Your Offical Guide to the 2016 Florida Tour

JB128716

Thought I'd put this up in case the rumors are true about 4 shows in 4 cities in Florida to kick off the 2016 tour. This post will be updated often as people ask similar questions, confirmation is made by 10C, etc... Right now we are assuming it's Ft Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

Politically speaking: Ft Lauderdale and Miami are more liberal and democrats while Tampa and Jacksonville are more Republican and have military bases near by. This is important since it's an election year.

Florida shows are weird. Sometimes it's the loudest crowds you'll ever experience and sometimes the arenas will be empty (I don't think that will happen with this tour). Ft Lauderdale, Miami, and Tampa are all in nice areas. Jax might be, but I don't go there that often.

PJ hasn't played Miami in 20+ years. The last time they did, there was a riot of the crowds trying to get into the venue (which they did). I think the Miami crowd is going to be nuts and will probably be the closest thing to a South American show since it's easy for folks in South America to fly into Miami. This is the largest of the four arenas.

I don't think PJ has ever played Jax. This is the smallest arena of the four. It's an old minor league hockey arena.

Tampa is the Lightning Capital of the World. It only makes sense to play here on the Lightning Bolt Tour.

Ft Lauderdale is next to the Sawgrass mall. You could spend all day in there, but I'd stay at the beach if you haven't yet. It's about 45 minutes from the venue and the venue is easy to get to.

Miami is near Bayfront Park. It's a nice relaxing atmosphere. If you are going to stay in Miami, I'd recommend South Beach.

Tampa and Jax are both Downtown. There is a Marriot right next to the arena in Tampa or you'll find the usual hotels within walking distance.

If you want to go to Disney, it's about 2 hours from Tampa and 2 hours from Jax depending on traffic.

If you are going to the Ft Lauderdale show and like Iron Maiden, make sure you go to Nicko McBrain's Rock n' Ribs. It's a small place and has lots of cool Iron Maiden stuff. Lots of Powerslave tour stuff.

If you like to gamble, there are two Hard Rock Hotels (one in Tampa and one near Ft Lauderdale). Not much to do around the Hard Rock except what's at the hotel.

Any more questions I can answer. I think it rains a lot in April too. Typically around 3pm.

SVRDhand13

See you in Tampa!

JB128716

Any if you have GA and have never been, BEWARE OF THE MCCREADY STARE!!!

nycrats

If you're only doing Miami for 1 night I actually wouldn't recommend staying in south beach. South beach is more fun but It can at times take 30 mins or more to get over by the arena if there's a lot of traffic, and then you gotta figure out how to get yourself home. Once you figure traffic in, will call lines, merch, eating, whatever, you're cutting ur beach day very short. There's a ton of great hotels that are walkable to the arena that are very nice. Chill at the pool to max out your sun time. The epic hotel is really nice but it's $$$$

JB128716

nycrats said:

If you're only doing Miami for 1 night I actually wouldn't recommend staying in south beach. South beach is more fun but It can at times take 30 mins or more to get over by the arena if there's a lot of traffic, and then you gotta figure out how to get yourself home. Once you figure traffic in, will call lines, merch, eating, whatever, you're cutting ur beach day very short. There's a ton of great hotels that are walkable to the arena that are very nice. Chill at the pool to max out your sun time. The epic hotel is really nice but it's $$$$

But it's Epic

BLACK35

I hope rumours true for Florida, if so the wife and I will be hitting Miami & Ft. Lauderdale

Lost In Ohio

JB128716 said:

PJ hasn't played Miami in 20+ years. The last time they did, there was a riot of the crowds trying to get into the venue (which they did). I think the Miami crowd is going to be nuts and will probably be the closest thing to a South American show since it's easy for folks in South America to fly into Miami. This is the largest of the four arenas.

It'll be interesting to see how many South Americans come up, considering the band will have just played there within the last half-year. Something tells me it'll be fewer than we think, but those South Americans are crazy and if they have the extra money after traveling all around their own continent, who knows.

Bentleyspop

Lost In Ohio said:

JB128716 said:

PJ hasn't played Miami in 20+ years. The last time they did, there was a riot of the crowds trying to get into the venue (which they did). I think the Miami crowd is going to be nuts and will probably be the closest thing to a South American show since it's easy for folks in South America to fly into Miami. This is the largest of the four arenas.

It'll be interesting to see how many South Americans come up, considering the band will have just played there within the last half-year. Something tells me it'll be fewer than we think, but those South Americans are crazy and if they have the extra money after traveling all around their own continent, who knows.

They won't have to travel very far as there are many South Americans living in S. Florida.

justam

The Tampa arena will not be sold out. It's rare for that arena to be full.

If you want good fan clubs tickets, go for Tampa. That's the advice of a someone who lived in Tampa for years and noticed that even big bands like Radio Head and Tom Petty did not fill the arena!

JB128716

Here are some vinyl stores you may want to check out while in town...

Miami - Uncle Sam's has been there forever
https://www.facebook.com/Uncle-Sams-Music-80608321686/

Ft Lauderdale
We Got the Beats - https://www.facebook.com/We-Got-The-Beats-Record-Store-109371405750780/
Radioactive - https://www.facebook.com/RadioActiveRecords?fref=ts
Record Rack - https://www.facebook.com/Record-RACK-Florida-856627211091373/

Tampa
Retro Records - https://www.facebook.com/Planet-Retro-Records-318891318127864/
Bananas - https://www.facebook.com/Bananas-Music-125236352854/

Not sure about Jax.

primussucks

justam said:

The Tampa arena will not be sold out. It's rare for that arena to be full.

If you want good fan clubs tickets, go for Tampa. That's the advice of a someone who lived in Tampa for years and noticed that even big bands like Radio Head and Tom Petty did not fill the arena!

Yup I was at the 08 show and got 2nd row seats. Lots of empty seats in the upper deck.

JB128716

I don't remember what they did in '08 but with the tours getting shorter and focused on one area, I think you will see more people coming from out of state to the Florida shows. I wouldn't be surprised if Tampa sells out.

primussucks

JB128716 said:

I don't remember what they did in '08 but with the tours getting shorter and focused on one area, I think you will see more people coming from out of state to the Florida shows. I wouldn't be surprised if Tampa sells out.

Yup gotta think that a lot of fans in the north that will travel for shows will likely do the Florida run. I know that's what I wanna do!

steved

In my opinion the crowds in Florida due tend to be less energetic than others crowds I have seen around the country the last decade or longer. In my opinion there are less hardcore fans there and more fans of "Ten" and Betterman etc... Not that there is anything wrong with that, but they just aren't going to be singing along with the more obscure tunes...

I have lived in Florida for 37 of my 40 years. 35 in the Ft. Lauderdale / Miami area and the other two in the Tampa area. Starting at the Bayfront Miami show in 94' I haven't missed any of my local shows (Includes West Palm Beach) and have seen most of the Tampa shows as well.

I am excited and hopeful for multiple Florida shows! It will be a longtime coming!!!!

mrussel1

nycrats said:

If you're only doing Miami for 1 night I actually wouldn't recommend staying in south beach. South beach is more fun but It can at times take 30 mins or more to get over by the arena if there's a lot of traffic, and then you gotta figure out how to get yourself home. Once you figure traffic in, will call lines, merch, eating, whatever, you're cutting ur beach day very short. There's a ton of great hotels that are walkable to the arena that are very nice. Chill at the pool to max out your sun time. The epic hotel is really nice but it's $$$$

Stay at the Conrad in Brickell. My experience is that's where the teams typically stay (hockey and basketball) so I wouldn't be surprised if the band was there as well. Nice hotel and very Miami-like. Easy trip to AA Arena from there too.

rollings

for south florida, miami and fort lauderdale might as well be the same thing.

. it's like the band playing where you live and also one-hour awaawwayyay.

look what my stupid phone does

rollings

also, people from south America will NOT be coming to South Florida for shows

. People from South America already live in South Florida.

green_girl

The FTL show will also get the Boca / West Palm Beach crowd.
There are plentyyy of fans for both shows.

JB128716

steved said:

In my opinion the crowds in Florida due tend to be less energetic than others crowds I have seen around the country the last decade or longer. In my opinion there are less hardcore fans there and more fans of "Ten" and Betterman etc... Not that there is anything wrong with that, but they just aren't going to be singing along with the more obscure tunes...

I have lived in Florida for 37 of my 40 years. 35 in the Ft. Lauderdale / Miami area and the other two in the Tampa area. Starting at the Bayfront Miami show in 94' I haven't missed any of my local shows (Includes West Palm Beach) and have seen most of the Tampa shows as well.

I am excited and hopeful for multiple Florida shows! It will be a longtime coming!!!!

I think part of the problems are the new arenas. If you ever went to the Hollywood Sportatorium, those shows were nuts and sooooo loud because it was basically a warehouse and the sound would bounce off the walls and the roof. The problem with a lot of these new arenas is that it just sucks the crowd noise right out. Orlando's new arena is the biggest culprit. I've been to playoff games where you can see the crowd yelling, but for whatever reason, it's not that loud inside. I think it has to do with the roof and how it absorbs sound.

I think that's why the show in Jax might be nuts, even though it's the smallest of the arenas. It's an old school arena.

LukinFan

Hoping to do all four FL shows!

KK205880

JB128716 said:

steved said:

I think that's why the show in Jax might be nuts, even though it's the smallest of the arenas. It's an old school arena.

The Jacksonville arena is the newest of any of the 4 rumored FL shows. It was built in 2003 and it is the smallest by about 5,000 capacity compared to the others. If I didn't live here(which i sadly do) I wouldn't go to the Jax show. Most crowds are pretty lame here.