I most recently came here for a graduation, and man... was it HOT. I genuinely felt like I was…read moresitting in hell rather than at a graduation ceremony. I have never been so uncomfortable at an event like this. The temperature inside was absolutely ridiculous, and it got to the point where I had to step outside multiple times just to cool myself down enough to feel like I wasn't going to pass out.
The craziest part is that it was 93 degrees outside that day, and somehow stepping outside into 93-degree weather actually felt BETTER than being inside the building. That should tell you everything you need to know about how hot they had it in there. I understand that large venues can have temperature-control issues, especially when you have a lot of people packed into one space, but this was way beyond just being a little warm. It was genuinely uncomfortable and made it difficult to sit through the ceremony.
And then, on top of having the building unbearably hot, they had the nerve to charge $8 for a small bottle of water. When people are sitting in a ridiculously hot building and are having to go outside just to cool down, charging that much for such a small bottle of water feels absolutely outrageous. At that point, water should basically be considered a public service. I understand that venues charge more for concessions, but $8 for a small bottle of water when everyone is struggling with the heat was just ridiculous.
Unfortunately, the staff didn't really help improve the experience either. Some of the workers came across as pretty rude and pushy, which just added to the overall frustration. When you're already uncomfortable, overheated, and trying to get through a long graduation ceremony, having employees who aren't particularly friendly or accommodating can make the experience feel even worse.
The one and only thing that made the whole experience worth it was being there to watch my sister walk across the stage. Seeing her graduate and being able to celebrate that accomplishment with her was obviously the highlight of the day. No matter how uncomfortable the venue was, I'm glad I was there for that moment and got to support her.
Other than that, though, I can't say I had a great experience here. Between the extreme heat, ridiculously expensive water, and the attitude of some of the staff, there were just too many things that made the day more difficult than it needed to be. Hopefully I won't have to come back here anytime soon, but if I do, I'm definitely bringing my own water and preparing for a heat wave.
