmed well ahead of your event date.
• All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable unless a show is canceled or rescheduled. Have your group count locked in before you buy tickets and book transportation simultaneously — that way, if a show moves, both pieces of the plan shift together.

Trip Types We Handle to The Criterion

Different groups, same goal: everyone arrives together, no one scrambles for parking, and the post-show logistics are already solved. The most common Criterion runs we coordinate:

• Birthday and bachelorette groups: The Criterion is one of the top destinations for celebration nights in OKC — a nationally touring act plus a Bricktown bar crawl before or after makes for a complete evening. A party bus with an onboard bar and LED lighting means the celebration starts the moment everyone boards, not when you walk into the venue.
• Large friend groups and fan squads: When a favorite artist announces Oklahoma City and 30 people in your circle want to go, coordinating 30 individual rideshares is the kind of thing that turns a great night into a group text disaster. One bus, one meeting spot, one departure.
• Corporate and office outings: Team night outs at The Criterion — client entertainment, company milestones, department events — benefit from the minibus or charter bus: reclining seats, climate control, WiFi for the pre-show commute, and no one stuck driving for the evening.
• Out-of-town groups: Groups flying into Will Rogers World Airport for a specific Criterion show often ask about ground transportation from the airport to downtown and back. The airport sits about 10 miles southwest of Bricktown via I-40 — a straightforward single-pickup run that drops your whole crew at the East Sheridan entrance without the airport rideshare scramble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the bus drop off at The Criterion?

Curbside on East Sheridan Avenue at the main entrance — 500 E Sheridan Ave, at the corner of Sheridan and Charlie Christian Avenue. That is the same drop zone The Criterion's own FAQ directs rideshare passengers to use. After drop-off, the bus waits in a nearby lot and returns to the same East Sheridan curb for the post-show pickup.

We confirm the exact plan for your specific show date when you book, since concurrent Bricktown events can affect the approach.

Is there dedicated bus parking at The Criterion?

There is no dedicated oversized-vehicle lot adjacent to the building. The paid lot directly west of The Criterion is the venue's closest parking, but it is sized for passenger cars and fills quickly on popular show nights. After dropping your group, the bus typically waits in a surface lot along Mickey Mantle Drive or E.K. Gaylord Boulevard and returns to East Sheridan for pickup when the show ends.

Confirm the plan with our team at booking so there are no surprises the night of.

How much does an Oklahoma City party bus rental to The Criterion cost?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours reserved, the show date, and pickup locations. For current ranges: 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 full-size charter buses run $150–$300/hour. You will always know the exact all-inclusive price before you book — no hidden costs.

Call 405-493-6563 or use our online tool for a number built around your exact group and date.

How far in advance should we book?

For most Criterion shows, two to four weeks of lead time is workable. For sold-out national headliners, New Year's Eve events, and nights when Paycom Center is also active, the right-size vehicles go fast — book as soon as your group count is confirmed. If you are planning a New Year's Eve show, November is the cutoff for best vehicle selection.

Can the bus wait during the show and pick us up after?

Yes. The bus is booked as a block of hours, so it waits nearby during the show and returns to the East Sheridan curb for an agreed pickup window when the concert ends. You set that pickup time with our team before the evening starts, so there is no post-show communication scramble — you walk out to a waiting bus instead of a 20-minute rideshare queue at surge pricing.

What is The Criterion's bag policy?

No backpacks of any kind. Small purses are permitted; bags larger than 14″ × 14″ × 6″ are not allowed inside. All guests pass through bag searches and walk-through metal detectors at every entrance.

Budget extra time for that process when arriving with a large group, and remind everyone before the bus leaves so no one shows up at the door with a prohibited bag. Full venue rules are available on The Criterion's FAQ page.

Does The Criterion still accept cash?

No. As of April 16, 2025, The Criterion is card-only — no cash is accepted at any point inside the venue. Make sure everyone in your group has a debit or credit card before the bus heads into Bricktown.

Is the OKC Streetcar useful for groups going to The Criterion?

The Bricktown Loop runs until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and stops near The Criterion's area, making it a reasonable option for individuals or very small groups staying in the downtown area. For a group of 15 or more who want to stay together from pickup through post-show, the streetcar boards by individual and fills on busy concert nights — a party bus or charter bus keeps the whole group as a unit from start to finish. See current schedules and route information at EMBARK's streetcar page.

Do you serve Norman, Edmond, and other OKC suburbs?

Yes. Party Bus In Oklahoma City serves Oklahoma City and the entire surrounding region. Whether your group is gathering in Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Moore, Midwest City, or anywhere else in the metro, the bus sweeps your pickup points on the way into Bricktown and returns the same way after the show. Call 405-493-6563 and tell us your locations — we will build the route and give you a quote.

Book Your Criterion Concert Bus Today

Bricktown parking is finite, the post-show rideshare surge is real, and a sold-out Criterion show does not wait for groups that are still circling Mickey Mantle Drive looking for a $10 lot. A party bus or charter bus rental in Oklahoma City solves every piece of that problem in one flat-rate booking: curbside drop-off at 500 E Sheridan, a bus waiting nearby during the show, and a waiting bus on the East Sheridan curb when the lights come up. Your group goes to the concert.

Someone else handles everything else.

Give us a call any time at 405-493-6563 for an all-inclusive price quote — or use our online tool for instant availability. The sooner you lock in, the better the vehicle selection for your show date.