FAQ

If you don’t see your question answered here, contact us and we’ll do our best to answer.

Q: How does this work?
A: Registration for each trip will open 6-8 weeks prior to the match. To reserve your spot, you’ll pay the trip’s “full bus” cost, plus the cost of a ticket. 2-3 weeks prior to the match, we’ll make a final go/no-go decision based on how full the bus is. If enough people have signed up to make the per-person cost reasonable, we’ll send out a link for everyone to pay the remaining amount, if any (if the bus isn’t full, each individual share of the bus costs more). Otherwise, we’ll refund everyone’s money.

Q: How full does the bus have to be in order for a trip to go?
A: The answer depends on the destination. The cost of chartering the bus is based on bus size and travel distance. The number of riders has no impact in what the bus company charges. Each fan bus rider shares equally in the cost of the bus, and we want the bus portion of the trip never to exceed $60/person, so we need enough riders to get the price down to that level.

Q: What is included in the final price?
A: The final price gets you a seat on the bus and a ticket to the match.

Q: How much does it cost to bring a child?
A: Children 2 and over cost the same as an adult. Children under the age of 2 can come along for free provided they sit in an adult’s lap instead of taking up their own seat. This applies to both the bus and the game. Please be aware that it’s a long drive, and the bus may be 100% full, so even if your child is young enough to sit in your lap, you might find it more comfortable and manageable to purchase a separate seat for him or her. We love children, and we want the bus to be a family-friendly environment. We just want to make sure you have realistic expectations for the trip.

Q: I’m in elementary, middle, or high school. Can I ride the bus?
A: Of course, as long as a parent, guardian, teacher, or coach comes with you! We ask that all minors be accompanied by an adult who will be responsible for them.

Q: I’m a family member of one of the players. Can I ride the bus?
A: Of course, but you have to pay for your trip just like everyone else, and may not receive gifts of any kind, even as minimal as a concession purchase or a bag of pretzels shared on the bus, from any other bus-riders. This is to avoid jeopardizing your players’s eligibility by running afoul of NCAA gift rules. Players’ families are responsible for knowing and following the NCAA rules that apply to them.

Q: I’m a student-athlete who plays a different sport. Can I ride the bus?
A: Of course, but you have to pay for your trip just like everyone else, and may not receive gifts of any kind, even as minimal as a concession purchase or a bag of pretzels shared on the bus, from any other bus-riders. This is to avoid jeopardizing your eligibility by running afoul of NCAA gift rules. Student-athletes are responsible for knowing and following the NCAA rules that apply to them.

Q: I’m a high school student or the relative of a high school student who’s hoping to play volleyball in college. Can I ride the bus?
A: Prospective student-athletes (PSAs) and their families are welcome to ride. All minors must be accompanied by an adult who will be responsible for them. PSAs and their family members are responsible for paying for their own trip and tickets. They may not receive gifts of any kind, even as minimal as a concession purchase or a bag of pretzels shared on the bus, from any other bus-riders. PSAs and their families are responsible for knowing and following the NCAA rules that apply to them.

Q: What kind of bus is it?
A: We charter Badger Coaches.

Q: I’d love to go, but [sporting event] conflicts with the trip. Can you do anything about that?
A: If a Packer game, or Wisconsin football, basketball, or hockey game overlaps with our time on the bus, let us know. Badger has coaches with satellite TV, so provided the game is televised and available as part of their package, we’ll arrange to watch it en route.

Q: Is there wifi on the bus?
A: We are exploring that option to see if it’s possible to offer wifi without a significant increase in per-person cost.

Q: Will we stop for food on the way?
A: Because the matches start at 7:00 PM, we will not have time to stop for food. You can bring food along, or purchase concessions at the match venue. We are also hoping to arrange boxed dinners from someplace like Panera or Subway for a small additional cost.

Q: Where does the bus pick up and drop off?
A: Pickup and drop-off locations are still up in the air. At this time we are considering a campus location such as Memorial Union, Union South, or the Field House, as well as the Dutch Mill Park & Ride at Stoughton Rd. and the Beltline.

Q: Where do we park?
Wherever you can legally find a space! We regret that we cannot make parking arrangements for fan bus riders at this time.

Q: I signed up, but now I can’t go. Can I get a refund?
A: Refunds are only available in the event that a trip is canceled due to insufficient interest. By signing up for a trip, you agree to pay the full amount of your share of the bus.

Q: I signed up, but now I can’t go. Can someone else take my spot?
A: Yes.

Q: Can we meet the team?
A: The team has their own travel arrangements for road trips. It may be possible to greet the players briefly after the match, similar to matches in the Field House, but that is up to the players and coaches.

Q: Will Bucky be on the bus?
A: If Bucky goes on road trips, he usually travels with the team. If he wants to ride with us, he’s welcome to, but he has to pay for his own seat!

Q: Can we bring alcohol on the bus?
A: Those 21 and over may bring alcohol on the bus. We will check your ID. Have a good time, but please obey the law and be respectful of the driver and your fellow passengers. We strive to make the fan bus a family-friendly environment.
The fine print: Riders over 21 may bring and consume alcohol on the bus. Riders under 21 will not be allowed to bring or consume alcohol on the bus. Any riders under 21 who are found with alcohol on the bus will have the alcohol confiscated and be banned from future trips. Any riders who are found sharing alcohol with underage people will have their alcohol confiscated and be banned from future trips. Anyone who engages in disruptive, unruly, or dangerous behavior will be banned from future trips. Additionally, be aware that Badger Coaches reserves the right to refuse to transport anyone who is intoxicated and refuses to comply with lawful regulations and instructions. If that occurs, you are not eligible for a refund, will be banned from future trips, and will be responsible for the cost of your own transportation back to Madison.

Q: How do you decide which games you’ll send buses to?
A: As soon as the fall schedule comes out, we determine which matches are trip candidates depending on distance, night of the week, and the football schedule. Then we send a survey to everyone on our mailing list to determine interest, and pursue the most popular trips.

Q: What is your affiliation with the volleyball team?
A: None. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Beyond being season ticket holders and Twitter followers, we have no connection to Wisconsin Athletics or the Wisconsin Volleyball Team. Badger Volleyball Fan Bus is run by fans, for fans.

Q: Why must I pay with PayPal/Square instead of cash or check?
A: PayPal and Square tie in with our back-end so that we can easily keep track of how many registrations we have, and it makes it quick and easy for us to issue refunds if need be. It also facilitates record-keeping in order to allow us to prove that we’re compliant with NCAA regulations.

Q: How do you decide how much each person pays?
A: The total cost of the bus is divided by the number of riders. The cost of a ticket is added, as well as a small amount to cover administrative expenses such as web hosting, merchant fees, ticket purchasing convenience fees, printing of promotional materials, and postage.

Q: I see you have a Donate button. Where does that money go?
A: Donations help defray administrative costs, which include web hosting, merchant fees, ticket purchasing convenience fees, printing of promotional materials, and postage.

Q: So how much money do you guys make off this, anyway?
A: None. This is not a moneymaking venture. Any extra that comes in after we’ve paid for the bus and match tickets goes to cover administrative expenses. We want to keep costs as low as possible for everybody, and our goal is simply to break even.

Last updated September 12, 2014.