Tournament weekend at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk looks like this: two main parking lots at capacity before the 8 a.m. session starts, families circling Shawnee Drive for spots, and Phase 2 construction making the east entrance approach tighter than first-time visitors expect. The sports park draws groups from across the Midwest — youth hockey families, volleyball clubs from three states over, travel basketball squads with full parent sections, and pickleball players from the national pro circuit. When those groups drive separately, the parking math stops working.
When they book an Overland Park charter bus rental or party bus instead, the whole team arrives together at the Lowell Avenue roundabout while the lot fight happens to everyone else.
This guide covers everything a group organizer needs to know: where the bus drops off, which approach avoids the construction zone, how long the ride takes from different points in the metro, and which vehicle fits a team with gear. For the full range of sporting event shuttles out of south Johnson County, the Overland Park sporting event transportation page covers every occasion. Below is what is specific to this venue.
Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk?
The math on separate cars breaks down the moment your headcount clears 15. A 56-passenger charter bus replaces a dozen or more vehicles — every one of which needs its own parking spot in a lot that fills before tournament opening sessions on busy weekends. One bus secures one space in the West Lot, the whole group steps off at the drop-off roundabout, and nobody is still hunting for parking when warm-ups start.
Tournament groups face a second coordination problem that a bus dissolves: eight families in eight cars at four different hotels, each making their own way south on US-69 and hoping to arrive at the same time. An Overland Park charter bus picks up from the hotel block, moves the team and their gear in one move, and delivers everyone together — sticks, bags, and all — at the venue's designated roundabout. No one misses warm-ups because they missed the Lowell Avenue turn-off.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk
The venue's published guidance places the primary drop-off and pick-up point at the roundabout accessible via Lowell Avenue, on the west side of the sports park. Your bus pulls in off Lowell, the group unloads at the roundabout, and the vehicle stages in the West Parking Lot while the team is inside. EV charging stations are also in the West Lot.
The East Parking Lot has its own entrance off Shawnee Drive — but that entrance runs directly through the Phase 2 construction zone. Per the venue's official Bluhawk parking page, a portion of Shawnee Drive in front of the sports park is closed June 1 through September 11, 2026, though all parking lots remain fully accessible during that window. A temporary pedestrian walkway connects the East Lot to the building entrance during construction.
For a bus group — especially a large one navigating a new road on a busy tournament morning — the Lowell Avenue approach to the West Lot is the cleaner line in: no construction barricades, same roundabout drop-off, fewer turns.
Bus access point: Lowell Avenue → West Parking Lot roundabout. During Phase 2 construction (June 1–September 11, 2026), Shawnee Drive is partially closed in front of the building. Lowell Avenue is the recommended bus approach for this period — and all parking at Bluhawk remains free.
Overflow parking is available northeast of the sports park when both main lots fill, which happens routinely on multi-court tournament weekends. The venue recommends arriving 30 to 45 minutes early during peak events. For a bus group, the calculation is different: one bus positions in the West Lot in one move instead of a caravan of families each hunting separate spots.
That time savings compounds across a two-day bracket.
Getting a Charter Bus to Bluhawk: Routes and Drive Times
AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk opened in October 2024 in the Bluhawk District of south Overland Park — about 20 miles southwest of Kansas City — and is accessed primarily via US-69 Highway. From the I-435/US-69 interchange, head south on US-69 to the 159th Street area, then east toward Shawnee Drive and the Lowell Avenue turn-off for the West Lot. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is roughly 35 to 45 minutes north.
For out-of-town tournament teams flying in for the weekend, one Overland Park minibus picking up curbside at KCI and running the squad straight south to Bluhawk is a cleaner operation than splitting a roster across multiple rental cars at baggage claim.
| From… | Approx. distance | Typical drive time (off-peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Kansas City, MO | ~20–25 miles | 30–40 minutes via US-69 |
| I-435 / US-69 interchange | ~10 miles | 10–15 minutes |
| Johnson County (Olathe / Lenexa) | ~8–18 miles | 12–22 minutes |
| Kansas City International Airport (MCI) | ~35–38 miles | 35–45 minutes |
| Overland Park Convention Center area | ~13–15 miles | 15–22 minutes south on US-69 |
Tournament weekends are when this drive earns its complexity. Multi-bracket events run sessions in waves — early morning, midday, and late afternoon — which means Shawnee Drive and Lowell Avenue see heavy traffic three times in a single day. A bus that drops your team, stages in the West Lot, and picks back up at the agreed window sidesteps every cycle of that exit-and-repark scramble.
A caravan of families managing their own departure does not.
What’s at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk
At 410,000 square feet, the sports park holds a 3,200-seat championship arena, a 1,500-seat NHL/NCAA-regulation ice rink, eight hardwood basketball courts convertible to 16 volleyball or pickleball courts, and a 40,000-square-foot indoor turf field for soccer, futsal, lacrosse, and football — all under one roof in south Overland Park. Phase 2 construction, opening in phases through spring 2027, adds 160,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment space to the district.
Hawk's Outpost — the family entertainment wing — has bowling, laser tag, a dark-ride theater, sports simulators, an e-sports lounge with 30 high-performance gaming PCs, and an arcade. A mezzanine bar and grill looks down over the main arena floor, which means families not on the court right now still have somewhere useful to spend two hours. That longer day at the facility is one of the practical reasons tournament groups rent a bus: nobody has to manage when each car is leaving, and no family makes the first exit that fragments the group before the day's final session.
Events at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk That Fill the Lot
The calendar at Bluhawk runs year-round across hockey, basketball, volleyball, soccer, cheer, dance, gymnastics, and pickleball — plus concerts and MMA championships in the arena. A few recurring events draw the biggest travel contingents and create the most competitive arrival windows:
The APP Overland Park Open (pickleball) is scheduled at AdventHealth Sports Park September 17–20, 2026, with general admission at $26 per day and doors opening at 8 a.m. The national-circuit stop draws competitive and amateur players from across the country over four days — a crowd that travels with equipment, partner groups, and full spectator sections. The Shawnee Drive construction wraps September 11, just six days before this tournament, so the lots should be at full access.
That said, the week of September 17 brings the first full-access tournament weekend in months, and vehicle demand will be high. Book a bus for that weekend early. For current event details, the official APP Overland Park Open page has ticket and schedule information.
The MAYB Girls North National Championships (basketball) runs July 24–26 and pulls dozens of travel teams and their families through the building across multiple sessions over several days. That is exactly the profile that benefits most from a charter bus or party bus rental: one vehicle covers morning pickup from the team hotel, delivers to the first session, stages through the midday break, and runs the return in the afternoon. The family that drove separately is still finding overflow parking northeast of the building when your team is already warming up.
When the 3,200-seat arena hosts a single-session event — a concert, the Crash Combat MMA championship in September, or a major competition final — all that crowd arrives in a narrow 45-minute window. That is when both main lots fill fast, the Shawnee Drive queue extends toward 159th Street, and overflow northeast activates. A bus arriving 20 minutes ahead of that wave, or waiting until it clears on the way out, avoids the crunch entirely.
What Size Bus Does Your Group Need for AdventHealth Sports Park?
Bluhawk draws groups from small coaching staffs to 200-person tournament delegations running multiple shuttles. Here is how the vehicle lineup breaks down for the most common Bluhawk runs.
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Gear / equipment | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Light — bags, smaller equipment | Coaching staff, small travel groups, airport runs from MCI | Premium leather, USB charging, climate control |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Overhead + limited underfloor | Single team shuttle, club travel squads, mid-size family groups | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, easier maneuverability on Lowell Ave |
| Party bus (25–50 passengers) | ~15–50 | Onboard, lighter | Celebration groups, end-of-season parties, arena event fan groups | LED lighting, Bluetooth sound, flat-panel TVs, perimeter seating |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Excellent — deep undercarriage bays for hockey bags and equipment totes | Full travel teams with gear, multi-team tournament shuttles, corporate groups | Reclining seats, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, undercarriage storage |
For hockey and cheer teams, the undercarriage bays are the deciding factor. Sticks, bags, helmets, and pom cases stow below while players and parents ride comfortably above — a 40-passenger charter bus handles a full team with gear without anyone holding equipment in their lap for the whole ride down US-69. For pickleball groups and smaller travel parties, a minibus hits the right balance: enough seats, easier to navigate the Lowell Avenue approach, and no paying for 20 empty seats on a full coach.
For end-of-season parties or fan groups heading to an arena concert, a party bus with LED lighting and Bluetooth sound keeps the group together for the whole ride in.
Rent a Bus to Bluhawk: What a Charter Bus or Party Bus Costs
Pricing on an Overland Park charter bus or party bus rental to AdventHealth Sports Park depends on group size, how many hours the vehicle is on the road, and which date you are booking. To give you a planning range: a minibus generally runs $200–$275 per hour on weekends; a full-size charter bus runs $200–$350 per hour on weekends. A 4-hour tournament morning run — hotel pickup, sports park drop-off, and post-session return — comes out to a flat total split across the whole group.
A 40-person team on a bus running $1,100 total for the morning works out to roughly $27.50 per person. That number gets easier to justify when you compare it against 10 separate families each managing gas and a round-trip through Overland Park traffic with gear.
One thing that simplifies the Bluhawk calculation: parking is free. The official Bluhawk parking page confirms no charge for standard visitor parking in any lot. You are not weighing the bus against a $20 lot fee per car — you are weighing it against the coordination effort and the lot scramble on a bracket morning.
For a full range of planning figures, the Overland Park party bus prices page breaks it down by vehicle type. Pricing for your specific group size, date, and route comes back in under 30 seconds online or by calling 913-839-6250 — no account required, no obligation.
Tips for Your Group Trip to AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk
Use Lowell Avenue through September 11, 2026. Phase 2 construction has Shawnee Drive partially closed in front of the building through that date. The Lowell Avenue approach to the West Lot and roundabout is the venue's recommended access for bus groups — the published guidance confirms drop-off and pick-up stays easy via Lowell during the entire construction window.
Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early on tournament days. That is the venue's own recommendation for event arrivals. Multi-court brackets pack both main lots fast on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
A bus drops the group in one move and parks in one spot; 10 separate cars each need their own approach to the lot entrance and their own space to claim.
Overflow is northeast of the sports park. If both main lots fill, overflow parking is available to the northeast. That adds walking distance to the entrance — another reason the bus drop at the roundabout is closer to the main entrance than any overflow spot, regardless of how full the lots are.
Arena events need a different arrival plan than multi-session tournaments. Concerts and single-session championships concentrate the crowd in one arrival wave rather than spreading it across morning, midday, and afternoon brackets. Early arrival or a pre-arranged pickup window prevents the post-event Lowell Avenue bottleneck from holding your group up.
Before your visit, review the official Bluhawk parking page for any updated access information — especially useful while Phase 2 construction continues into 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a charter bus drop off at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk?
The published drop-off and pick-up point is the roundabout accessible via Lowell Avenue, which leads to the West Parking Lot on the west side of the sports park. During Phase 2 construction (June 1–September 11, 2026), Shawnee Drive is partially closed in front of the building, making Lowell Avenue the recommended bus access route. All lots remain accessible, and all parking is free.
Is parking free at Bluhawk?
Yes. The official Bluhawk parking page confirms all visitor parking is free, with main lots east and west of the sports park and overflow parking northeast. ADA spaces and EV charging are in the West Lot.
No standard fee is charged to park.
How long does it take to get from downtown Kansas City to Bluhawk by bus?
About 30 to 40 minutes under normal conditions via US-69 south from the KC metro. From the I-435/US-69 interchange, the run down to 159th Street and Lowell Avenue is roughly 10 to 15 minutes. From Kansas City International Airport (MCI), count on approximately 35 to 45 minutes.
Tournament Saturday mornings add time on the 159th Street approach as multiple brackets start simultaneously.
What bus works best for a travel hockey team with gear?
A 40–56 passenger charter bus with undercarriage bays is the right call — sticks, bags, and helmets stow below while players and parents ride above without gear in their laps. For a smaller squad or a coaching-only run, a minibus balances seat count with easier navigation on the Lowell Avenue approach. Compare both options in under 30 seconds online or call 913-839-6250.
What are the biggest events at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in 2026?
The APP Overland Park Open (pickleball, September 17–20, 2026) brings competitive and amateur players for four days of national-circuit competition at $26 general admission per day. The MAYB Girls North National Championships (basketball) runs July 24–26. Hockey tournaments, volleyball brackets, and cheer competitions fill the fall and winter calendar.
Arena events — concerts and the Crash Combat MMA championship — bring single-session crowds to the 3,200-seat main bowl intermittently throughout the year. The current event schedule is available at bluhawksports.com.
How far in advance should I book a charter bus for a tournament at Bluhawk?
For multi-day events and high-demand weekends like the APP Overland Park Open in September, book as soon as your bracket or registration is confirmed — 4 to 8 weeks ahead is the right target. Regional tournaments draw groups from across the Midwest, and right-size vehicles fill up as the event approaches. For regular weekend brackets, 2 to 3 weeks of lead time usually works, though earlier means more vehicle options.
Call 913-839-6250 to check availability for your specific date.
Can the bus stage at the sports park while the team competes?
Yes. The vehicle is reserved as a block of hours, so it can drop your group at the roundabout, hold gear in the undercarriage bays, and stage in the West Parking Lot while the team is inside. Set the post-session pickup window before the group splits up, and the bus is waiting when you walk out — no scramble through the overflow lot.
Are ADA-accessible vehicles available for a trip to Bluhawk?
Yes. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network. Note your accessibility needs when requesting a quote — at least 48 hours in advance — and the right vehicle can be arranged.
The West Lot at Bluhawk includes designated ADA parking spaces near the sports park entrance.
Book Your Charter Bus or Party Bus to AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk
Whether it is a hockey tournament in February, the APP Overland Park Open in September, a basketball bracket weekend in July, or a concert night in the 3,200-seat arena, a charter bus or party bus rental in Overland Park gets the whole group to Bluhawk together — one drop at the Lowell Avenue roundabout, one spot in the West Lot, and none of the Shawnee Drive construction-zone navigation. Partybusoverlandpark.com makes comparing vehicles and pricing simple: fill out the quick form and see options from a large network of bus companies serving Overland Park in under 30 seconds, or call 913-839-6250 any time. No account required, no obligation.
Also heading to another KC-area venue this trip? The T-Mobile Center transportation guide and the Children’s Mercy Park bus rental guide cover their own drop-off logistics. For the full range of Overland Park group transportation, one call or one form gets pricing for any occasion.
