My Alpine Valley Rant (PJ20)

Indifference71

81 wrote:

Pushin Forward Back wrote:

I think campings has become a thing of the past at that venue. You can thank The Dead for that-

it will be back. East Troy voted last year to allow camping on site. for some reason they choose to not use it this summer

I remember reading that article that the camping was only something like 75 campsites. I'm guessing PJ decided against it to avoid all of the bitching and complaining about people not being able to get campsites for the weekend

Indifference71

Pushin Forward Back wrote:

as far as bitching about concession prices, its a fuckin Aramark food service joint. You should expect high dollar concessions when going to any large venue/stadium in the USA. Go to your local bar or club and enjoy $4 beers.
-

Exactly. Unfortunately, overpriced beer/food is just part of going to any concert venues/sporting events anywhere in the USA. Thats why you get drunk in the parking lot before.

When I was buying one of the $13 beers, I told the guy "you guys are fucking criminals". He just laughed and said "that's live nation for ya".

shadowcast

I love Alpine. Made it out of the parking lot in 15 minutes first night and 45 the next night (Never go in the first line you see). Tailgated our asses off both days so I think I had two beers each night I was in the venue. Also ate a lot during the tailagte so no need to buy food. The only thing I spent money on was T-shirts really. The sound at Alpine is great for a outdoor venue and the room for tailgating is huge. Let's do it again at Alpine!!!!!!

BoltOfLightnin'

We were wondering why all the driveways along that road (Highway D?) had cones blocking off driveways and people sitting there guarding them...so we asked security going into the lot and they said it was AV security making sure people didn't go on the locals' property! Pretty weird. I guess being out in the middle of nowhere, it can get tempting to just pull up in any random driveway and sleep off the booze, lol.

OH and how many of you were pulled over on the side of the OTHER road where the GPS was telling everyone to go, lmao! That was friggin priceless.

JTH

OK, time to ride in on my high horse...

If you ask me, the ridiculous prices on the concessions were a blessing. I had exactly one beer the entire weekend. And that was on Friday night when the guy behind me in line for the ticket pickup gave me one. Any time I was tempted to buy one on Saturday or Sunday, the prices made me reconsider.

There are so many reasons I'm happy that I didn't drink at all, not the least of which is that I only made two trips to the toilets on Saturday -- once in the parking lot on the way in and once between the Strokes and PJ's sets. (We got there pretty late on Sunday, so I didn't need to go at all.)

And I sure as hell didn't need to get buzzed up to enjoy the show.

*High horse dismount*

RedMosquito22

Have you guys not been to venues in the US over the last 10 years. Prices are like that at almost every venue.

DewieCox

BoltOfLightnin' wrote:

We were wondering why all the driveways along that road (Highway D?) had cones blocking off driveways and people sitting there guarding them...so we asked security going into the lot and they said it was AV security making sure people didn't go on the locals' property! Pretty weird. I guess being out in the middle of nowhere, it can get tempting to just pull up in any random driveway and sleep off the booze, lol.

OH and how many of you were pulled over on the side of the OTHER road where the GPS was telling everyone to go, lmao! That was friggin priceless.

Someone posted last week that alot of the locals sell parking spots and we saw people making the hike from some of them to the venue to support that. Strongly considered this, but sooooo glad we didn't after the fucking hike up the hill, as I had some pretty crummy shoes for somethin like that.

shadowcast

DewieCox wrote:

BoltOfLightnin' wrote:

We were wondering why all the driveways along that road (Highway D?) had cones blocking off driveways and people sitting there guarding them...so we asked security going into the lot and they said it was AV security making sure people didn't go on the locals' property! Pretty weird. I guess being out in the middle of nowhere, it can get tempting to just pull up in any random driveway and sleep off the booze, lol.

OH and how many of you were pulled over on the side of the OTHER road where the GPS was telling everyone to go, lmao! That was friggin priceless.

Someone posted last week that alot of the locals sell parking spots and we saw people making the hike from some of them to the venue to support that. Strongly considered this, but sooooo glad we didn't after the fucking hike up the hill, as I had some pretty crummy shoes for somethin like that.

I saw some girl break a flip flop going down that hill on the way to the show Saturday and I don't think she had a spare.

BoltOfLightnin'

DewieCox wrote:

BoltOfLightnin' wrote:

We were wondering why all the driveways along that road (Highway D?) had cones blocking off driveways and people sitting there guarding them...so we asked security going into the lot and they said it was AV security making sure people didn't go on the locals' property! Pretty weird. I guess being out in the middle of nowhere, it can get tempting to just pull up in any random driveway and sleep off the booze, lol.

OH and how many of you were pulled over on the side of the OTHER road where the GPS was telling everyone to go, lmao! That was friggin priceless.

Someone posted last week that alot of the locals sell parking spots and we saw people making the hike from some of them to the venue to support that. Strongly considered this, but sooooo glad we didn't after the fucking hike up the hill, as I had some pretty crummy shoes for somethin like that.

No shit...yeah, that walk from the green lot was enough...I seriously need to quit smoking if I'm ever going to do that again :problem:

slightofjeff

TroubledSoul wrote:

24oz cans are practically 2 beers. I don't think it's as outrageous as people are making out.

Loved the "free" buffet in expo. Was a nice surprise that I don't remember reading about. Soft shell tacos did make me fart like a machine though, but they tasted great.

That was you?

megatron

slightofjeff wrote:

TroubledSoul wrote:

24oz cans are practically 2 beers. I don't think it's as outrageous as people are making out.

Loved the "free" buffet in expo. Was a nice surprise that I don't remember reading about. Soft shell tacos did make me fart like a machine though, but they tasted great.

That was you?

seriously night 2 around row d there was intense gas being passed..a muggy cloud

grizaham

Yeah the no camping was a drag.. I even paid $100 both nights to park my RV! Night 2 was my first PJ show with no alcohol since 94 (i was 14)! And i was 1st row! It was good times.

$13 is ridiculous, but not that ridiculous.

RedMosquito22

grizaham wrote:

Yeah the no camping was a drag.. I even paid $100 both nights to park my RV! Night 2 was my first PJ show with no alcohol since 94 (i was 14)! And i was 1st row! It was good times.

$13 is ridiculous, but not that ridiculous.

It's actually $6.50 per beer since they were 24 ounce beers.

SVRDhand13

RedMosquito22 wrote:

grizaham wrote:

Yeah the no camping was a drag.. I even paid $100 both nights to park my RV! Night 2 was my first PJ show with no alcohol since 94 (i was 14)! And i was 1st row! It was good times.

$13 is ridiculous, but not that ridiculous.

It's actually $6.50 per beer since they were 24 ounce beers.

Which should still seem ridiculous, but it is better than the norm.

BF25394

On parking, we were in the pavilion both nights, so we had a long trek back up to the parking lot. We didn't leave our seats until the show was over either night. But, as soon as the show was over, we headed directly to the car. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. We just walked as fast as we could up the hill to the car, which I had turned around after parking so that it was facing out. (It was easy to do this, although it turned out to have been unnecessary because there was no traffic to deal with.) We got in the car and were out of the venue in under a minute both nights. My advice to you if you're at a venue that you know will have bottlenecks in the parking lot: do not waste any time getting to your car. I learned this lesson at Randall's Island I in 1996, and I have taken it to heart ever since.

The second thing that was useful was gaining familiarity with the local roads. This is easier than ever with Google Maps and Mapquest, but we also scouted it on Saturday when we first got to East Troy. The first night, I turned left out of the parking lot because I knew that I-43 was only about a quarter-mile away in that direction, as opposed to five miles away on single-lane roads in the other direction. The second night, they wouldn't let me turn left out of the parking lot, and the prospect of being stuck in single-file traffic for five miles loomed. But because I had checked out the roads beforehand, I knew that if I made the first left on Townline Rd., it would take me to Main St. in East Troy, which would take me straight to I-43. We were back at our hotel near the Milwaukee airport both nights within 45 minutes after the last note was played.

bootlegger10

Got there a half hour before PJ went on stage each night and we got parked in third row closest to the exit. Was a breeze getting out.

slightofjeff

Night 1, we made the mistake of, "Hey, let's just chill here by the car for a bit, have a few beers, wait for this lot to clear out a bit."

Three hours later, we were back at the hotel.

Night 2, we hauled ass from our pavilion seats after the Star Spangled Banner, got in our car at Yellow 6 and got the hell out of there. Fifteen minutes, tops. Didn't even have time to finish my beer.

mAjLrAep

This might be a stretch, but management may have not wanted to do the camping thing b/c at the Heineken Jammin' Music Festival in Venice in 2007, there was a flippin' tornado and they had to cancel the 3-day festival. A lot of people lost a ton of money from that so maaaaaaybe PJ considered yet another possible natural disaster considering it was Hurricane season???? Just a thought since I flew all the way to Italy to see them (from NY) and then had to fly home PJless....

dwhite76

My only complaint was the RAIN. But we cant control that. Other than that it was a great time. Seemed like every one had fun and got along. Thanks 10 club,AV,Staff and PJ

PJTEXAS

LF55358 wrote:

My only complaint is why doesn't Alpine Valley have a campground? There is plenty of room. I didnt get out the parking lot until 3:30 am it was a total cluster fuck. The other rant I have is the food an drinks were way over priced above an beyond over priced, $13.00 for a Beer and I think it was like $9.00 for a shitty hot dog. REALLY, get real. Otherwise it was awesome, from the lawn seats to researved seats. I just think it could have been more fun if they had a campground an reasonably priced food an drinks.

Thats My Rant.
Lon

P.S thanks to Pearl Jam an The Ten Club for making it memorible weekend.

Here's the real answer to your question:

As far as getting people out on Sat., I feel your pain.. got out rather quickly on Sunday... anyway on the over pricing of food and beer...It was said before, they were serving 24 oz beers in cans at 13 bucks that 6.50 a twelve once beer. Still high? Well, you have to remember the venue has a lot of expenses to cover so that you can have that beer Let's do some figuring out: you can start with deducting the cost of beer about ($1.00 a beer). Oh and, don't forget you still gotta pay the guy or gal that was serving it and the guy that has to pick up your empties because you couldn't find a trash can to put in... trash disposal fees(It's gotta go somewhere) and then their the sales taxes on the beer... all this and, correct me if I am wrong like the state of Texas, the law states that when you purchase beer, you have to pay for it when it is delivered... how many beers do you think they bought for both days??? low ball it at 10,000 beers. So yeah, beer and food was expensive but when it all comes down to it, they made a little money so that they could do it again for the next show... Just a few things you might want to think about when you wonder why the prices are high...