PayPal Park sits at 1123 Coleman Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110 — wedged between downtown San Jose and the runways of Mineta San Jose International Airport, close enough that planes pass overhead during corner kicks. It holds 18,000 seats with some of the steepest-raked stands in Major League Soccer, plus a massive outdoor fan zone behind the north goal that the stadium bills as the largest outdoor bar in North America. Whether you are coming for an Earthquakes MLS match, a Bay FC NWSL fixture, or one of the concerts and events booked through 2026, this is a venue that draws serious crowds into a tight corridor off Highway 101 — and parking is where that always gets complicated.
Renting a party bus or charter bus to PayPal Park removes the part of the night that nobody talks about but everyone remembers: the 45-minute wait just to exit PS2, the lot that was listed as $36 online but costs more if you did not pre-purchase, the group that split into three cars and one of them still has not shown up by halftime. A private bus keeps your whole crew together from the moment you leave, drops you at the designated zone near the main gate, and is ready to go when you walk out after the final whistle. This guide covers everything your group needs to plan that trip correctly — the drop-off zone, parking costs, what the tailgate lot actually allows, the bag policy, and the 2026 match calendar for both teams.
About PayPal Park
PayPal Park opened in February 2015, built entirely with private funding — no public money from the city of San Jose — at a cost of $100 million. It was originally called Avaya Stadium, then briefly Earthquakes Stadium during the 2020–2021 naming gap, before PayPal signed a 10-year naming deal in April 2021. The field measures 115 by 74 yards.
The canopy roof covers all seating areas. Field-level suites line the sidelines, and the northeast end features that two-acre fan zone with a double-sided video scoreboard and a full bar setup that keeps the atmosphere running well before and after the match.
The stadium hosts two professional soccer teams: the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) and Bay FC (NWSL). It also hosted the 2016 MLS All-Star Game and is on the calendar as an Olympic soccer venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games — which means the facility is already drawing international-level attention and the crowds to go with it.
Charter Bus Drop-Off and Pick-Up at PayPal Park
Buses cannot park on the stadium property. That is the stadium's published rule, and it applies regardless of vehicle size or event. What they have set up instead is a designated drop-off and pick-up zone identified as Location 7 on the stadium parking map, positioned at the south end of Aviation Avenue.
That is also the same general corridor used by the official Lyft rideshare zone — the corner of Wondo Way and Aviation Avenue — so your group gets deposited in a coordinated area that the stadium has already built pedestrian flow around, not on some side street three blocks away.
From that drop-off point, the walk to the main gate on Earthquakes Way is short and direct. Your group stays together. Nobody is navigating from a remote parking structure.
And when the match ends, the bus can be staged nearby on Aviation Avenue to collect everyone without your group fighting through the post-game parking lot crawl that clogs Coleman Avenue for 30 to 40 minutes after final whistle on a sold-out night.
Before every trip, confirm the current drop-off location with the stadium by checking the official Earthquakes parking and directions page or the Bay FC getting-here guide. The zone designation has been consistent, but large events and FIFA-related matches on the 2028 run-up could introduce changes.
Parking Lots, Prices, and What to Know Before You Drive
If part of your group is driving separately or if you want to understand what everyone else is dealing with when you pull up on a bus, here is how the lot system currently works. All on-site parking requires a pre-purchased pass — no cash accepted, and no walk-up purchases available at the gate. Payment is credit card, debit card, or mobile only.
Lots open three hours before kickoff and close one hour after the match ends.
The current published rates per the Bay FC transportation page:
PS1 (Parking Structure 1 — premium, closest to the main gate): $55. Maximum vehicle height 7 feet — this structure is not accessible to any van taller than that clearance. PS2: $36.
PS4: $30. Ford Tailgate Lot: $30, and this is the only lot where tailgating is actually permitted. ADA Parking: $30, available for guests with accessible placards.
Parking passes are sold through Tixr, the Earthquakes' official ticketing partner. SpotHero also lists nearby off-site options.
The stadium's own routing advice: come from Highway 101 and exit at De La Cruz Boulevard. That gives you a right turn into the parking lots rather than a left turn, which is the difference between a smooth arrival and sitting through three light cycles on Coleman Avenue. Coming from I-880 via Coleman Avenue produces the heavier congestion, especially on weekend evening kickoffs when the neighborhood around the airport is already dense.
Tailgating at PayPal Park: The Ford Tailgate Lot Rules
Tailgating is only permitted in the Ford Tailgate Lot. If you are not in that specific lot, tables and chairs stay in the car. Inside the Ford Tailgate Lot, the rule is that tailgating is limited to the area directly in front of or behind your vehicle — you cannot spread into adjacent empty spaces, and you cannot block foot traffic or vehicle movement.
Empty spaces may not be reserved or held for other members of your group arriving later.
The definition of "tailgating" covers just about everything: tables, chairs, freestanding canopies, coolers, grills, games, generators, televisions, sound systems, and food or drink preparation. Coal disposal bins are available in the tailgate lot for anyone who brings a charcoal grill. No open fires.
Nothing that creates a safety hazard or blocks the lot lanes.
For a bus group that wants the rolling tailgate experience — the kind where the party starts on the road before you ever reach the stadium — that is exactly what a party bus with a built-in bar and sound system handles. Your group is already celebrating by the time you arrive at the Aviation Avenue drop-off, you walk into the stadium together, and you skip the lot entirely. Nobody has to volunteer to be a sober tailgate monitor.
Bag Policy at PayPal Park
PayPal Park enforces a clear bag policy that applies to all guests at all events. Per the Bay FC A–Z guide and the stadium's published guest services rules:
Each guest may bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches, or a one-gallon clear ziplock-style bag. Additionally, guests may bring one small clutch or non-clear fanny pack no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Clear means genuinely transparent — tinted, frosted, or opaque bags do not qualify.
Diaper bags accompanying a child are permitted after verification by entry staff, one per family. Non-compliant bags must go back to your vehicle or can be stored at the free bag check trailer along Earthquakes Way before entering. All guests are subject to search, including electronic devices, pat-downs, and bag inspection.
Strollers, umbrellas, and noisemakers are not permitted inside the stadium.
Plan for this before you board the bus. If anyone in your group has a regular backpack or non-clear bag, either transfer what they need into a compliant bag before arrival or budget five minutes at the bag check trailer. It is free, but it adds time to your entry if a chunk of the group needs it at once.
Public Transit Options: BART, Caltrain, and VTA
PayPal Park is one of the more transit-connected stadiums in the Bay Area, which is useful context for your group even if you are arriving by charter bus — because it explains the pedestrian traffic patterns around the venue on match nights.
BART: Bay FC offers a complimentary LuxBus shuttle from the Berryessa/North San Jose BART station (served by the Orange and Green lines) directly to PayPal Park. Pickup is in the northbound lane of Berryessa Station Way, shuttles depart up to two hours before kickoff, and the return shuttles leave from Earthquakes Way outside the main gate starting 15 minutes after the final whistle. This is popular and fills up, so your group should not count on it for last-minute arrangements.
Caltrain: Caltrain runs to Santa Clara station. From there, it is a 15 to 20 minute walk east through the pedestrian tunnel onto Brokaw Avenue, then right on Coleman Avenue to the stadium entrance. Alternatively, VTA Bus Line 60 northbound runs from Santa Clara Transit Center directly to the Coleman Avenue and Earthquakes Way stop at the main gate.
Youth fares on Caltrain are $1 each way for riders under 18.
All of this transit volume means the sidewalks around Coleman Avenue and Earthquakes Way fill up quickly in the 30 minutes before kickoff and again in the 20 minutes after the match. If your charter bus is picking up post-game on Aviation Avenue, give the crowd a few minutes to thin before moving your group out — the bus is staged, the game is over, there is no rush.
Which Vehicle Fits Your Group?
The right size depends on your headcount and what kind of trip you want the ride itself to be. San Jose Party Buses gives you access to the full range.
For small groups of up to 14, a 14-passenger Sprinter limousine or a standard Sprinter van handles the trip with premium leather seating, USB charging at every seat, and tinted windows. These are the right choice for suite holders, smaller corporate groups, or any situation where you want a clean, low-key arrival.
For groups of 15 to 50 who want the game-day energy to start on the road, a party bus is the call. Our fleet includes options from 15 passengers up through 50, all with a built-in bar, color-changing LED lighting, a premium sound system, and flat-panel TVs. When you are rolling to a Earthquakes match or a Bay FC game with a big group, the party bus is effectively a mobile tailgate — and nobody has to be the designated driver.
For larger groups or groups prioritizing comfort over nightlife vibes, a 15-to-35-passenger minibus offers reclining seats, powerful climate control, and overhead storage without the bar and lighting setup. And for the biggest groups — corporate outings, supporters clubs, company-wide events — a 40-to-56-passenger charter bus with deep undercarriage storage, onboard WiFi, power outlets, reclining seats, and an onboard restroom handles the whole crew in one trip.
You never have to pay for seats you do not need. We match you to the right vehicle for your actual headcount — give us the number and we will tell you what fits.
Why a Bus Beats Driving or Rideshare to PayPal Park
Coleman Avenue between Highway 101 and the stadium entrance becomes a genuine problem on sold-out match nights. Both the Earthquakes and Bay FC regularly draw crowds that fill the lots, and the exit situation on PS1 and PS2 after a full-capacity game is measured in 40-minute waits, not 10. Rideshare surge pricing kicks in the moment the match ends and tens of thousands of people open the same apps simultaneously — and the designated Lyft pickup zone on Aviation Avenue gets crowded fast.
A charter bus or party bus solves every piece of that. Your group arrives together. The drop-off on Aviation Avenue is clean and coordinated, not a left-turn guessing game on Coleman.
The bus is staged and ready when you are done — you are not waiting for a ride, you are walking to a vehicle that is already there. And the per-person cost, once split across 20, 30, or 40 people, routinely beats the math of everyone pre-purchasing parking passes plus the post-game Lyft surge. One quote, one vehicle, no surprises.
ADA-accessible vehicles are available in our network. Just let us know your group's needs when you book and we will arrange the right setup.
2026 San Jose Earthquakes Home Schedule at PayPal Park
The Earthquakes' 2026 MLS season runs nearly all year, with the vast majority of home matches at PayPal Park. The season opened with back-to-back home fixtures against Sporting Kansas City (February 21) and Atlanta United FC (February 28), both at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Notable home matches through the season include Seattle Sounders FC on March 15, San Diego FC on April 4, Vancouver Whitecaps on May 9, Club Tijuana on July 3, Orlando City SC on July 22, Portland Timbers on September 26, Nashville SC on October 17, and a season finale on October 31 against Real Salt Lake. Two home matches are relocated — LA Galaxy moves to Stanford Stadium on July 25, and LAFC plays at Levi's Stadium on September 19.
Full schedule and tickets at the official Earthquakes events page.
2026 Bay FC Home Schedule at PayPal Park
Bay FC's 2026 NWSL season brings a full slate of home fixtures to PayPal Park. Scheduled home matches include North Carolina Courage on July 18, NJ/NY Gotham FC on July 29, Seattle Reign FC on August 1, Houston Dash on August 23, Kansas City Current on September 4, Racing Louisville FC on September 20, Orlando Pride on September 27, and Portland Thorns FC on October 18. Bay FC is in its third NWSL season and has built a strong supporter base in the South Bay — weekday evening kickoffs in July and August draw solid crowds, and the atmosphere in the outdoor fan zone behind the goal is noticeably different from a standard MLS crowd.
Tickets and schedule updates at bayfc.com.
Tips for Group Trips to PayPal Park
A few things worth knowing before match day that will save your group time and headaches at the gate:
Pre-purchase everything. Parking passes, if anyone in your group is driving separately, must be bought in advance — no cash, no walk-up. If your whole group is on the bus, this is not your problem, which is exactly the point.
Check clear-bag compliance before you leave. Do a quick run through the bag policy with your group before everyone boards the bus. If someone has a non-compliant bag, they either repack on the bus or use the free bag check on Earthquakes Way.
Doing this before you arrive is faster than doing it in line at the entrance.
Arrive with time to spare. Lots open three hours before kickoff. The Aviation Avenue drop-off is quick and does not require you to fight lot traffic, but the pedestrian corridor to the gate fills up in the 30 minutes before kickoff.
Arriving 45 to 60 minutes before kick gives you time to hit the outdoor fan zone, grab drinks, and get to your seats without rushing.
Coordinate your post-game pickup time before you go in. Agree on a specific pickup time and meeting spot with your group before kickoff — not after the match when everyone is walking out and cell service is contested. Aviation Avenue near the drop-off zone works as a rally point.
Set the time for 15 to 20 minutes after the final whistle to let foot traffic clear, and the bus will be there.
Text the stadium hotline for real-time questions. The Earthquakes guest services line is reachable at 408-909-GOAL (4625) on match days for questions about bags, accessibility, or venue logistics.
Book Your PayPal Park Bus Rental Today
Whether it is a 15-person birthday group catching a Bay FC match or a 50-person company outing for the Earthquakes, San Jose Party Buses has the right vehicle and the right coordination to make the trip easy. Call us at 669-499-3170 for a free, all-inclusive price quote — or use our online quote tool to see vehicle options and pricing in under 30 seconds. No hidden costs.
No surprises on game day. Just your whole crew arriving together, skipping the parking mess, and getting back to the hotel without a 45-minute wait in a lot.
