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Venues NOT to play

CJMST3KCJMST3K Posts: 9,722
edited April 2009 in The Porch
When booking tours, bands may not remember the pros and cons of certain venues, from the fan point of view. Some venues just are not good for the fan experience. I'm suggesting writing your "please don't play" venue below.


Please DON'T play Nissan Pavilion in Northern Virginia. Least ECO venue possible since 100% of people would need to drive (as opposed to DC's Verizon Center, or other venues).

Issues:
PJ in 2003 - traffic issues that prevented timely entrance for many fans, even the band took note during their performance if I remember correctly.

Radiohead in 2008 - I was in line to get into the parking lot for 3 hours... pretty much missed the show since their staff couldn't park the cars in the rain. The most unprofessional logistics I've ever seen.
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*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
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Comments

  • Sharon_Hearts_PJSharon_Hearts_PJ Bristol, PA Posts: 1,383
    Hear hear!
    Also, don't play the Wachovia Center. Sound blows. Granted, 2005 was a great show. But that was mostly because we were maniacs.
    *Rock and/or Roll!*
  • pjsteelerfanpjsteelerfan Maryland Posts: 9,903
    CJMST3K wrote:
    When booking tours, bands may not remember the pros and cons of certain venues, from the fan point of view. Some venues just are not good for the fan experience. I'm suggesting writing your "please don't play" venue below.


    Please DON'T play Nissan Pavilion in Northern Virginia. Least ECO venue possible since 100% of people would need to drive (as opposed to DC's Verizon Center, or other venues).

    Issues:
    PJ in 2003 - traffic issues that prevented timely entrance for many fans, even the band took note during their performance if I remember correctly.

    Radiohead in 2008 - I was in line to get into the parking lot for 3 hours... pretty much missed the show since their staff couldn't park the cars in the rain. The most unprofessional logistics I've ever seen.

    Agree- go back to merriweather, or verizon center after that.
    ...got a mind full of questions and a teacher in my soul...
  • megatronmegatron Posts: 3,420
    tampa bay ampitheatre..they have neighborhoods around it so its never that loud and they always oversell the lawn..

    COME BACK TO HOUSE OF BLUES
  • DeLukinDeLukin Posts: 2,757
    Please don't play CAMDEN. We all risk our lives getting the hell out of there and the roads aren't fit to contain the amount of traffic that comes through for major acts.
    I smile, but who am I kidding...
  • lazyjc22lazyjc22 Posts: 135
    If they have to keep stopping at 11 PM, quit playing the Tweeter Center in Mansfield.
  • InMyTree4InMyTree4 Posts: 1,239
    lazyjc22 wrote:
    If they have to keep stopping at 11 PM, quit playing the Tweeter Center in Mansfield.

    +10
    PJ:7/2/03.9/28/04.5/25/06.8/5/07.6/14/08.6/27/08.6/28/08.6/30/08.
    10/30/09.10/31/09.5/17/10.9/7/11
    EV:boston 1+2.albnay 1.boston 2010
  • mhalfhillmhalfhill Posts: 25
    As soon as I saw the title to this thread, I immediately thought of Nissan. What an awful place for a concert...

    RE 2003: you are correct, Ed mentioned the traffic problem at the beginning of the show. They started off with some of the slower stuff and were never really able to get into a rhythm. Hopefully they'll never play there again.

    I concur with some of the others here, Merriweather, Verizon or Wolf Trap before even thinking about going back to Nissan. Hell, we could find an open field that would be better than that place.
  • PJStatTrackerPJStatTracker Posts: 2,400
    CJMST3K wrote:

    Please DON'T play Nissan Pavilion in Northern Virginia.

    Radiohead in 2008 - I was in line to get into the parking lot for 3 hours... pretty much missed the show since their staff couldn't park the cars in the rain. The most unprofessional logistics I've ever seen.


    Pearl Jam is the only band I would ever EVER even consider seeing at that piece of shit venue. I also went through the Radiohead debacle...that was such a disgrace, I swore never again, no matter what (except PJ).

    Please, if you're coming to DC, play anywhere but Nissan Pavilion. ANYWHERE. We would all have to go 7 hours early just to make sure we made it to the show on time.
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  • choopchoop Posts: 1,060
    i know a lot of people had problems for radiohead @ nissan... but i made it from philly. one of the best shows i saw of the 4 in rainbows shows... my pic is from there, i was like 3rd row pit with my w.a.s.t.e. tix.
    "If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music." KV Jr.
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,301
    The United Center (Chicago)

    First of all, I think PJ should play Chicago more often but that said....The United Center has some of the worst acoustics of any venue I have ever been to.

    I have a suggestion for them. Next tour, skip the UC and just play two nights at Alpine Valley! :)
  • PJStatTrackerPJStatTracker Posts: 2,400
    choop wrote:
    i know a lot of people had problems for radiohead @ nissan... but i made it from philly. one of the best shows i saw of the 4 in rainbows shows... my pic is from there, i was like 3rd row pit with my w.a.s.t.e. tix.

    Yeah, I made it to the show...but the extenuating circumstances made it too hard to look back at it as a good time. I was soaked the whole show, just from walking from the parking lot, so I wasn't comfortable...then we had to wait like 3 hours to be let out of the parking lot. I believe we were the last lot released. It was horrible.

    Radiohead was awesome, though. Totally not their fault.

    I had friends that sat through the show on the lawn. They were completely miserable, hahahaa...
    Download the unofficial <a href="http://bit.ly/PJStatTracker">Pearl Jam Stat Tracker</a> app for iPhone/iPad. It's <em>FREE.</em>

    PM me with any comments or suggestions for the app - or weigh in <a href="http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=167611
    ">here</a>.
    or
    <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pjstattracker">Join the discussion on facebook</a>

  • LoveBoatAdmiralLoveBoatAdmiral Posts: 1,191
    InMyTree4 wrote:
    lazyjc22 wrote:
    If they have to keep stopping at 11 PM, quit playing the Tweeter Center in Mansfield.

    +10

    Tweeter (now the Comast Center) is also the worst parking lot to get out of. After the shows in 08 I was able to get in a wiffle ball game and a 45 minute nap, and it still took me 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot.
    Whats the environmental aspect of 15,000 cars idling for 1:30?
    2006- Boston I
    2008- Boston I+II
    2009- Toronto, Philly III+IV
    2010- Bristow, Hartford, Boston, Newark
  • SM10080SM10080 Posts: 239
    mca47 wrote:
    The United Center (Chicago)

    First of all, I think PJ should play Chicago more often but that said....The United Center has some of the worst acoustics of any venue I have ever been to.

    I have a suggestion for them. Next tour, skip the UC and just play two nights at Alpine Valley! :)


    I second that.
  • DercheefDercheef Germany Posts: 732
    LoveBoatAdmiral wrote:
    InMyTree4 wrote:
    lazyjc22 wrote:
    If they have to keep stopping at 11 PM, quit playing the Tweeter Center in Mansfield.

    +10

    Tweeter (now the Comast Center) is also the worst parking lot to get out of. After the shows in 08 I was able to get in a wiffle ball game and a 45 minute nap, and it still took me 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot.
    Whats the environmental aspect of 15,000 cars idling for 1:30?
    Oh and the alcohol policy is a nightmare there. It takes the staff minutes to figure out if your ID or passport is valid or not. It's not even important to them how old you are. Wtf?
    2006:Arnhem,Bern,Berlin
    2007:München,Düsseldorf,Nijmegen
    2008:NY1,NY2,Mansfield1,Mansfield2
    2009:London,Rotterdam,Berlin,Manchester,London
    2010:NY1,NY2,Dublin,Belfast,Berlin
    2011:PJ20,Montreal,TorontoI+II,Hamilton
    2012:Amsterdam I+II, Prague, Berlin I+II, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen
    2013: Phoenix, San Diego, LA I+II, Oakland
    2014: Amsterdam I+II, Vienna, Berlin
    2016: Philly I+II, MSG I+II
  • Guitarhero27Guitarhero27 Posts: 2,146
    CJMST3K wrote:

    Radiohead in 2008 - I was in line to get into the parking lot for 3 hours... pretty much missed the show since their staff couldn't park the cars in the rain. The most unprofessional logistics I've ever seen.


    I was at that show! Drove down from Jersey and made a (long) weekend out of it....parking lot didn't open til 3 or 4.....they turned people around if they showed up early...had lawn tix....but knew it was gonna rain so my buddies and i brought full body poncho's....

    It rained more than we could've imagined.....basically swam our way up to the box office and scored seats in the pavilian and took the hit on the lawn...but we sorta dried off!
    9/29/96, 8/29/98, 9/8,11/98, 7/28/99, 8/23,24,25/00, 10/13/00, 4/15/03, 4/30/03, 7/8,9,12,14/03, 10/1/04, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 5/4,5,13,27,28/06, 6/1,3/06, 6/19,20,22,24,25,27/08, 7/1/08, 8/4,5,7,16/08, 8/21/09, 10/27,28,30,31/09, 5/15,17,18,20,21/10, 9/2/12, 10/18,19,21,22,25/13
  • Dissident67Dissident67 Posts: 570
    I know a lot of people hate on camden, but the worst jersey venue is PNC in holmdel new jersey. there is the strictest no alcohol in the parking lot policy ever, tailgating is completely banned and its another hard out of the parking lot. stay away from PNC!!!
    "Change don't come at once, it's a wave, building before it breaks"
  • PJBuckeyePJBuckeye Posts: 1,102
    mca47 wrote:
    The United Center (Chicago)

    First of all, I think PJ should play Chicago more often but that said....The United Center has some of the worst acoustics of any venue I have ever been to.

    I have a suggestion for them. Next tour, skip the UC and just play two nights at Alpine Valley! :)

    I'll agree with the D-BAG Cubs fan. The United Center sucks. Please play Alpine.
    Chicago 6/29/98 - Nashville 8/17/00 - Cleveland 4/25/03- Chicago 6/18/03
    Chicago 5/16/06 - Milwaukee 6/30/06 - Bonnaroo 6/14/08 - Milwaukee (EV)8/19/08
    Chicago 8/23/09 - St. Louis 5/4/10 - East Troy 9/3/11 - East Troy 9/4/11
    Minor League Park 7/19/13 - Milwaukee 10-20-14 - Bonnaroo 6/11/16
    Minor League Park 8/20/16 - Minor League Park 8/22/16
    Minor League Park 8/18/18 - Minor League Park 8/20/18 - Los Angeles 4/16/20
  • merkinballmerkinball Posts: 2,262
    In San Diego -

    Don't play Cricket Wireless Ampitheater. Parking sucks. Radiohead and Police were horrible last year to get out from, and getting in is no easy task either.

    Don't play the Sports Arena. The acoustics suck. Even if it is the "San Diego Rock Arena".

    Play Cox Arena. Great sound, and it's real close to my house.
    "You're no help," he told the lime. This was unfair. It was only a lime; there was nothing special about it at all. It was doing the best it could.

    http://www.last.fm/user/merkinball/
    spotify:user:merkinball
  • Guitarhero27Guitarhero27 Posts: 2,146
    Dissident67 wrote:
    I know a lot of people hate on camden, but the worst jersey venue is PNC in holmdel new jersey. there is the strictest no alcohol in the parking lot policy ever, tailgating is completely banned and its another hard out of the parking lot. stay away from PNC!!!


    or you can get your facts straight...

    due to problems in the past they banned tailgating and alcohol from select events each year....however due to the nature of protests and public outrage, they have forced this policy on the extreme ends of the spectrum.....Jonas Brothers and John Mayer are 2 examples, as opposed to Rush, Tool, etc.

    PNC is not that bad at all, rather beautiful to hang out at as well, but if that's your attitude buddy, stay outta Jersey :)
    9/29/96, 8/29/98, 9/8,11/98, 7/28/99, 8/23,24,25/00, 10/13/00, 4/15/03, 4/30/03, 7/8,9,12,14/03, 10/1/04, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 5/4,5,13,27,28/06, 6/1,3/06, 6/19,20,22,24,25,27/08, 7/1/08, 8/4,5,7,16/08, 8/21/09, 10/27,28,30,31/09, 5/15,17,18,20,21/10, 9/2/12, 10/18,19,21,22,25/13
  • like.echoeslike.echoes Posts: 582
    InMyTree4 wrote:
    lazyjc22 wrote:
    If they have to keep stopping at 11 PM, quit playing the Tweeter Center in Mansfield.

    +10

    +100000000000

    Although, if you get there early enough, there's a parking lot across the street. It took me about 60 seconds to get back on the road after Mansfield I last year.
    nothing's changed but the surrounding bullsh1t
  • DewieCoxDewieCox Posts: 11,430
    like.echoes wrote:
    InMyTree4 wrote:
    lazyjc22 wrote:
    If they have to keep stopping at 11 PM, quit playing the Tweeter Center in Mansfield.

    +10

    +100000000000

    Although, if you get there early enough, there's a parking lot across the street. It took me about 60 seconds to get back on the road after Mansfield I last year.

    I parked in the lot on the same side of the road as the venue but closer to the highway, poored my beer in a cup, smoked a couple j's, and had none of the issues that other people reported. I was halfway across the country and showed up just a few hours before to scope things out.
  • 12345AGNST112345AGNST1 Posts: 4,906
    Guitarhero27 wrote:
    Dissident67 wrote:
    I know a lot of people hate on camden, but the worst jersey venue is PNC in holmdel new jersey. there is the strictest no alcohol in the parking lot policy ever, tailgating is completely banned and its another hard out of the parking lot. stay away from PNC!!!


    or you can get your facts straight...

    due to problems in the past they banned tailgating and alcohol from select events each year....however due to the nature of protests and public outrage, they have forced this policy on the extreme ends of the spectrum.....Jonas Brothers and John Mayer are 2 examples, as opposed to Rush, Tool, etc.

    PNC is not that bad at all, rather beautiful to hang out at as well, but if that's your attitude buddy, stay outta Jersey :)

    I heard it was because someone died there from being drunk. I still agree with the other guy though. PNC sucks, its a terrible venue. The security is WAY too strict.
    5/28/06, 6/27/08, 10/28/09, 5/18/10, 5/21/10
    8/7/08, 6/9/09
  • Guitarhero27Guitarhero27 Posts: 2,146
    12345AGNST1 wrote:
    Guitarhero27 wrote:
    Dissident67 wrote:
    I know a lot of people hate on camden, but the worst jersey venue is PNC in holmdel new jersey. there is the strictest no alcohol in the parking lot policy ever, tailgating is completely banned and its another hard out of the parking lot. stay away from PNC!!!


    or you can get your facts straight...

    due to problems in the past they banned tailgating and alcohol from select events each year....however due to the nature of protests and public outrage, they have forced this policy on the extreme ends of the spectrum.....Jonas Brothers and John Mayer are 2 examples, as opposed to Rush, Tool, etc.

    PNC is not that bad at all, rather beautiful to hang out at as well, but if that's your attitude buddy, stay outta Jersey :)

    I heard it was because someone died there from being drunk. I still agree with the other guy though. PNC sucks, its a terrible venue. The security is WAY too strict.


    Someone died after an Ozzfest show, in their own home. After investigation, they did drugs and had a lot to drink at the show, after everything was all said and done, the person never woke up in the morning of an overdose.

    I don't know how you say it's a terrible venue or what shows you're going to (jonas brothers maybe), but I've never had a problem with security at all, maybe you're not 21, but as for me - i'm 26, but I don't even have any problems where I have to put my beer into cups, I drink out of the bottle without any problems.
    9/29/96, 8/29/98, 9/8,11/98, 7/28/99, 8/23,24,25/00, 10/13/00, 4/15/03, 4/30/03, 7/8,9,12,14/03, 10/1/04, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 5/4,5,13,27,28/06, 6/1,3/06, 6/19,20,22,24,25,27/08, 7/1/08, 8/4,5,7,16/08, 8/21/09, 10/27,28,30,31/09, 5/15,17,18,20,21/10, 9/2/12, 10/18,19,21,22,25/13
  • Evacuation RulesEvacuation Rules Posts: 2,162
    DeLukin wrote:
    Please don't play CAMDEN. We all risk our lives getting the hell out of there and the roads aren't fit to contain the amount of traffic that comes through for major acts.

    I second that. I am never going to a show in that shithole again. Please play Philly proper!
  • Vedder_Girl77Vedder_Girl77 Posts: 4,335
    LoveBoatAdmiral wrote:
    InMyTree4 wrote:
    lazyjc22 wrote:
    If they have to keep stopping at 11 PM, quit playing the Tweeter Center in Mansfield.

    +10

    Tweeter (now the Comast Center) is also the worst parking lot to get out of. After the shows in 08 I was able to get in a wiffle ball game and a 45 minute nap, and it still took me 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot.
    Whats the environmental aspect of 15,000 cars idling for 1:30?

    The parking does SUCK there. Last year it took me about 2 hours to get out of the parking lot. The cops were stupid before the show...taking everyone's beer...BUT I love when they play in Mansfield only because it is a short drive from my house.

    Also, last year I was bringing in a bottle of water since it was very hot out and the lady working the entrance would not let me bring in my bottle cap...she took it and threw it away BUT they let everyone go in there with weed...no problem...some guy in front of me smoked at least 20 joints during the show...NO LIE!
    8/29/00, 7/3/03, 5/24/06,6/28/08 & 6/30/08, 10/9/09,10/28/09, 10/30/09 & 10/31/09, 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10 & 5/21/10, 10/23/10 & 10/24/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 9/11/11, 9/12/11, 9/23/11, 9/22/12, 9/30/12, 7/16/13, 7/19/13
  • CHANGEinWAVESCHANGEinWAVES Posts: 10,169
    DeLukin wrote:
    Please don't play CAMDEN. We all risk our lives getting the hell out of there and the roads aren't fit to contain the amount of traffic that comes through for major acts.
    +1
    "I'm not present, I'm a drug that makes you dream"
  • vedder_soupvedder_soup Posts: 5,861
    Dercheef wrote:
    Oh and the alcohol policy is a nightmare there. It takes the staff minutes to figure out if your ID or passport is valid or not. It's not even important to them how old you are. Wtf?

    and then if you are international, did not bring your passport to the show, and have 2 forms of id showing that you are over 25, they still will not serve you!

    we tailgated after the show, listened to the recording a friend made and left probably nearly 2 hours after the show was over :D
    2003 - Sydney x3,
    2006 - Reading Festival,
    2007 - Katowice, London, Nijmegen, Rock Werchter,
    2008 - MSG x2, Hartford, Mansfield x2, Beacon Theater,
    2009 - Melbourne, Sydney,
    2010 - I watched it go to fire!
    2011 - EV Brisbane x3, Newcastle, Sydney x3,
    2012 - Manchester x 2, Amsterdam x2, Prague, Berlin x2, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen,
    2014 - Sydney, EV Sydney x3

    I wave to all my Friends... Yeah!
  • joint in a treejoint in a tree Posts: 392
    DeLukin wrote:
    Please don't play CAMDEN. We all risk our lives getting the hell out of there and the roads aren't fit to contain the amount of traffic that comes through for major acts.


    yeah, that.

    we were safer navigating the streets of Harlem for the EV solo show.
    "Find myself singing the same songs every day....
    ones that make me feel good when things behind the smile ain't ok...." -Hoon
  • jecicajecica Posts: 954
    NokiaTheatre LA. Small venue, they probably wouldn't play, but the speakers crackle and the place is new... What's that about?
    Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.... (Voltaire)
  • over bendsover bends Posts: 1,568
    Any and all amphitheaters.
    Yield!

    3 Decibels Doubles the Volume

    2006
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