If you are moving a group to a show at First Avenue, the question that decides whether the night goes smoothly or falls apart is not which act is headlining — it is where exactly the bus drops everyone off, what it does for the next three hours, and how the whole group gets home at midnight when 1,500 other concertgoers flood 1st Avenue North at the same moment. Downtown Minneapolis parking on a sold-out show night is a real problem. First Avenue has no lot of its own, the surface garage behind the building fills first, and rideshare surge pricing after a big headliner will hit you hard if you didn't plan for it.

This guide answers all of it plainly, using First Avenue's own published directions and the City of Minneapolis's actual charter bus permit requirements, then walks through every other detail a group organizer needs: which vehicle fits your headcount, what the ride costs split across the group, how the post-show pickup works, and what nearby streets and ramps are actually available. Party Bus In Minneapolis handles Minneapolis party bus rentals to First Avenue regularly, so what follows comes from knowing this building and this block — not from a general transit overview.

Venue address

701 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403 — corner of 1st Ave N & 7th St

Mainroom capacity

~1,550 standing; 7th Street Entry holds ~250

Bus drop-off

Curbside on 1st Ave N or 7th St — no private lot, no dedicated bus zone

Nearest transit

Warehouse District / Hennepin Ave station — 2 blocks (Blue & Green Lines)

Charter bus permit

Required downtown — $20/permit, 72-hr advance order via MPLS Parking

Venue history

Built 1937 as a Greyhound depot; nightclub since 1970 — Prince filmed Purple Rain here in 1983

What First Avenue Is — and Why the Block Makes a Bus Worth It

First Avenue (701 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403) sits at the corner of 1st Avenue North and 7th Street in the heart of the Warehouse District — an Art Deco brick building that opened in 1937 as the Minneapolis depot of Greyhound Lines, converted to a nightclub in 1970, and in the 53-plus years since has hosted more touring acts, more local debuts, and more legendary Minnesota nights than any other room in the state. The exterior black wall is covered in silver stars — one for every act that has performed here — and among them is one gold star. Prince's.

His management team paid $100,000 to use the Mainroom for filming in late 1983, and the music recorded live in that room became Purple Rain. The venue that launched Prince, The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum, Semisonic, and Lizzo is not a nostalgia act. The current show calendar books roughly 300 events per year between the Mainroom (capacity ~1,550) and the attached 7th Street Entry (capacity ~250) — national tours, local showcases, DJ nights, comedy, and everything in between.

For a group coming in from the suburbs or out of state, this is a destination venue. Getting there together — and leaving together — is worth planning right.

The Warehouse District location is simultaneously First Avenue's greatest asset and its transportation challenge. Target Center is two blocks north. The Orpheum and State theatres are a short walk east on Hennepin.

The North Loop restaurant strip borders the neighborhood to the northwest. On any Friday or Saturday when First Avenue has a headliner, those venues may all have events running at the same time — which means every parking ramp within three blocks of 1st Avenue North is full by 6:30 p.m. and rideshare ETAs climb accordingly. One party bus rental in Minneapolis solves the whole picture: your group arrives together at the curbside door, leaves together when the show ends, and nobody is navigating downtown alone at midnight.

First Avenue, 701 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis — corner of 1st Avenue North and 7th Street. The Mainroom entrance faces 7th Street; the 7th Street Entry door is on the east side of the same building. Two blocks to the nearest light rail station.

Where the Bus Drops Off — and What the Permit Actually Requires

Here is the detail most group planners do not find until they are already on the phone with a bus company. First Avenue's own directions page says it clearly: "First Avenue does not offer parking." There is no dedicated bus loop, no staging area, no oversized-vehicle entrance.

For a charter bus, drop-off works like this: the bus pulls to the curbside on 1st Avenue North or 7th Street, directly at the venue entrance, the group steps off at the door, and the bus moves. Whether it parks on a permitted street block or comes back for a scheduled pickup depends on the plan you set when you book.

That curbside drop is the same spot rideshares and taxis use — no special access required, and it puts your group at the Mainroom door with zero walk from a ramp. The post-show coordination is where the real planning happens. You agree on a specific corner and a pickup window before the show starts, so the bus is waiting nearby and ready when your group exits — not circling downtown while 1,500 people compete for rideshares on the same block.

The Charter Bus Permit: $20, 72 Hours in Advance, No Exceptions

The detail that catches first-timers: downtown Minneapolis requires a permit for any charter bus parked on city streets. This covers the entire downtown core — not just specific blocks around First Avenue. Per MPLS Parking's charter bus parking program, the permit costs $20 per permit and must be purchased at least 72 hours before your event.

The order goes through MPLS Parking at 612-339-7557 or via their online permitting form. The permit is printed and displayed in the front window. There is no day-of permit option and no permit sold at the curb on the night of the show.

For most groups, the practical answer is the drop-and-return arrangement — the bus drops curbside, the group goes inside, and the bus comes back at an agreed time after the show rather than parking and waiting on the street. That skips the on-street permit requirement entirely and is the more common plan. We confirm the right approach for your specific event date when you book, because a busy Friday night with Target Center running at the same time as First Avenue is a different parking picture than a weeknight.

The one-line version: your bus drops the group at the 1st Ave N or 7th St curbside entrance — steps from the Mainroom door, no ramp walk. On-street bus parking requires a $20 permit purchased 72 hours in advance through MPLS Parking. Most groups do a drop-and-return instead.

Either way, we sort this out before the night of the show, not while the opener is already playing.

Nearby Parking Options (For Reference)

When the bus does not stay and wait — or when members of your group are arriving separately and need parking — here is what is within walking distance of First Avenue:

  • Surface lot behind the venue — on 1st Ave N near 8th St, directly behind the building. Closest option; fills first on show nights. Standard passenger vehicles only.
  • Mayo Clinic Square Underground Ramp — 42 N 7th St, directly across 7th Street from the venue entrance. Roughly a one-minute walk. Fills on event nights; standard passenger vehicles.
  • ABC Ramps (A, B, and C) — the three MnDOT-owned ramps adjacent to Target Field and Target Center, connected by skyway to the broader downtown grid. About a five-minute walk from First Avenue. Ramp C event-night parking runs $25. These are the overflow option for the entire Warehouse District on busy nights — available when closer options are full, but not a workable spot for a charter bus to park.
  • On-street meters (1st and 2nd Avenues) — typically free after approximately 10 p.m., but unreliable on high-demand show nights. Intended for passenger vehicles; charter buses need the MPLS Parking permit to park on the street.

Full-size coach buses cannot park inside standard downtown ramps — height and length clearances are built for passenger vehicles. For a bus group, the choice is the permitted street zone or the drop-and-return. We plan this around your event so there is nothing to figure out curbside at showtime.

We recommend checking the MPLS Parking website for current rate information and availability before your visit.

Getting to First Avenue: Routes, Drive Times, and the Construction Factor

First Avenue's location gives it good access from every direction — the venue's own directions page lays out three clean approaches:

  • From the east (I-94 West): Take the 5th Street exit into downtown. Follow 5th Street westbound (one-way) to 1st Avenue North, turn left. The venue is two blocks north, at the corner of 1st Ave N and 7th Street.
  • From the west (I-394 East): Exit at 6th Street, continue one block to 1st Avenue North, turn right. The venue is one block north.
  • From the north (I-35W South): Follow I-35W to the 11th Street exit, take 11th Street to 1st Avenue North, and turn right.

What the directions page does not mention: as of mid-2025, MnDOT's ongoing I-94 and I-394 project has reduced I-94 to two lanes in both directions between the Lowry Hill Tunnel and Highway 55, and westbound I-394 to two lanes between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100. Downtown traffic entering westbound I-394 is further squeezed to one lane. These are not temporary weekend closures — they are the current baseline, and on a Friday or Saturday concert night, the Lowry Hill Tunnel approach adds 15 to 25 minutes to any west-side arrival that does not account for it.

Approximate drive times to First Avenue under normal off-peak conditions:

From… Approx. distance Typical drive time (off-peak)
Uptown / Calhoun area ~3–4 miles via Hennepin Ave 10–20 minutes
Northeast Minneapolis ~4–5 miles 15–25 minutes
St. Paul downtown ~12–14 miles via I-94 25–40 minutes
Eden Prairie / Minnetonka ~15–20 miles via I-394 30–55 minutes (construction adds time)
Bloomington / MSP Airport ~14–17 miles via I-35W 25–40 minutes
Maple Grove / Plymouth ~18–22 miles via I-394 35–60 minutes (construction adds time)
Woodbury / Stillwater ~20–25 miles via I-94 30–50 minutes

Add 15 to 30 minutes to west-side pickups for the I-394 construction window, and add ramp exit time to anyone driving and parking. A charter bus rental in Minneapolis cuts through all of that — one vehicle, one planned approach, one pickup point, no one hunting for a parking spot when doors open at 7:30.

Every Way a Group Gets to First Avenue — Compared Honestly

We'll be straight with you: a party bus is not the right call for every group. For a pair of people coming in from the neighborhood, the light rail is genuinely the smart play. Here is the honest comparison for a group of ten or more on a weekend show night.

Option Group arrives together? Post-show pickup Drinking on the way? Best group size
Party bus / charter bus Yes — one vehicle, one arrival Waiting nearby when you exit Yes — built-in bar, no one driving 15–56
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) No — multiple cars, staggered ETAs Post-show surge, 15–30 min wait typical Per car, logistically difficult for groups 1–4 per car
Everyone drives separately No — scattered arrivals across different ramps Ramp exit queues, 20–40 min delay post-show No — someone drives sober in every car 1–4 per car
Metro Transit (Blue / Green Line) Only if everyone catches the same train Post-show platform crowds; check last train time No open containers permitted 1–6, light logistics
Northstar Commuter Rail Only if coordinated at the station Limited late departures — confirm last train No open containers permitted North-metro groups; schedule-dependent

The honest read: for one or two people coming from a nearby neighborhood, the Blue or Green Line is the best play — the Warehouse District / Hennepin Avenue station is two blocks from the venue entrance on both lines, serving connections from MSP Airport, the University of Minnesota, and St. Paul. For individuals arriving from the northern suburbs, Northstar Commuter Rail stops five blocks from First Avenue, with park-and-ride connections from Fridley, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Ramsey, and Elk River. Confirm last-train times against your show's end time at Metro Transit's Northstar page before you rely on it — missing the last departure out of downtown after a midnight closer is a real scenario.

But the moment your group hits eight or ten people, the hassle of separate vehicles — different arrival times, different ramp exits, nobody who can drink because someone has to drive, and a 20-minute rideshare wait at midnight on 1st Avenue when the Mainroom empties — tips decisively toward one bus. A Minneapolis party bus rental is the only option that gets your group to the door as a unit and picks them up exactly the same way. Call 612-234-4015 and we will tell you honestly if the bus makes sense for your group size and budget.

What Size Bus Does Your Group Need?

Concert groups heading to First Avenue range from a 12-person birthday crew at the Entry to 45 coworkers at a sold-out Mainroom headliner. The right vehicle is the one that fits everyone comfortably without paying for empty seats.

Vehicle Typical seats Best for Key amenities
14-passenger Sprinter limo Up to ~14 Birthday crews, bachelorette groups, VIP concert nights Premium leather, USB charging, tinted privacy windows, individual reading lights
Party bus (15–50 passengers) ~15–50 Groups where the pregame IS the plan — bachelorette nights, milestone birthdays Built-in bar, color-changing LED lighting, Bluetooth sound system, flat-panel TVs, dance floor area
15–35 passenger minibus ~15–35 Mid-size groups, corporate concert outings, 7th Street Entry shows Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, overhead storage, USB charging
40–56 passenger charter bus Up to 56 Large groups from outer suburbs, multi-stop nights, companies buying out ticket blocks Reclining seats, climate control, overhead storage, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, undercarriage bays

For most First Avenue groups, a 20- to 30-passenger party bus is the sweet spot — built-in bar for the pregame on the way in, LED lighting and sound system, and enough room that nobody is jammed against the door. For larger corporate or milestone groups making a multi-stop night of it — North Loop dinner before the show, First Avenue, drinks after — a 40- to 56-passenger charter bus fits everyone in one vehicle with an onboard restroom for a comfortable late night. ADA-accessible vehicles are always available; just let us know before your trip date so we can arrange the right vehicle.

We never make you pay for seats you don't need — we match the vehicle to your actual headcount.

What It Costs to Rent a Bus to First Avenue

Party Bus In Minneapolis gives you all-inclusive pricing online in under 30 seconds — you know the exact number before you ever book. The quote comes down to four clear factors:

  • Vehicle size — a 14-passenger Sprinter limo and a 56-passenger charter bus are fundamentally different rates.
  • Total hours — how long the vehicle is dedicated to your group, from first pickup through final drop-off, including any pre-show stops and post-show wait time.
  • Pickup location and mileage — a run from Uptown is shorter than one from Woodbury or Maple Grove, and pricing reflects that.
  • Date and day of week — Friday and Saturday show nights in the summer concert season price differently than a Tuesday night in March.

For real ranges to anchor your estimate: 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. Pricing depends on mileage, time of year, and vehicle type, but you will never be surprised by hidden costs.

Here is the per-person math that usually settles the conversation for larger groups. A 25-passenger party bus for five hours at $350/hour comes to $1,750 total — split across 25 people, that is $70 per head for a round-trip concert shuttle with the pregame experience built in. Compare that to a $20 ramp, a $15 rideshare in, a $35 surge-priced rideshare home, and at least one person in every car who stays sober the whole night.

The more people in the group, the more clearly the bus math wins. Call 612-234-4015 for a free all-inclusive quote on your show date, or use our online tool for instant availability.

How a First Avenue Group Night Actually Flows

First Avenue's Mainroom typically opens doors 45 to 60 minutes before the listed showtime, with the opener hitting the stage shortly after. For a group night, the window between pickup and door-open is the pregame — and a party bus with a built-in bar and a sound system turns that ride into part of the event rather than dead time getting there.

A standard timeline for a Mainroom show night from the suburbs:

  • 90 minutes before showtime: Bus picks up at your agreed meeting point — a home, a hotel lobby, a central parking lot in the suburbs where everyone has already gathered.
  • 60–45 minutes before showtime: Bus drops the group curbside on 1st Ave N or 7th St, steps from the Mainroom entrance. The group walks in. The bus moves to wherever it's waiting or heads out until it's time to come back for pickup.
  • During the show: The bus waits nearby per the pre-arranged plan — either parked on a permitted street block or coming back at a set time.
  • Post-show: Group exits, texts the group coordinator, and the bus is at the agreed pickup corner. If the night continues — drinks in the North Loop, a stop at a Warehouse District bar — the bus moves with the itinerary.

The post-show window is where having a bus earns its keep most. When the Mainroom empties after a sold-out headliner, 1,500 people flood 1st Avenue North and 7th Street at the same time. Post-show rideshare surge on a Friday or Saturday on this block is real and predictable — your group is looking at 15 to 25 minutes minimum for cars that may take longer to arrive.

A charter bus is waiting nearby and right there when you walk out. Your group is in seats and on the way home while everyone else is still refreshing the app.

A Real Show-Night Example

Last September, a 32-person group booked a 35-passenger minibus for a sold-out Friday headliner at the Mainroom. Pickup was at 7:00 PM from a central lot in St. Louis Park where the group had met up and pregamed. The bus reached the 1st Ave N curbside by 7:45 PM, before doors opened at 8.

The bus waited nearby during the show. The group texted at 11:50 PM when the closer wrapped, and the bus was back at the corner of 1st Ave N and 7th St by 12:10 AM — ahead of the rideshare surge that was forming. Drop-off back at St. Louis Park was 12:50 AM.

The 6-hour all-inclusive rental came to $1,960 — about $61 per person, with the parking scramble, the post-show surge, and the question of who stays sober to drive all solved in one number.

What Brings Groups to First Avenue: The Events That Fill Buses

First Avenue books approximately 300 events per year across the Mainroom and the 7th Street Entry — indie rock, hip-hop, electronic, metal, comedy, and local showcases. The Mainroom's ~1,550 capacity means that for any national touring act that sells the room, the streets around the building feel it. A few event types that consistently drive Minneapolis party bus rental bookings:

  • Mainroom sold-out headliners (year-round). Whenever a nationally touring act fills the Mainroom on a Friday or Saturday night, 1st Avenue North becomes a pedestrian corridor after the show. Rideshare ETAs climb, the ABC Ramps back up to exits, and groups without a plan end up waiting. This is the baseline use case for a bus.
  • New Year's Eve. First Avenue's New Year's Eve show is one of the most consistently booked nights at the venue and one of the hardest nights to get a rideshare home in all of downtown Minneapolis. Groups that book transportation months out are the ones who make it home before 2 AM. Book as early as tickets go on sale.
  • Minneapolis Pride weekend (June). Pride draws large crowds to downtown broadly, and the Warehouse District sees heavy foot and vehicle traffic all weekend. First Avenue typically runs themed shows. Parking across the neighborhood is difficult; rideshare surge pricing is reliable. Book transportation well in advance for Pride dates.
  • Twin Cities Homegrown Music Festival (late April / early May). The annual local-act festival books multiple venues at the same time, with First Avenue and the 7th Street Entry as centerpieces. Multi-venue nights — catching two sets at different locations in the same evening — are where a minibus earns its keep most.
  • Night Before Thanksgiving (Wednesday). One of the heaviest bar and concert nights of the calendar year in Minneapolis, nationwide. First Avenue books a marquee show; rideshare demand spikes citywide. Book this one weeks out, not days out.
  • Summer concert season (June–August). The Mainroom calendar is at its densest, touring acts are at peak volume, and Friday and Saturday nights are sold out weeks in advance. This is the window when fleet availability for the right-size vehicle gets genuinely competitive.

For any of the high-demand dates above, the booking window that matters is when your concert tickets are confirmed — not a few days before the show. Call 612-234-4015 as soon as you have tickets and we will lock in your vehicle and pickup plan before anything fills.

Multi-Stop Concert Nights: Before and After First Avenue

A First Avenue show rarely stands alone for a group that rented a bus to get there. The North Loop and Warehouse District surrounding the venue are among the densest stretches of bars and restaurants in the Twin Cities, and a private bus rental makes a multi-stop night easy — you control the itinerary, not the transit schedule.

Stops that combine naturally with a First Avenue show:

  • Pre-show dinner in the North Loop. The stretch along N Washington Avenue and N 1st Street — five blocks from First Avenue — has multiple restaurants worth a 6:00 or 6:30 PM reservation before an 8:00 PM door. The bus links dinner and the venue without anyone running a parking lap between stops.
  • The Depot Tavern. Directly adjacent to the 7th Street Entry, with concert video feeds from inside First Avenue and a crowd that runs on the same schedule. Natural pre-show gathering point for groups arriving from different directions who want one meeting place before doors.
  • North Loop bars post-show. After a midnight closer, the North Loop stays lively. A minibus moves your group from the 1st Ave N curbside to a bar three blocks away without anyone scattering into rideshares on a busy Friday curb.
  • Multi-venue nights during Homegrown or similar festivals. First Avenue operates the 7th Street Entry, the Mainroom, and has connections to other venues around the Twin Cities. A bus that follows your group from early set to late set, venue to venue, is the only way to do a multi-stage night without losing half the group at the second stop.

Tell us your planned stops when you book and we build the timing around the full night — pickup, pre-show, drop at First Avenue, post-show, final drop-offs. Call 612-234-4015 to put together a custom itinerary.

Tips for First-Timers at First Avenue

A few things that catch groups off guard on show night, drawn from the venue's published policies and the reality of the Warehouse District:

  • Age restrictions vary by show. Most Mainroom concerts are 18+ with valid photo ID; some are 21+; a smaller number are all ages. The age restriction is listed individually on each event page at first-avenue.com/shows. Check before booking transportation so no one in the group gets turned away at the door — the bus does not get a refund for that.
  • Doors open 45–60 minutes before showtime. General admission on the Mainroom floor fills from the front. If your group wants a good position, plan arrival at or near doors-open time, not at listed showtime. Build this into the bus departure window when you book.
  • No re-entry at most shows. Once your group is inside, plan to stay through the show. This is one more reason a pre-arranged post-show pickup beats trying to summon rideshares mid-set — there is no benefit to stepping out early to "beat the crowd."
  • The bag policy is real. Small clutches are fine; backpacks, large purses, and camera bags are not. Brief the group before the bus ride so nobody is checking a bag they didn't know wasn't allowed — the security line is not the time to find out.
  • The 7th Street Entry is a different door. The Entry's entrance is on the east side of the building on 7th Street, not the main 1st Avenue North entrance. If your group's show is at the Entry specifically, confirm the door before arrival so nobody circles the building in January weather.
  • Coat check is available inside. Minnesota winters mean heavy coats. Budget time for coat check on arrival, especially for groups coming in from January or February when the bus ride from the suburbs means serious outerwear nobody wants to carry for three hours on a standing general admission floor.
  • Prom and graduation season tightens the fleet. May and early June are the busiest weeks of the year for Minneapolis party bus rentals across the metro. If your concert falls in that window, book 6–8 weeks out rather than 2–3 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at First Avenue?

Curbside on 1st Avenue North or 7th Street, directly at the Mainroom entrance. First Avenue has no private parking lot or dedicated bus zone — drop-off uses the same curb rideshares and taxis use, which puts your group at the door without any walk from a ramp. The 7th Street Entry door is on the east side of the same building, facing 7th Street; if your show is at the Entry rather than the Mainroom, we adjust the drop point.

We set the post-show pickup location before your group goes inside so there is no confusion at midnight when the block fills up.

Does a charter bus need a permit to park in downtown Minneapolis?

Yes. Per MPLS Parking's charter bus parking requirements, any charter bus parked on city streets in downtown Minneapolis needs a permit costing $20 per permit, purchased at least 72 hours in advance by calling 612-339-7557 or using the online form. There is no day-of option.

Most groups run a drop-and-return arrangement instead, which avoids on-street parking entirely — the bus drops curbside, waits off-site or loops nearby, and comes back for pickup. We handle whichever plan fits your night when you book.

How much does it cost to rent a party bus to First Avenue in Minneapolis?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, pickup location, and show date. As general 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. All-inclusive pricing in under 30 seconds — you know the exact number before you book.

Call 612-234-4015 or use the online quote tool.

Is there parking near First Avenue for a charter bus to wait during the show?

Full-size coach buses cannot park inside standard downtown ramps — height and length clearances are designed for passenger vehicles. To park on the street, the bus needs the MPLS Parking permit. Most groups use a drop-and-return plan: the bus drops curbside, waits off-site or loops nearby, and comes back for the pre-arranged post-show pickup.

Standard ramps nearby — Mayo Clinic Square Garage at 42 N 7th St, and the ABC Ramps adjacent to Target Field — serve personal vehicles arriving separately in your group.

How close is the nearest light rail to First Avenue?

The Warehouse District / Hennepin Avenue station, serving both the Metro Blue and Green Lines, is approximately two blocks from First Avenue — a four-minute walk. Blue Line trains connect to MSP Airport; Green Line serves the University of Minnesota and downtown St. Paul. Northstar Commuter Rail stops five blocks away with north-metro park-and-ride connections.

Transit is a solid option for individuals; for groups of eight or more trying to travel and arrive together, a chartered bus is the more reliable call. Confirm last-train times on the Metro Transit Northstar page if you plan to use Northstar for the return.

Can we make multiple stops before or after the show?

Yes — multi-stop nights are one of the most common requests for First Avenue groups. Pre-show dinner in the North Loop, the concert, and after-show drinks in the Warehouse District all connect cleanly with one bus handling the transitions. Tell us your planned stops when you book and we build the routing and timing around the full itinerary.

Call 612-234-4015 to put together a custom schedule.

How far in advance should we book a party bus for a First Avenue show?

For a weeknight or off-peak show, two to three weeks of lead time is workable. For Friday and Saturday headliner nights during summer concert season (June–August), New Year's Eve, Pride weekend in June, and Night Before Thanksgiving — and for any show during prom season (May–early June) — book as soon as your concert tickets are confirmed. The right-size vehicles for a 25- to 35-person group fill fast on peak show nights.

Call 612-234-4015 to check availability for your date the moment you have tickets.

Do you have ADA-accessible buses?

Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles are always available. Let us know your specific needs when you reserve and we will arrange the right vehicle for your group.

What is the capacity at First Avenue?

The Mainroom holds approximately 1,550 people for a standing general admission show. The 7th Street Entry, accessed from the east side of the same building on 7th Street, holds approximately 250. Both rooms book separately on the First Avenue shows calendar and frequently sell out on weekend headliner nights — which is exactly when 1st Avenue North gets congested and rideshare waits get long post-show.

Book Your First Avenue Party Bus Today

The right Minneapolis charter bus rental for your show night is one call away. Whether it is a birthday group of 15 heading to a 7th Street Entry showcase, a bachelorette party running a North Loop bar crawl before the concert, or 40 coworkers at a sold-out Mainroom headliner, Party Bus In Minneapolis runs a fleet of party buses, charter buses, minibuses, Sprinter limos, and Sprinter vans across the Twin Cities — and we drop your group at the 1st Ave N curbside while everyone else is circling the ABC Ramps. Give us a call any time at 612-234-4015 for an all-inclusive price quote — or use our online tool for instant availability.

Sources & Last Verified

Venue policies, parking requirements, and transit schedules change. All logistics above were verified against the sources that publish them in June 2026. Confirm current permit requirements, construction impacts, transit schedules, and event-specific age policies before your show date.