A January night at George's Pond hits different from any other venue in northwest Louisiana. The moment you step through the doors at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum (3207 Pershing Blvd., Shreveport, LA 71109), the refrigerated air from the ice floor settles in immediately — and after two hours of Mudbugs hockey, navigating the Louisiana State Fairgrounds parking lot in the dark, in that same cold, with the game-night crowd pouring out around you, is where the evening can unravel fast. A rideshare takes time to arrive.
Finding your own car takes longer. And on the nights when the State Fair is wrapping its final week or Independence Stadium just hosted an event next door, that parking field is not what you planned for. Renting a charter bus or party bus to Hirsch Memorial Coliseum cuts all of that out — your group drops at the front entrance, watches every minute of the game, and climbs aboard the moment the final horn sounds: warm, together, and done with the parking problem before it ever starts.
This guide covers every logistical detail your group needs for a trip to George's Pond at Hirsch Coliseum — where the bus drops off, how to approach from I-20, how the fairgrounds parking actually works when the complex is running multiple events, which vehicle fits your headcount, and how to get a quote fast. Hirsch Memorial Coliseum has been the region's main indoor gathering point since 1954; it's the building where an announcer first said "Elvis has left the building" in 1957, where Van Halen opened the 5150 tour in 1986, and where the Mudbugs chase Robertson Cups today. Use the quick form on this site or call 318-888-0670 any time to get a Shreveport bus rental quote in about a minute.
Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to George's Pond at Hirsch Coliseum?
The fairgrounds location is the variable that most first-time Mudbugs game-planners don't fully account for until they've lived it once. Hirsch Memorial Coliseum sits inside the Louisiana State Fairgrounds complex on Pershing Boulevard — the same grounds that houses Independence Stadium at 3301 Pershing Blvd. next door and runs the State Fair of Louisiana across October and November every year. On a typical midweek home game against the Amarillo Wranglers or New Mexico Ice Wolves, free public parking surrounds the coliseum and there's room for everyone.
On the nights when the State Fair is in its final stretch or Independence Stadium just concluded an event, that same lot fills on two fronts — and a 7:11 PM puck drop means your group is arriving directly into the peak of it.
A Shreveport charter bus rental to Hirsch Coliseum resolves that variable entirely. One bus picks up your fan group from wherever you're starting — a Bossier City hotel, a South Highlands pregame spot, multiple addresses across town — drops everyone at the coliseum's front entrance, and stages nearby until you're ready to leave. Nobody drives separately, nobody gets stuck in the fairgrounds exit crawl at 9:30 PM, and nobody stands at the curb in 38-degree December air waiting on a rideshare that's still four minutes out.
That's the practical case for busing it to Hirsch, and it holds whether your group is 15 people or 50.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at George's Pond at Hirsch Coliseum
Per George's Pond's venue information, drop-off and pick-up are at the front entrance of the coliseum, with vehicles accessing the fairgrounds through Gate 1 on the East end of the property. Your group unloads at the building's front door — not from a remote area, not from across the parking field — and walks straight in. Wheelchair access is at the North entrance, with an accessible ticket window there and ADA seating available at both the North and South ends of the building.
Handicapped parking is clearly marked near all entrances.
Doors open 60 minutes before event time. Mudbugs home games start at 7:11 PM, which puts the building open at approximately 6:11 PM. Plan your bus arrival at the coliseum for 6:15 to 6:30 PM — early enough to clear the door before the crowd is fully in, grab food from the North, East, or West food courts before lines build, and find your spots in the 3,342-to-4,500-seat hockey configuration without rushing.
Build pickup timing backward from your departure city, add a buffer for fairgrounds approach on busy nights, and call 318-888-0670 any time — a support team can work out the exact departure time once headcount and origin are confirmed.
Drop-off is at the front entrance; vehicles enter through Gate 1 on the East end of the property. On cold Mudbugs nights — Shreveport January lows can drop into the mid-30s, and inside the arena the ice floor keeps things colder still — the difference between a bus that deposits your group at the door and a rideshare pickup that starts a walk from the back of the parking lot is immediate and real. Set the post-game pickup window before anyone goes inside, and the exit handles itself.
Getting to Hirsch Memorial Coliseum from I-20: Exits and Approach Roads
Hirsch Memorial Coliseum sits roughly three miles west of downtown Shreveport, just south of Hearne Avenue — and I-20 is the approach for nearly every group coming from out of town. For general fairgrounds access, take I-20 Exit 16A (Hearne Avenue) and head south on Hearne toward the complex. Groups arriving from the east on I-20 can also use Exit 14 (Jewella Avenue), then take Fair Street westbound, which feeds into the fairgrounds from the east side of the property.
Both are straightforward on a quiet game night. Both can back up when the fairgrounds is running at full capacity.
On standard Mudbugs weeknights with nothing else happening at the complex, Hearne Avenue moves freely and the drive from I-20 to the fairgrounds gate takes a few minutes. The complication shows up on nights when the State Fair is also running or when an Independence Stadium event just wrapped — Hearne and Pershing Boulevard can stack up without much warning, and outbound traffic after the game uses the same two exits. Your bus handles the routing so your group's only job is being ready at pickup time.
The Fairgrounds Parking Reality: What Groups Miss Before Their First Visit
The Louisiana State Fairgrounds covers significant acreage on the south side of Hearne Avenue, and Hirsch Memorial Coliseum and Independence Stadium share the surrounding on-site parking fields. On most Mudbugs home games — a midweek contest against the Odessa Jackalopes in February, nothing else running at the complex — free public parking surrounds the coliseum and the walk to the front entrance is short. The surprise comes in two specific windows that catch groups off guard every season.
The State Fair of Louisiana runs October 29 through November 15, 2026, at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds — and the Mudbugs typically open their home schedule in October. That timing overlap means early-season home games at George's Pond can fall on active State Fair dates, with fair visitors filling the lot from the afternoon before a 7:11 PM puck drop. A parking field that looks half-empty at 4 PM looks very different by 6:30.
The second overlap is the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium (3301 Pershing Blvd.) each December — the biggest fairgrounds traffic event of the year, when Hearne Avenue and Pershing Boulevard take sustained pressure from the football crowd well into the post-game window.
One bus sidesteps both. Drop-off at the front entrance, staged pickup when the event ends, no space to hunt, and no exit crawl to sit through. The Independence Stadium transportation guide covers the football-night logistics at the adjacent venue if any part of your trip includes both sides of the fairgrounds.
The fairgrounds shares parking across Hirsch Coliseum, Independence Stadium, and State Fair operations. On most midseason Mudbugs nights it's manageable. During the State Fair window — late October through mid-November — and around the Independence Bowl in December, it's a different situation entirely.
One charter bus removes the question completely.
What Size Bus Does Your Group Need for a Hirsch Coliseum Trip?
Headcount and how far you're traveling from are the two deciding factors. Here is how the available vehicle lineup maps to the most common Hirsch Coliseum group types:
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for at Hirsch Coliseum | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Small fan groups, VIP corporate hockey nights, birthday outings | Premium leather, USB charging, tinted privacy windows, individual climate control |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | ~15–50 | Fan groups wanting the rolling celebration, concert nights at Hirsch, bachelorette groups | LED lighting, Bluetooth sound system, flat-panel TVs, perimeter seating |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Mid-size hockey groups, graduation night families, church or school groups | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, overhead storage |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large fan groups, long-distance groups from Tyler, Longview, or Baton Rouge, rodeo nights | Reclining seats, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, undercarriage bays |
For most Mudbugs fan groups in the 15-to-35 range, a Shreveport minibus rental is the cleanest fit — right-sized for the group, no paying for empty seats, and easy to navigate into the fairgrounds. For groups making the drive from Longview, Tyler, or Baton Rouge for a playoff game or a major concert at the 10,300-seat venue, a full charter bus earns its keep with undercarriage bays for gear and luggage plus onboard restrooms that make the return trip straightforward. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network; note the need when you request your quote.
Party Bus & Charter Bus Rental Pricing for Hirsch Coliseum Trips
Pricing on a Shreveport party bus or charter bus rental to Hirsch Coliseum moves with vehicle size, total rental hours, and the date. To give you an idea of the planning ranges:
| Vehicle | Weekday hourly range | Weekend hourly range | Per-day range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo | $200–$325 | $225–$350 | $1,550–$3,150 |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | $200–$250 | $200–$275 | $1,100–$2,150 |
| 25-passenger party bus | $250–$350 | $275–$375 | $1,850–$2,900 |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | $200–$350 | $200–$350 | $1,350–$2,850 |
Those are planning ranges — the pricing for your group and itinerary comes from filling out the quick form or calling 318-888-0670, which gets you a quote in about a minute. The per-person math tends to make sense fast: a fan group of 25 splitting a 4-hour Mudbugs-night rental at the midpoint of the party bus range is looking at roughly $44–$56 per person for round-trip transportation from door to coliseum front entrance and back — one flat rate, no parking, no separate cars splitting the group. See the Shreveport party bus prices page for a full breakdown by vehicle type.
Events at George's Pond at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum That Draw Group Transportation
Shreveport Mudbugs hockey (October through April/May). The NAHL season runs from mid-October through the Robertson Cup Playoffs in April and May. The Mudbugs are a two-time league champion (2018 and 2021) and competed in the 2026 Robertson Cup Playoffs — home games carry real energy at George's Pond, and the 7:11 PM starts make any night with a ticket feel like an event.
The full schedule and tickets are available at the official Mudbugs site and through the George's Pond ticket portal. For Shreveport sporting event transportation across the city, the sporting event party bus page covers the broader picture.
Rodeo. The LRCA Finals Rodeo is listed on the State Fair of Louisiana's Hirsch Coliseum page and draws families and large groups that fill the fairgrounds lot from multiple directions. Rodeo nights are among the events at the complex where the shared-parking situation is most compressed — competition timing and show start pull visitors in continuously, and the lot fills faster than a standard weeknight game.
Concerts and touring shows. With a concert capacity of 10,300, Hirsch Coliseum brings in touring acts that don't fit anywhere else in the Shreveport market. The venue's concert history runs back to the 1950s — Elvis Presley performed here in 1975 and 1976, and the arena is where the phrase "Elvis has left the building" was first spoken in 1957.
Concert nights on Fridays and Saturdays are when fairgrounds parking sees the most pressure and when rideshare surge pricing runs highest after the show. A Shreveport concert bus rental takes your group from pickup to the front entrance and brings everyone home together after, no surge pricing calculation required.
Graduation ceremonies and private events. The coliseum's 28,800 square feet of flexible floor space and four dressing rooms make it a recurring graduation venue for area schools and universities. Large family groups busing in from across the region for a graduation night use a charter bus to consolidate transportation and avoid the post-ceremony parking scramble — which at a full graduation can rival a hockey-night exit in intensity.
For multi-stop Shreveport itineraries around a graduation or private event weekend, the Shreveport group transportation services page covers the multi-venue options.
Mudbugs Game-Night Tips for Groups Arriving by Bus
Dress for a working ice rink, not for the weather outside. This is the thing first-timers consistently underestimate. The ice floor keeps the arena colder than outside air even on a mild December evening in Shreveport, and sitting directly above a refrigerated surface for two-plus hours is a different experience than a typical indoor arena.
Mudbugs regulars treat January and February home games like cold-weather outdoor events — heavy coats, gloves, and layers are standard gear, not optional. Don't let a 55-degree evening in the parking lot convince you a light jacket will be enough inside. It won't.
Doors open 60 minutes before puck drop. For a 7:11 PM start, that's 6:11 PM. Arriving at the coliseum between 6:15 and 6:30 PM gives your group time to clear the entrance before the crowd is fully in, pick seating in the hockey configuration, and reach the food courts on the North, East, or West sides of the building without the full game-night line.
An ATM is at the main entrance. Accessibility: the North entrance is the wheelchair-accessible entry, with ADA seating at both ends of the building.
Agree on the pickup window before anyone goes inside. Pick a specific meeting point — the front entrance — and a specific time — 20 minutes after the final horn — before your group walks into the building. That way the bus is staged and right there when you walk out, instead of everyone sorting out logistics in the cold after a two-hour game in a refrigerated arena.
It takes about 30 seconds to agree on before tip-off and saves real confusion at 9:30 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charter Bus & Party Bus Rentals to Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
Where exactly does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum?
Per George's Pond's official venue page, drop-off and pick-up are at the front entrance of the coliseum. Vehicles access the fairgrounds complex through Gate 1 on the East end of the property. Wheelchair access is at the North entrance with an accessible ticket window.
For specific large-vehicle staging questions about your event date — particularly when the fairgrounds has multiple events running — the venue can be reached at (318) 636-7094, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.
Which I-20 exit should a bus use to reach Hirsch Memorial Coliseum?
For general fairgrounds access, I-20 Exit 16A (Hearne Avenue) is the primary approach — head south on Hearne to the complex. Groups coming from the east on I-20 can use Exit 14 (Jewella Avenue) and take Fair Street westbound into the fairgrounds from the east side of the property. On nights when Independence Stadium is also in use, both Hearne and the Pershing Boulevard approach can back up; the bus handles the routing so your group's only task is being at the pickup point on time.
Is parking free at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum for Mudbugs games?
Yes — free public parking surrounds the coliseum for most George's Pond and Mudbugs events, per the venue's parking information. Handicapped parking is clearly marked near all entrances at no charge. During the State Fair of Louisiana (running October 29 through November 15, 2026, and similar timing in future years), free parking is available throughout the fairgrounds as well.
Check the venue pages before any event where the fairgrounds complex is running multiple programs simultaneously — the calculus on available space can shift quickly.
How cold is it inside George's Pond during a Mudbugs hockey game?
Cold enough that it should change what you pack. The ice surface keeps the arena floor temperature below what you'll feel outside, and the lower seating sections put you close to the refrigerated surface for the full game. Regulars who attend Mudbugs games in January and February come dressed for it — heavy coats and gloves are standard, not extra.
A mild evening in the Shreveport fairgrounds parking lot does not predict what the inside of the building will feel like during a third-period penalty kill.
Can a bus pick up my group from Bossier City for a Hirsch Coliseum event?
Yes. Shreveportpartybuscompany.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving Shreveport, Bossier City, and the surrounding region. Cross-river pickups for Mudbugs nights are a common request — one bus collects the group on the Bossier City side, crosses the Red River, and drops everyone at the coliseum's front entrance. Shreveportpartybuscompany.com can also help you compare Bossier City party bus options if you're organizing the evening from that side of the river first.
How far in advance should I book a bus for a Mudbugs game or Hirsch event?
For most regular-season Mudbugs home games, two to three weeks of lead time gives you solid vehicle selection. For Robertson Cup Playoff home games — demand spikes fast when the bracket is set and game dates are confirmed — get your quote in as soon as the schedule is announced. For events falling during the State Fair window (late October through mid-November), earlier is better: the full fairgrounds complex draws visitors from across the region and the vehicle supply in Shreveport tightens accordingly.
Call 318-888-0670 any time to check availability and compare pricing for your date.
Does Hirsch Memorial Coliseum host events beyond hockey?
Year-round. Beyond the Mudbugs season (October through April/May), the coliseum hosts rodeos, touring concerts, graduation ceremonies, and other fairgrounds programming. The building converts from its 3,342-to-4,500-seat hockey configuration to a 10,300-seat concert layout depending on the event — it's the largest indoor event space in northwest Louisiana.
For current event listings, check the George's Pond official site or the coliseum's listing on the State Fair of Louisiana's website.
Get Your Group to Hirsch Memorial Coliseum Today
Whether it's a Mudbugs playoff run in April, a touring concert at the largest indoor venue in northwest Louisiana, or a family group making the trip for a rodeo night, getting group transportation quotes for Hirsch Memorial Coliseum is fast through Shreveportpartybuscompany.com. Fill out the quick form on this site or call 318-888-0670 any time — a support team is available to help you compare vehicles, check pricing for your date, and confirm timing so the bus is at the front entrance when your group walks out. For the full picture of Shreveport sporting event transportation, the sporting event party bus page covers the city-wide options.
Call 318-888-0670 right now and get your group moving to George's Pond.
