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Showbox SoDo

2.6 (408 reviews)
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doesn't show the venue much but it's the only photo I have
Wendi K.

I've very much enjoyed a variety of shows here :) The sound is great, the venue is large enough but not too large to not feel intimate, and didn't ever feel over-sold when I was there. If you stick to the walls you can have space to dance, if you're on the floor in the pit you're obviously shoulder to shoulder. Has a grungy vibe. It's surrounded by tables and a few bars. I've actually never bought drinks here so I can't speak for the prices. I suppose the only downside is I've witnessed a few fights break out, but the venue has security which is nice.

The band playing on stage.
Will L.

My girlfriend and I went to see Franz Ferdinand last night, but I've been too Showbox SODO a couple of other times in the past. It's one of my least favorite venues in the Seattle area. It's pretty much standing room only throughout the venue, unless you're lucky enough to get a spot near an overhang or barrier (or paid for a reserved table). It can get really crowded, and there'll be lots of jostling. It's unavoidable. Sightlines are also terrible, since everyone's at the same level, and you can't control if you get 8 ft. giants in front of you. It gets really old standing for a couple of hours. They've also carved up the space weirdly with random barriers delineating drinking vs. non-drinking, and the soundbooth is in the middle of everything. We bought a couple of beers, which were $13 each. Not all that unreasonable for a concert venue, especially for tall cans (I've certainly paid a lot more at other venues). When the place empties out it can be really crowded near the entrance. If you need to catch an Uber (mass transit is virtually non-existent, outside of the sporadic 21 bus to downtown), go a block or two north and grab your ride there. Oh, one other thing: we paid for jump the line privileges, but we ended up waiting in two lines anyway. Lot of good that did us.

Underworld on stage...somewhere
Peter L.

Showbox SoDo gets some great concerts, but the set up and sound system are not great. The ticket line moves at glacial pace, and thankfully it was not raining when I was here recently to see Underworld. Inside, the restrooms are way up front by the stage, so it can be a fight to get to. The ceiling seems low too, and at a recent show, the fog machine seemed to be a bit overpowering and I could not see the artists. The stage also seems low, so for shorter folks like myself, it's really hard to see (for some reason, I recall that WAMU theater had a higher stage). The view is better from the bar but the sound quality is even worse. I'll still see shows here, but it's not one of the better concert experiences.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Sara S.

I really don't understand all the negative reviews. Went and saw a show here last night and had a great time! Clean open space, great sound, clean bathrooms with no line, bar lines almost non existent, friendly staff. Showbox Market is my favorite venue so this place had a lot to live up to for me. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is the drink prices/weak pours. Still a great venue tho! All I can figure is that the bad reviews are from soft millennials and Gen Zers.

Concert
Kathryn Y.

I was invited by a friend to come here for a lovely show by a group named Wild Rivers. A country/folk band. This venue is standing room only unless you pay extra for a VIP chair/table farther from the stage. I didn't eat food here but smelled it. From other reviews I was glad I didn't eat here. It's a concert venue, not a restaurant. The bar was open and of course highly priced drinks. I had a margarita. Keeping the vibes going from an earlier cocktail. It was good. Not great. The lighting here is really pretty. A light glow covered the entire room. And a nice light show during the concert. Employees were polite and friendly. There is a pay parking lot right next door. And street parking. Also, this theater is walking distance to TMobile park and downtown. I always recommend public transportation and a or a Lyft. Why risk your car getting broken into? Clean bathrooms too. I would go here again for a show. But pay for the extra VIP spot to have a guaranteed seat. SYOY.

Derrick G.

This is a great venue to see a concert. I saw Bebe Rexha in concert. Most of the venue is standing, which makes the atmosphere fun. They serve very good and affordable drinks. The bar staff are extraordinary, they are very friendly and make an excellent drink. I really enjoyed this venue.

keshi !
Generous Y.

One of my least preferred venues. It's convenient, but can feel a bit small, packed, and ventilation simply sucks. Sound quality is alright but nothing amazing. However, it's one of the cheaper options around and there are often some high quality visitors. Usually general line is insanely packed and can take an hour as it's super slow. The 21+ line is so convenient and when exiting, there's a 21+ exit too so I guess there are perks of being old. However, the venue's events are usually open to 16+ or so which means you'll get occasional big ego cool guys. It's not the venue's fault, but the audience that Showbox SoDo pulls isn't the best so that does add (or rather subtract from) the experience. You'll have immature people attempting to shove through unsuccessful and complain aloud as if it's everyone else's fault they showed up late and aren't in the front. Terrible venue for shorter folks who don't want to be in the front, I can empathize with them as the view already isn't that good when you are taller. Flat ground with variable heights mean you take a coin flip wherever you stand. Would be nice to have levels and platforms. Bar area is decent where you can chill and just listen because quite frankly, the views are unimpressive and not worth it.

View from the back lower bar.

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16 days ago

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4 months ago

We attended a Bi-2 concert on January 10th. We enjoyed it very much, but it was stuffy inside, and the ventilation wasn't working properly.

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5 months ago

Good idea and location but not the best executed. Too many people allowed into that small of a space

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Awful venue. Ticket window rarely open. Closed during scheduled open times. Employees are misinformed and rude.

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Ask the Community - Showbox SoDo

If it's all general admission, why are tickets different prices?

Did you ever find out the answer? Absolutely no one is telling me the answer!

How is the AC in this venue?

I'm not sure it was running the time we went there. It was a rainy night. It was a little warm in the front of the stage even though I wore a tank top.

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Review Highlights - Showbox SoDo

Had over 40 people from my office go over to the Showbox for Happy Hour after our big company softball tournament.

Mentioned in 5 reviews

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Georgetown Ballroom

Georgetown Ballroom

(112 reviews)

Georgetown

Where do I even begin? This place was just an amazing, amazing, amazing find!! My daughter picked…read morethis place to have her wedding and we were blown away!! The care, experience, atmosphere and attention to every detail is beyond what I was expecting! We had a couple people come and say they are looking at evening their daughter's wedding here. The food, the bride and grooms rooms were so inviting and welcoming. The rehearsal was such a good experience too!! We used the photo van and the hot dog cart. People are still saying it was the best wedding they have been too!! Check this place out!!!

We can't say enough good things about Georgetown Ballroom! From start to finish, this venue…read moreexceeded every expectation. The space itself is full of character and charm, which meant we didn't have to add much decor. GTB already brings the perfect vibe. Between the ballroom, theater, and patio, we had so many beautiful backdrops for every part of our celebration. The catering was incredible - our guests couldn't stop raving about the food, especially the brisket (which the chef loving tended to into the early morning hours). We also loved that we got to do a tasting beforehand, and the team was wonderful about accommodating dietary restrictions. The bar was just as great! Our specialty cocktail and mocktail were both a big hit. Danielle, the venue manager, was amazing to work with throughout the entire process. Her communication and organization were top-notch, and she was so friendly, knowledgeable, and flexible. On the day itself, Danielle and the GTB team were calm, detailed-oriented, and took care of everything behind the scenes so we could enjoy our wedding without stress. The in-house florist created stunning arrangements, which made things that much easier for us. Everyone we interacted with was warm and welcoming. GTB is very LGBTQ-affirming, and worked seamlessly with our other vendors. We're still getting compliments from guests about how beautiful and effortless everything felt. Georgetown Ballroom truly gave us the wedding of our dreams.

New Holly Gathering Hall

New Holly Gathering Hall

(3 reviews)

Beacon Hill

A great location with neighborhood views, access to public transportation and several amenities…read more We attended a Baha'i Naw Ruz (New Year) Party, here and loved the space for its large room, easily accommodating 150+ guests. They allow for outside catering, have tables and chairs set up for you, and offer AV equipment for projecting videos and using the mic. There are sinks and small counter spaces available as well as a large, slightly raised stage two steps up for performances and performers. Overall, a nice space!

I've been to many events at NewHolly both as a guest and a customer. The facility is clean,…read morespacious, and easy to find. A parking lot is available but can fill up quickly, depending on the size of your event and other activities that may be going on. There is an upstairs and downstairs but the hall itself is on the main level (or upstairs). On one side of the building, there is a lounge area near the bathrooms. It is a very clean, well kept space to sit and chill out away from the action. On the other side is the gathering hall. The hall itself has beautiful wood floors and large windows. If your event requires darker quarters, the shades can be drawn easily. Right where the windows are, there is a stage that covers the width of the hall. There are stairs all the way across and two accessible ramps up each side. The stage can fit a variety of needs and they have a podium and other tables that can be set up there, depending on your needs. I've been to most events where round tables are used. Other sets can be with chairs only. There is a sink on each side of the back of the hall as well as areas to hang coats, which I think is a necessity in Seattle. The staff is fantastic! They are flexible and easy to work with in order to meet your needs. I have to say that aside from having things set according to a floor plan, they recognize that it is possible you may have last minute changes and are very accommodating. Before you enter the hall, there is a hallway that can be set as a check-in area. I find that really helpful as people don't get clogged right inside the doors. If you're looking for a facility, you should consider NewHolly. They have tons of information on their website about cost and such. A great facility run by great people. Who could ask for more?

Seattle Design Center Events

Seattle Design Center Events

(4 reviews)

Georgetown

Oh, Seattle Design Center...so much potential as a wedding and large event venue. Yet, so poorly…read moremanaged. Let me explain. We had a beautiful wedding at the Seattle Design Center in May 2012--both the ceremony and the reception in the Atrium (the largest room). The venue is gorgeous--ridiculously high ceilings, full of skylights that bring in natural light, neutral tile flooring, a gorgeous grand staircase--part of the second floor balcony. The square footage is enormous and could easily hold 500 people if you wanted to. The BIGGEST PERK of the SDC: you can bring in your own caterer. That, and it's quite reasonably priced compared to other Seattle venues that would hold 200 or more people The biggest downside: the people who are supposed to be helping you plan your wedding in fact know next to nothing about the wedding business--they are managers at Molly's Salads, the daytime food cart! After booking the SDC officially in April 2011 (13 months before our wedding), our SDC "wedding coordinator" changed THREE TIMES. That meant we had to connect with the newbie each and every time to make sure they could accommodate some of our special needs, like having a small religious fire for our ceremony (don't ask). And also confirming (again and again) the rehearsal time and date, as well as where the bridal party would have space for changing and storing stuff. Needless to say, we had to be very proactive in dealing with the SDC and made sure to get everything in writing. They provided very little outside of signing the contract and some tables and chairs. If it had not been for our stellar wedding planners of Blue Ribbon, this event could never have happened. Thus, I am torn--the SDC is a stunning venue, but really needs to focus on event management and hiring people who know what they are doing.

I've booked two fundraising auctions at SDC, and am about to sign a contract on a third. As the…read moreother review mentioned, they had some turnover, but since last Fall there has been one person in charge of booking, Jenifer, and she is GREAT. The rest of their event staff, the people who are on-site managers during the event, are amazing, too: they helped us with everything from weird electrical stuff to dimming the lights for the video portion to moving stacks of chairs over and over as we got the tables set up, and stayed to the bitter end as our worn out staff and volunteers cleaned up (they clean up their own tables and chairs, we rented additional tables and catering-ware which we had to secure for pick up). Both of our events there looked stunning, and our constituents (who have been to many venues over the years) have only given us positive feedback on the move. Plus it's reasonably-priced AND has its own parking lot. I think this is one of the best venues in the city, and I look forward to putting on more events there in the future.

Showbox SoDo - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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