Concert night at The Criterion starts the moment your group commits to going — not when you're circling Bricktown at 6:45 p.m. trying to beat 3,000 other concertgoers to the last open surface lot on E Sheridan Ave. The pay lot directly west of the venue fills fast, the adjacent parking garage restricts vehicles over seven feet tall, and post-show rideshare pricing around a sold-out Oklahoma City show can be memorable for the wrong reasons. A charter bus or party bus to The Criterion from Norman rewrites that whole equation: one vehicle, one drop-off at the main entrance on E Sheridan Ave, one staged pickup when the encore wraps. That's the trip.
Why Rent a Party Bus or Charter Bus to The Criterion
The Criterion (500 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104) sits at the center of Bricktown — which is exactly what makes it one of the metro's most-visited concert venues and one of the trickier destinations to park near on a big show night. The district's parking is a patchwork of surface lots, a multi-level garage with low vehicle clearance, and a couple of free options that fill before doors even open. For a group coming from Norman, coordinating separate cars and meeting in a sold-out Bricktown lot adds a logistics layer to a night that should be about the music.
One Norman concert party bus rental eliminates that entirely. Your group loads at one address south of the city, the bus runs I-35 north while everyone settles in, and you're at the front door of The Criterion without anyone navigating downtown OKC solo. After the show, the bus is already staged nearby — no one's waiting on a rideshare app while standing on a curb alongside a few thousand other people. Normanpartybuscompany.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Norman and the OKC metro so you can compare vehicles and pricing in one place.
Call 572-225-5850 any time to check availability for your show date.
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Door-to-door? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split across the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival time | Yes — drops curbside at 500 E Sheridan Ave main entrance | Groups of 15–56 from Norman or anywhere south |
| Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) | Per car each way + surge after the show | No — multiple cars, multiple arrival times | Fair — drops near entrance, but post-show surge and wait pile up | 1–4 people, spontaneous trips |
| Drive & park | $15+ in EMBARK garages or free at Bass Pro (first-come) + gas | No — separate cars, separate lots | Variable — depends on where you end up parking | Small groups arriving 90+ minutes early |
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at The Criterion
Drop-off at The Criterion is curbside on E Sheridan Ave at the main entrance — 500 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. The bus pulls to the curb, your group walks steps to the front doors, and the vehicle repositions to stage while the show runs. The venue's own rideshare guidance designates the same spot — 500 E Sheridan Ave by the main entrance — as the pickup and drop-off point, which means a charter bus or party bus lands your group in the exact same location without the end-of-night surge pricing attached to it.
For charter buses needing extended staging during the show, the Bass Pro Shops area approximately two blocks south (200 Bass Pro Dr) gives larger vehicles more room than the tight surface lots immediately surrounding the venue. Before your event, contact The Criterion directly at (405) 840-5500 to confirm current show-night approach protocols — staging logistics can shift based on event size and any concurrent Bricktown programming on the same night.
Your bus drops your group at the main entrance on E Sheridan Ave, steps from the front door — not two blocks away in a free lot that filled an hour before doors. Post-show, the bus is staged and ready when you walk out, while the rest of the crowd sorts out surge-priced rideshares on a busy Bricktown corner.
Parking Near The Criterion in Bricktown: What Groups Actually Face
The Criterion's own venue page lists the parking options around it, and every one carries a real-world catch. Here's the honest breakdown:
- Pay lot directly west of the building. The closest option — and the first to fill on any notable show night. Works fine for a two-person couple arriving well before doors. Unreliable for a coordinated group of 20 that needs to park together.
- Bricktown Garage, 222 E Sheridan Ave. The multi-level structure adjacent to the venue, but per available parking data, it restricts vehicles to a maximum height of seven feet — below the roofline of every charter bus and full-size party bus on the road. A bus cannot enter this garage. It needs curbside drop-off instead, which is the cleaner arrangement anyway.
- Bass Pro Shops, 200 Bass Pro Dr. The closest free option, approximately two blocks south of The Criterion. A genuine fallback for smaller groups willing to walk, and where the overflow crowds go when the lots nearer the venue are already gone.
- EMBARK downtown garages. Flat $15 event parking near OKC Streetcar platforms. The Streetcar can carry concertgoers toward Bricktown, though it adds a transit segment on the back end of a late show — something to weigh on a weeknight with an early morning after.
For a group of 25 or 40 arriving by charter bus from Norman, none of these matter. The bus needs a curb and a staging plan, not a parking slot. That is the logistical advantage that makes one bus beat a dozen separate cars on a Bricktown concert night.
Confirm current lot availability on the official Criterion venue info page before your show.
Rent a Bus to The Criterion from Norman: The I-35 Run
The Criterion is about 18 to 20 miles north of Norman via I-35 North to the downtown OKC interchange — roughly 25 to 30 minutes off-peak. On a Friday or Saturday night when a sold-out show is pulling thousands of people into Bricktown, plan for 40 to 50 minutes, especially in the 5 to 7 p.m. window when I-35 northbound and the I-40 interchange toward downtown slow consistently. From the interstate, the approach exits toward Bricktown and follows E Sheridan Ave directly to the venue — the geography puts the highway and the front door nearly in line once you're off the ramp.
The friction isn't the interstate. It's the last few blocks through Bricktown when The Criterion, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, and the Canal district are all running events the same night — because that's when every surface lot in a five-block radius gets contested simultaneously. On a charter bus or party bus out of Norman, your group bypasses that problem at the planning stage rather than at the I-40 exit.
The bus takes the approach, drops at the curb, and handles the return run south on I-35 while the headliner is still in the setlist.
Which Bus Fits Your Criterion Concert Group
The Criterion configures between fully reserved seating and standing general admission, so it hosts everything from a 500-person Tuesday night indie act to a 3,000-plus sold-out Saturday headliner. The right vehicle scales with your group's size and what you want from the ride up I-35.
| Vehicle | Seats | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15–35 passenger minibus | 15–35 | Mid-size groups, clean curbside maneuverability on E Sheridan | Climate control, reclining seats, overhead storage |
| 25- to 40-passenger party bus | 25–40 | Concert groups who want the energy to start on the ride up | LED lighting, Bluetooth sound system, flat-panel TVs, perimeter seating |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large organized groups, corporate buyouts, Greek chapter events | Reclining seats, WiFi, power outlets, overhead storage, onboard restroom, undercarriage bays |
A minibus is the practical fit for a mid-size friend group heading to a Tuesday night show — nimble enough to pull cleanly to the E Sheridan Ave curb, comfortable for the 30-minute run from Norman, and right-sized for 20 people who don't need a 56-seat coach. For groups where the night out starts on the ride north, a party bus brings the lighting and sound to the commute itself. For larger groups or organized concert nights with 40 or more, a full charter bus handles everyone in one trip and simplifies post-show pickup to a single curbside stop.
Browse the full vehicle lineup to compare options by headcount, or call 572-225-5850 to find out what's available for your date.
Norman Party Bus & Charter Bus Rental Prices for Criterion Shows
Pricing for a Norman party bus or charter bus rental to The Criterion depends on vehicle type, total hours reserved — covering the I-35 run north, the show, and the return trip — and the date of your event. To give you an idea of the ranges available through the network:
- A minibus (15–35 passengers) typically runs $200–$250/hour on weekdays and $200–$275/hour on weekends.
- A party bus (25–40 passengers) generally falls in the $275–$425/hour range on a Friday or Saturday show night.
- A charter bus (40–56 passengers) runs $200–$350/hour depending on the date and vehicle configuration.
Those are planning ranges — real pricing moves with your specific date, pickup location, and how many hours you reserve. A typical Norman-to-Criterion round trip books three to four hours minimum. Split across a full bus, the per-person cost regularly comes out less than parking plus a rideshare home, with none of the coordination headache.
Check the Norman party bus prices page for more detail, or call 572-225-5850 to get a quote built around your actual show date in about a minute — no account needed.
Criterion Venue Policies Every Group Needs to Know
The Criterion enforces its door policies without exception, and a group that doesn't brief everyone in advance ends up late because of it. A few things that consistently catch first-timers:
No backpacks — at all. The venue prohibits backpacks of any kind with zero exceptions. Every other bag must be 14 x 14 x 6 inches or smaller.
All bags go through a search and every guest walks through a metal detector at the entrance. Tell your entire group before the night; send everyone the official FAQ page and save yourself a frustrated conversation at the door.
Cashless since April 2025. As of April 16, 2025, the bar and box office at The Criterion no longer accept cash. Debit or credit card only for every purchase inside the venue — from a bottle of water to will-call pickup.
Remind everyone in your group before they leave Norman.
ADA accessibility requires advance notice. The Criterion is ADA accessible, but the venue asks for at least 72 hours of advance notice to arrange accommodations. Email the box office before your show — see the official FAQ page for the accommodations contact, or call The Criterion box office at (405) 840-5500.
Same-night accommodation requests are not guaranteed. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday through Monday from 2 p.m. until show start on event days, per the official venue info page.
Valid ID required for 18+ shows. Government-issued photo ID — a state ID, passport, or military ID — is required for any 18+ event. Check your ticket before the night of the show, and remind your group to carry their ID.
The box office cannot make exceptions at the door.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bus Rentals to The Criterion
Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at The Criterion?
Curbside on E Sheridan Ave at the main entrance — 500 E Sheridan Ave. That is the same point the venue designates for rideshare pickup and drop-off. The bus pulls to the curb, your group walks directly to the front doors, and the vehicle repositions to stage during the show.
Contact The Criterion at (405) 840-5500 before your event to confirm any show-specific approach or curbside protocols — staging details can shift based on event size.
Can a full-size charter bus use the Bricktown Garage at 222 E Sheridan Ave?
No. Per available parking data, the Bricktown Garage restricts access to vehicles under seven feet tall — well below the clearance of any full-size charter bus or party bus. The bus needs curbside drop-off on E Sheridan Ave, not a garage slot, which is actually the more efficient arrangement for a large group anyway. Verify current clearance restrictions directly with the garage before your visit.
How far is The Criterion from Norman?
About 18 to 20 miles north via I-35 North to the downtown OKC and Bricktown approach. Off-peak, plan for 25 to 30 minutes. On a Friday or Saturday show night — especially in the pre-show window between 5 and 7 p.m. — allow 40 to 50 minutes for the I-35/I-40 interchange and the Bricktown block approach.
What free parking is available near The Criterion?
The venue lists Bass Pro Shops (200 Bass Pro Dr, approximately two blocks south) as the closest free parking option. It is a genuine choice for smaller groups arriving well before doors, but it fills on busy show nights when the closer lots are already gone. EMBARK event garages charge a flat $15.
Confirm current lot availability on the official Criterion venue info page before your show.
Can the bus stay and wait during the show?
Yes. The bus is booked as a block of hours, so it can drop your group at the E Sheridan Ave entrance, reposition to stage nearby during the show, and return for pickup at the agreed window when the set ends. Set your pickup time before the show starts — a specific window and a clear meeting spot on E Sheridan Ave is what makes the post-show departure smooth instead of a scramble.
How early should we leave Norman for a 7 p.m. door time?
Doors at The Criterion typically open at 7 p.m., though show times vary — check your specific event. For a 7 p.m. door, leaving Norman by 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. provides enough buffer for the I-35 run and the Bricktown approach on a show night. For a sold-out Saturday show when Bricktown surface lots fill early and multiple venues are running simultaneously, budget a little extra time.
How much does it cost to rent a bus from Norman to The Criterion?
That depends on vehicle size, the number of hours reserved, and your specific show date. To give you a ballpark: a minibus runs $200–$275/hour; a charter bus runs $200–$350/hour; a party bus falls in the $275–$425/hour range on a weekend show night. The fastest way to get pricing for your date is to call 572-225-5850 — a quote in about a minute, no account needed.
Are there other Bricktown venues covered by the same group transportation?
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is a few blocks away on Mickey Mantle Drive, with its own drop-off and parking logistics. Paycom Center sits about a mile west and hosts Oklahoma City Thunder home games plus large touring productions — both have dedicated transportation guides with their specific approach details.
Book Your Bus to The Criterion
Normanpartybuscompany.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Norman and the OKC metro, so comparing vehicles and pricing takes about a minute — online or by phone, no account required, no obligation. Whether you're moving 18 people to a weeknight show or 50 to a sold-out Saturday headliner at The Criterion, you can compare vehicle options sized for your date. Call 572-225-5850 any time to get started, or use the online quote tool for quick pricing.
Either way, your group arrives curbside on E Sheridan Ave while everyone else is still arguing about the parking situation.
