I attended the concert at HEB Center to see Anthony Hamilton and Fantasia and purchased the All In…read morePremium Loge Package.
The Great
The All In Premium Loge package was a strong value. It includes two tickets in a semi private area, a parking pass, two alcoholic drinks each, unlimited non alcoholic beverages, and a full buffet. The view was unobstructed and excellent.
There is an elevator that takes you directly to the correct level, which makes access easy. The bathrooms were clean, close by, and had no lines. The dedicated area for food and drinks meant we avoided the long bar lines, which was a big plus.
The buffet included salad, vegetables, mashed potatoes, chicken, carved beef, rolls, and desserts. The line moved quickly and the food was enjoyable.
The Good
While the food was solid, the seating area does not include tables to place your food or drinks. The seats did not appear to be larger than standard seating and there is no additional legroom. (I'm 5'10") That was a bit surprising for a premium package.
Although the view was unobstructed, the venue could benefit from additional jumbo screens placed around the arena. The main screen could also be zoomed in more to enhance the experience.
The Bad
The sound quality was the most disappointing part of the night. The music was too loud and at times you could not hear the artists clearly. Both Anthony Hamilton and Fantasia are powerhouse vocalists who do not need heavy production. Instead of clear, crisp voice isolation, they sounded muffled.
After multiple audience complaints, the sound improved, but it was distracting and took away from the experience.
The package also advertised dedicated guest services and event staff support. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. We could not find anyone to help us locate our seats or answer questions. The only visible staff were those managing the buffet and the check in area. For a premium experience, that was frustrating.
Overall
Despite the issues, I had a great time with my friend and we truly enjoyed the concert. I would consider using the All In Premium Loge Package again, but with adjusted expectations.
Tips
* Avoid the main entrance and use a secondary entrance for quicker entry.
* If you do not have a bag, use the express line. (We had small clear bags and were allowed to use th express lane)
* Download your tickets to your wallet before you get to the event.
* The highway exit for the event can feel chaotic with heavy traffic and aggressive drivers. Consider driving past the first entrance and heading to the second exit.
* Take your time after the event to avoid the traffic jam.
All in all, it was a fun night. With a few operational improvements, especially around sound quality and guest services, the experience could move from good to great.