Most destinations in North Texas have a stadium, a parking lot, and a gate. The Star in Frisco has all of that — plus 91 acres of Dallas Cowboys world headquarters, a 12,000-seat arena, the Ring of Honor Walk, a 50-yard public turf plaza, an Omni Hotel, more than 20 restaurants, and the kind of campus where the official visitor tip is to wear comfortable shoes, not as a cliché but as an operational fact. The logistics here shift dramatically depending on what's happening.
On a calm Tuesday, the Blue Garage off Cowboys Way is free, the campus is relaxed, and getting there in a few cars is simple enough. On Frisco Bowl night or a sold-out Ford Center concert, Cowboys Way itself can close — along with Avenue of Champions, The Star Boulevard, and Winning Drive — and every car without a clear approach route ends up circling the east side of the campus wondering where to go next.
That's the question that shapes the whole trip: where exactly does the bus drop your group off, and where does it wait? The answer is published by The Star's own guest information page, it's consistent across major events, and it's the piece most first-timers don't know until they're already in Frisco traffic. A charter bus or party bus rental to The Star in Frisco means your group arrives at that exact spot together, the approach is handled before you ever leave Carrollton, and none of the road closure math falls on you.
This guide covers everything from the verified drop-off zone to the parking garages, the event calendar, vehicle options, and how the pricing breaks down — built from The Star's published policies and official event guidance.
Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to The Star in Frisco
The Dallas North Tollway is the primary artery connecting Carrollton, Addison, Plano, and Dallas to Frisco — and it backs up hard. Southbound in the mornings, northbound in the evenings, it runs at capacity during rush hour most weekdays. Add a Ford Center sellout to that pattern and the congestion heading toward the Cowboys Way and Gaylord Parkway exits compounds fast.
A 15-mile drive from Carrollton to The Star runs 20 minutes on a normal afternoon and can stretch well past 40 minutes on a Friday evening when Ford Center has a sold-out show and the Blue and Silver garages are already charging event rates by 5 PM.
The coordination problem is the second headache. When a group of 25 or 30 people arrives in six separate cars, they park on different levels of the same garage or split between the Blue and Silver structures, then spend the first 15 minutes trying to find each other before the event even starts. The Star's campus is genuinely spread out — the walk between the dining district, Ford Center's South Entrance, the Tostitos Championship Plaza, and the practice field viewing areas adds up.
A Carrollton party bus rental to The Star keeps the whole group on the same vehicle, at the same drop-off point, at the same time. The Dallas North Tollway traffic is handled before your group boards — not during it.
Then there's the closure problem. Per The Star's own published parking guidance, Cowboys Way, Avenue of Champions, The Star Boulevard, and Winning Drive — the roads running through the south side of the campus — can all close for major Ford Center events. When those roads shut, GPS navigation directed at the main Cowboys Way address sends cars straight into a barrier.
A charter bus routed to the east-side Media Entrance off Gaylord Parkway bypasses all of it. That's the lane that stays open. Knowing that in advance is the difference between a smooth arrival and a 30-minute detour.
For group transportation to The Star and other North DFW destinations, the Carrollton group transportation services page covers what's available across the region.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at The Star in Frisco
The verified passenger drop-off and pick-up zone at Ford Center at The Star (9 Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX 75034) is the Media Entrance on the east side of the building, off the southbound lanes of Gaylord Parkway. Rideshare services use the same location for most major events, per the official Ford Center guest information page. That is not a general curb on Cowboys Way or the hotel side — specifically the east-side Media Entrance accessed from Gaylord Parkway southbound.
Groups should navigate toward Gaylord Parkway directly rather than following a GPS set to the main Cowboys Way address, especially on event days when the south campus roads are closed.
After drop-off, there is exactly one guest entrance to Ford Center: the South Entrance, on the south side of the building through the plaza. It applies to all events and all guests — not an event-specific restriction. Brief your group before the bus arrives: South Entrance, through the plaza, no other option.
A group of 30 that assumes there are multiple doors will spend the first 20 minutes inside the arena hunting for each other.
For oversized vehicles — limousines, charter buses, and anything longer than 19 feet — The Star's published policy is that parking is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and Ford Center Guest Services recommends calling ahead to arrange a spot. That call, made before your event date, is what separates a clean arrival from circling the campus looking for a space that can fit a 45-foot coach. Partybuscarrollton.com connects groups from Carrollton to a large network of bus companies serving North DFW — confirming vehicle size, the event-day approach, and any advance coordination with venue guest services is part of locking in a booking, not something sorted out at the curb.
Parking at The Star in Frisco: Blue Garage, Silver Garage, and the Gaylord Lot
The Star has three main parking areas: the Blue Garage (accessed directly off Cowboys Way — the easiest option for first-time visitors), the Silver Garage (accessed from a driveway off Gaylord Parkway), and the Gridiron surface lot. On most weekday visits and quieter evenings, all three are free. During major Ford Center events, Cowboys practices, and busy Friday and Saturday evenings, fees apply — and the garages fill fast.
The official guidance is specific: arrive early on weekend evenings because the garages reach capacity before the event starts.
For Frisco ISD high school football games — the "Friday Night Stars" series that packs Ford Center throughout the fall — tailgating is permitted in the designated grassy areas on the southwest perimeter of the Gaylord parking lot only, from lot opening through one hour after the event ends. Charcoal and gas grills are permitted; open flames and deep fryers are not. Amplified sound systems and commercial signage are prohibited.
For other Ford Center events including the Frisco Bowl and major concerts, tailgating rules shift — the Frisco Bowl stadium policies page and the official guest information page are the right sources to confirm what's allowed on your specific event date.
During major Ford Center events, Cowboys Way, Avenue of Champions, The Star Boulevard, and Winning Drive — all south-campus roads — can close entirely. A charter bus or party bus routed to the Gaylord Parkway Media Entrance on the east side bypasses all of it. That is the drop-off zone that stays open when everything else is blocked, and it is where rideshare services are directed too.
Getting to The Star in Frisco from Carrollton and North DFW
From Carrollton, the direct route runs north on the Dallas North Tollway through Addison, Farmers Branch, and Plano before reaching Frisco — roughly 15 miles and typically 20 to 25 minutes in normal traffic. On event days and weekday northbound rush hours, that same stretch stretches to 40 minutes or more. The Sam Rayburn Tollway (TX-121) provides an east-west connection for groups coming from DFW Airport, Irving, or Las Colinas — it intersects the Dallas North Tollway near the south end of Frisco, close to The Star campus.
The two approach roads that matter most: Cowboys Way from the west (Blue Garage access, but closes during major events) and Gaylord Parkway from the east (Silver Garage access, Media Entrance drop-off, stays open during closures). For a bus or for any group coordinating a specific drop-off, Gaylord Parkway southbound is the one to navigate toward on event days — not the Cowboys Way address that most mapping apps default to.
| From… | Approx. Distance to The Star | Typical Drive Time (off-peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Carrollton | ~15 miles | 20–25 minutes |
| Downtown Dallas | ~28 miles | 30–40 minutes |
| DFW Airport | ~22 miles | 25–35 minutes |
| Plano | ~12 miles | 15–20 minutes |
| Irving / Las Colinas | ~30 miles | 35–45 minutes |
| Fort Worth (downtown) | ~44 miles | 45–55 minutes |
Those are off-peak estimates. On Frisco Bowl night, Frisco Football Classic night, or any Friday when Ford Center has a concert and the DNT is already loaded with northbound commuters, build in 20 to 30 minutes above whatever your GPS says. A charter bus rental to The Star in Frisco handles that approach and timing before your group is ever on the road — not when you're already sitting on the tollway deciding whether you'll make kickoff.
For groups flying into the area, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport sits roughly 22 miles southwest of The Star via the Sam Rayburn Tollway East to the Dallas North Tollway North. One bus handles the baggage-claim-to-campus transfer in a single clean pickup — no splitting 20 people across six rideshares on arrival day. The DFW Airport group shuttle guide covers the terminal pickup zones and coordination process in detail.
Events at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco
Ford Center books a full year of events — not just Cowboys practices. It runs high school football playoffs, pro tennis, college bowl games, concerts, boxing cards, and community events year-round. Here is what fills the campus in 2026, and what it means for your group's transportation timing.
Dallas Cowboys Training Camp — Frisco portion (late August 2026). After the California portion of training camp wraps in mid-August, the Cowboys return to Ford Center for the closing stretch of open practices. Per the official training camp page, select practices at The Star are free and open to the public, with fence-line access along the practice field and a shaded viewing platform along the south sideline with premium sightlines.
Watching the Cowboys work 50 yards from their own meeting rooms is access most NFL teams do not offer — and it fills fast. For the open-practice days, arrive earlier than you think you need to. The Blue Garage reaches capacity before practice begins on the popular sessions, and the campus itself becomes a destination for the full morning or afternoon, not just the practice window.
Frisco ISD "Friday Night Stars" — fall 2026 season. Ford Center hosts Frisco Independent School District football matchups throughout the fall — games between Heritage, Frisco, Centennial, Lebanon Trail, Reedy, and other FISD schools that fill the arena and the surrounding lots. These are among the most-attended high school athletic events in Texas; FISD enrollment is one of the largest in the state.
For school groups traveling to support a specific team, a Carrollton school event bus rental handles the parking headache entirely — parking areas open roughly 90 minutes before game time and fill on high-profile matchups.
Frisco Football Classic (December 15, 2026) and Frisco Bowl (December 23, 2026). Back-to-back NCAA bowl games at Ford Center, both at 8:00 PM, eight days apart. These two events represent the heaviest group transportation demand The Star sees all year.
The surrounding Frisco road network — already congested with holiday shopping traffic on the Stonebriar Centre corridor — stacks up hard on both Cowboys Way and the Dallas North Tollway on game nights. Groups traveling from Carrollton or Dallas for either bowl game should plan for the Gaylord Parkway approach on the east side and expect the south-campus roads to be closed as game time approaches. Bus transportation for these dates books out well before December.
Lock it in as soon as your tickets are confirmed — not the week before the game.
Dallas Open tennis (annual, typically February). The Nexo Dallas Open fills Ford Center with ATP tennis on an indoor hard court across about eight days each February. Full houses for featured sessions are standard, and the east-side approach via Gaylord Parkway is the right call for group arrivals.
Watch the official Ford Center events calendar for dates as the 2027 edition is confirmed.
Concerts, boxing, and Ford Center special events. Ford Center has hosted major boxing cards — Errol Spence Jr. bouts among them — along with stadium-scale concerts and family shows throughout the year. These are the events most likely to trigger the full south-campus road closure plan, and they sell out faster than the sports calendar.
For concert bus rentals from Carrollton, locking in transportation as soon as your tickets land is the right call — concert nights at Ford Center are exactly when vehicle inventory runs thin and late requests pay more or come up empty.
What Size Bus Does Your Group Need to Rent for The Star in Frisco
The right vehicle comes down to headcount and purpose. A group of 12 heading to a Cowboys open practice calls for something different than 50 corporate guests bused in for a Foundation event dinner at the campus dining district. Partybuscarrollton.com connects groups from Carrollton to a large network of bus companies serving North DFW, so you can compare vehicle types and pricing side by side in under 30 seconds. Here is how the full vehicle lineup maps to a Star in Frisco trip.
| Vehicle | Seats | Best for at The Star | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van | Up to 14 | VIP group tour, small executive outing, DFW airport-to-campus transfer | Premium leather seating, USB charging at every seat, tinted privacy windows, individual reading lights |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | 15–50 | Fan group to a Cowboys practice, Ford Center concert, birthday group, team celebration | Built-in bar area, color-changing LED lighting, premium Bluetooth sound system, flat-panel TVs, perimeter seating |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | 15–35 | Corporate group, wedding party shuttle, mid-size team outing, campus tour day | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, overhead storage, greater maneuverability on tighter North Frisco streets |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large corporate event, convention transfer, out-of-town fan group, multi-stop campus day | Reclining seats, climate control, overhead bins, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, deep undercarriage luggage bays |
One practical note specific to The Star: the oversized vehicle policy (19 feet and over) requires advance coordination with Guest Services for parking. Build that call into the booking process, not the arrival morning. A 25-passenger party bus works well for a mid-size group wanting the full event experience on the way in; a 56-passenger charter bus suits a large corporate group or travel party arriving from out of town with luggage stored in the deep undercarriage bays.
ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — note it in your quote request and the right vehicle can be arranged.
Party Bus & Charter Bus Rental Prices to The Star in Frisco
To give you a planning baseline: a minibus runs roughly $200–$250 per hour on weekdays, $200–$275 on weekends. A 25-passenger party bus runs roughly $250–$350 on weekdays, $275–$375 on weekends. A full 56-passenger charter bus runs roughly $200–$350 on either day.
These are planning ranges — your final quote moves with total hours, the specific date, event demand, and mileage from Carrollton. One call or a quick form fill gets you pricing for your date in about a minute. No account needed, no obligation.
The per-person math is where a bus often wins against a car caravan to The Star. Factor in event-day parking in the Blue or Silver garages, Dallas North Tollway tolls both ways, and the coordination overhead of six cars trying to regroup after the show at a campus where the south roads just closed — and one bus at a single, flat rate splits cleanly across the whole group. Check the Carrollton party bus prices page for the full rate breakdown by vehicle type, or call 214-919-0138 any time for a quote specific to your group size and event date.
Example: 28 people, Saturday evening, Carrollton to The Star for a sold-out Ford Center concert plus dinner at the campus dining district. A 28-passenger party bus at roughly $275–$375 per hour runs approximately $1,375–$1,875 for a 5-hour booking — about $49–$67 per person. Compare that to seven cars navigating event-day road closures, seven separate parking charges at event pricing, and a post-show regrouping effort in a full garage, and one bus covers the gap quickly.
Charter Bus Rentals for Group Tours at The Star in Frisco
One of the most requested group activities at The Star is the guided tour of the Dallas Cowboys facility — and it offers access most NFL teams simply do not provide. The VIP Guided Tour takes groups through where the team trains and works 355 days a year: the practice fields, the locker room, Cowboys meeting rooms, and the Ring of Honor exhibit. Tours run approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, per the official tours FAQ.
Comfortable walking shoes are the official recommendation — the campus covers substantial ground.
Group tours require advance booking of at least one week through Ford Center Guest Services or by emailing TheStarTours@dallascowboys.net. Discounts apply for seniors, military, and first responders with valid ID; children 5–12 receive a $5 discount off the adult ticket price, and children 4 and under are free. One note from the official FAQ: all tour dates, times, and stops are subject to change based on events or activity at The Star on that day — confirm the morning of for any last-minute updates.
For a corporate group or fan group from Carrollton making a full day of it — VIP tour in the morning, lunch at one of the campus restaurants like Cane Rosso or Dee Lincoln Prime, a walk along the Ring of Honor, and a game or event at Ford Center in the evening — a minibus keeps the whole group together across a multi-stop campus day without anybody doing parking math between each stop. Partybuscarrollton.com can put together a quote for that kind of full-day itinerary in under 30 seconds. Call 214-919-0138 to get started.
Tips for Visiting The Star in Frisco with a Group
One entrance only. Ford Center has one guest entrance: the South Entrance, on the south side of the building through the plaza. This is the published, permanent policy — not an event-day restriction.
Groups that assume there are multiple doors and scatter across different sides of the building waste the first 15 minutes inside regrouping. Brief every member of your group before the bus arrives at the drop-off: South Entrance, through the plaza, that is the only way in.
Bag policy applies to every event. One clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 12″ (or a one-gallon clear Ziploc), plus one small clutch no larger than 4.5″ × 6.5″. No backpacks, no purses, no fanny packs, no non-transparent bags.
Send this to every person in your group before your event day — it is the detail that creates the longest line delays at the South Entrance for groups of 20 or more arriving together.
Arrive early during paid parking events. On major Ford Center nights, the Blue and Silver garages transition to event pricing and fill before the event starts — that's the official guidance from The Star itself. For a group arriving in multiple cars, a full garage means hunting for street alternatives on roads that may already be narrowed or closed.
A bus arrives as one unit at the Gaylord Parkway drop-off zone, not a garage.
Accessible parking and services. Accessible parking is available first-come, first-served with a state-issued placard or license plate. The campus also provides accessible vehicle drop-off and pick-up areas.
ADA-accessible buses are available through the network — note the requirement in your quote request. The Guest Services Center at Section 127 on the concourse inside Ford Center handles in-venue accessibility assistance; the contact is (972) 497-4800 or fordcenter@dallascowboys.net.
Check the official page before event day. Drop-off zones, road closure plans, and parking rules can shift between events. We recommend reviewing the official Ford Center guest information page before your visit to confirm the current logistics for your specific date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Bus to The Star in Frisco
Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at The Star in Frisco?
For most major events, the passenger drop-off and pick-up zone is at the Media Entrance on the east side of Ford Center, off the southbound lanes of Gaylord Parkway. Rideshare services use the same location, per the official guest information page. After drop-off, all guests enter through the South Entrance on the south side of the building through the plaza — the only guest entrance to Ford Center.
Where do buses park at The Star in Frisco?
Oversized vehicles — charter buses, limousines, and anything longer than 19 feet — park on a first-come, first-served basis. Ford Center Guest Services recommends contacting them in advance at (972) 497-4800 to arrange a space. The main parking areas are the Blue Garage (off Cowboys Way), the Silver Garage (off the Gaylord Parkway driveway), and the Gridiron surface lot.
Parking is free most days and shifts to event pricing during major Ford Center events and Cowboys practices.
What roads close around The Star during major events?
Per The Star's published parking information, Cowboys Way, Avenue of Champions, The Star Boulevard, and Winning Drive can all close for major events. When they do, the Gaylord Parkway approach on the east side is the open route — the Media Entrance drop-off zone is on Gaylord Parkway's southbound lanes, which is exactly why it is the consistent group vehicle drop-off point even when everything south of Ford Center is blocked. Always check the official guest information page before event day for the current closure plan.
How far is The Star in Frisco from Carrollton?
Approximately 15 miles north via the Dallas North Tollway — 20 to 25 minutes in normal traffic. On major event nights or during northbound rush hour, the same stretch can run 40 minutes or more. A bus from Carrollton to The Star in Frisco handles the DNT independently and arrives at the Gaylord Parkway drop-off zone on schedule regardless of tollway conditions.
How much does parking cost at The Star in Frisco during events?
Parking in the Blue Garage, Silver Garage, and Gridiron lot is free on most days. During major Ford Center events, Cowboys practices, and busy Friday and Saturday evenings, fees apply — and the garages fill before the event starts. Exact event-day rates are published by The Star and shift per event.
We recommend reviewing the official guest information page before your visit. For a group of 25 people arriving in six separate cars and paying event-day parking, the per-person cost of those separate parking charges adds up quickly against one flat bus rate split across the group.
What events are coming up at Ford Center at The Star?
The official Ford Center events calendar is the best source for the complete picture. Through the end of 2026: Dallas Cowboys Training Camp open practices at Ford Center (late August), Frisco ISD "Friday Night Stars" high school football throughout the fall, the Frisco Football Classic (December 15, 2026), and the Frisco Bowl (December 23, 2026). The Dallas Open pro tennis tournament returns annually each February, and concerts and boxing events book throughout the year.
Are group tours available at The Star in Frisco?
Yes. VIP Guided Tours run approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and take groups through the Cowboys' training and headquarters facility. Group tours require advance booking of at least one week through Ford Center Guest Services or by emailing TheStarTours@dallascowboys.net.
Discounts are available for seniors, military, first responders, and children. All tour stops are subject to change based on activity at The Star; confirm the morning of. Full details are on the official tours FAQ page.
How far in advance should I book a bus to The Star in Frisco?
For routine visits — a Tuesday campus tour, a Friday Night Stars football game, a dining outing — two to three weeks of lead time usually works. For the Frisco Bowl (December 23), Frisco Football Classic (December 15), sold-out Ford Center concerts, and Cowboys Training Camp open-practice days, the right-size vehicles go faster than you'd expect. Book as soon as your event date is confirmed — December dates compete directly with corporate holiday party and year-end event demand across all of North DFW, and the available inventory shrinks quickly.
Call 214-919-0138 to check availability for your specific date.
What is the bag policy at Ford Center at The Star?
One clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 12″ (or a one-gallon clear Ziploc), plus one small clutch no larger than 4.5″ × 6.5″. Backpacks, purses, fanny packs, coolers, and non-transparent bags are not permitted. This is the detail that creates the longest slowdowns at the South Entrance for large groups — send it to every member of your party before event day.
What is the best approach to The Star on event days?
Navigate toward Gaylord Parkway southbound to reach the east-side Media Entrance — the published drop-off and rideshare zone for most major Ford Center events. When Cowboys Way and the south-campus roads close, Gaylord Parkway remains the open approach. If you are coordinating a bus arrival, the east-side route is what to confirm at booking — not the main Cowboys Way address that GPS defaults to.
Rent a Bus to The Star in Frisco Today
Whether it is a Frisco Bowl night, a Cowboys open practice, a group VIP tour of the Dallas Cowboys facility, a Ford Center concert, or a full corporate campus day, Partybuscarrollton.com makes it easy to find and compare party buses, charter buses, minibuses, Sprinter limos, and Sprinter vans serving Carrollton and all of North DFW. Fill out one quick form and see options from a large network of bus companies — vehicle photos, sizes, and pricing side by side — in under 30 seconds. No account required, no obligation.
The Blue and Silver garages fill fast on event nights, Cowboys Way closes without much warning, and the Gaylord Parkway drop-off zone is the piece most first-timers find out about too late. Your group does not have to figure any of that out at the curb. Call 214-919-0138 any time for a free quote, or use the online form to compare party bus and charter bus pricing for your Star in Frisco trip in about a minute.
That's the whole point.
Also planning a game day at AT&T Stadium in Arlington or an event at American Airlines Center in Dallas? The AT&T Stadium bus transportation guide and the American Airlines Center group bus guide cover their own verified drop-off zones and parking specifics.
