I've been coming to Stir Cove for concerts for years, and it's still one of my favorite outdoor venues in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. The atmosphere is great, the sound is solid, and this year's concert lineup has been especially impressive. One change I actually really like is the new grab-and-go bar. Instead of waiting in a long line, you tap your credit card when you enter, grab your drinks, and you're automatically charged when you leave. It's a much faster process and keeps you from missing as much of the show. My biggest disappointment is the food. They used to have multiple food options, including hot dogs and barbecue, but now it's basically just Guy Fieri's Quick Bites. Honestly, it's a downgrade. I really wish they'd bring back the old food vendors because there was a lot more variety. The staff has always been friendly and helpful every time I've visited, which definitely adds to the experience. Overall, Stir Cove is still a fantastic place to catch a concert, and I'll keep coming back. Just please bring back the hot dogs and barbecue! read more

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I am not able to make a review on any of the food or drinks but the prices of one single beverage were between 10-14 PER can. The service was great, people working were very kind to me as I needed to sit and take a breather while my wife was getting the chairs for us to put up down in the ADA section near the stage. The gate worker got me a chair to sit in and wait for her, this was very kind and helpful! The sound at this venue is a bit off, a band that I know has great vocals and sound sounded funny and not like their voices were carrying like they usually do. I also would like to say that the ADA section could really be better. It's VERY hard to see as a person in a wheelchair. Being unable to stand up for long periods of time, I couldn't see for a majority of the show. It was frustrating especially when people would walk in front of me, stand directly infront of where I am sitting, and talk, not even watching the show. The ADA section needs to have a clear view of the stage as it is unfair to those who have disabilities to give up a nice time because the venue cannot provide a space where they are accommodated. read more

Stir Cove - ADA area - Music Venues Near Me - Council Bluffs, Iowa

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Bathroom lines could be better but otherwise, the event was a great time! Venue was also handicap accessible via crutches!

I went to Stir Cove last night for the Little Big Town concert. The music was great! I am in a wheelchair so I sat on left side designated for ADA. The beer tent was blocking over half of the screen on that side! I didn't get any good pictures because I couldn't see well enough! From now on, could you please have the beer tent closer to the ramp so the ADA side can see better?! read more

I've been to this venue a couple times for concerts and never had an issue. Surprisingly it's easy to get in and out of traffic after the concert is over. I like the fact that you can bring your own blanket or chairs to sit in. I haven't tried the food in the little area, but drinks are pricey just like every other venue. I do recommend getting there somewhat early so you can get a better spot if you want to be closer to the stage. It's a little more difficult to sit on the hill in my opinion. read more

Stir Cove is a gem hiding in Council Bluffs, IA! Yellowcard was a childhood favorite of mine and (*gasp*) when I saw they were set to headline a music festival to celebrate the 20th Anniversat of the Ocean Avenue album, I knew I had to go. I got VIP tickets for the Laurel Lounge, a good option if you aren't staying at the hotel and need to get out of the elements. (Re-entry is painless and well run at the entrance/exit.) The grounds were well kept, the stage and video board were nice. Staff was super knowledgeable and kind. Pricing seemed on par. There were many food and drink options. Parking is a non-issue. I'll be coming back! read more

Such a great music venue!! Even with a full house, there is plenty of room to dance, eat and enjoy time with friends. Meet fellow music enthusiasts right down front in the PIT. It's where it's at for your favorite show. Excellent variety of shows to choose from. A summer time must! read more

Stir Cove - Music Venues Near Me - Council Bluffs, Iowa

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I'm stupid. I keep going back to Stir even though it is 45 minutes in line for a drink and 20 minutes to use the bathroom. Overcrowded, poor services. The only good thing is the good sound. read more

I have been to a number of concerts at Stir Cove and have always loved the experience. Prices are a bit higher than they were when I first started going over 10 years ago, but you can still get a great show with some wonderful performers for under $100 (sometimes under $50). Keep in mind, you are outdoors - the perimeter of the outdoor space has some food and drink vendors as well as the port-a-potties (which were are well-maintained). A lot of attendees bring chairs, which quickly fills the back section of the space, but they have a "Chair-free zone" in the middle which is typically pretty open so I much prefer to bring a blanket. The performances aren't going to be some of the big names you would find playing at CHI, but Stir brings in great talent and always provides a fun time! read more

"Life is short, buy the damn concert tickets." - unknown That's exactly how we came to be here. My husband had a band on his bucket list and they were here. Just a couple hours from home to this Cove. What a great choice for venue. Outside, blocked off against the hotel. You can bring your own chairs, blanket or stand. There is lots of chair room if you're not on the hill. Good security going into the concert. Inside is not a bad seat in the cove. Food and drink at a hefty price. VIP seating of course. Lots of portable bathrooms. I had no trouble finding one that was in good condition. Lines for drink went fairly quickly. Security inside the cove was good too. Nice to have that security. Couldn't have asked for a better night. We got our chairs inspected on the way in. Purse checked...I almost got told mine was too big... never saw anything about a size requirement but took a small purse anyway. Shocked when he said it was close. No outside drink allowed. Would definitely come to another concert here. read more

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Came in from out of town for a concert. Be prepared for it to take over an hour to get out afterwards....the inefficiency is unbelievable. I've never been to a venue this bad. Think twice before buying tickets. read more

Stir is a pretty awesome place to see an outdoor show. And with a pretty decent capacity, it draws a good mix of interesting acts. I don't think I'll ever get over bands the awkward feeling of bands 'playing to the crowd' and thinking that most of the people are from Iowa... "How you doing Council Bluffs?!" Wooo... but I live in Omaha... yay... That aside, there's pretty much everything you'd need here, with the exception of running water like Sam mentioned. Get ready for some porto action. But they're as clean as you can expect that kind of thing to be. Food vendors and $7 beers are also available. Never been to a show here that had 'assigned' seats, but they do sell out some acts, so depending on your scene you can either be on the 'floor' (flat grassy area) or up on the hill for a better, though further-away, view. For some of the more mellow shows, people bring lawn chairs and blankets. Also fun to watch the people in their Harrah's hotel rooms looking out their windows at you. Those must be some triple-pane windows... read more

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Great venue and lots of options for places to stay very close. The casino and grounds are nice and clean. Check for shuttle services to make the trip in and out fast and easy. read more

Stir Cove - From the back row no zoom. Sheltered from the wind. - Music Venues Near Me - Council Bluffs, Iowa

The Stir Cove is a very nice outside venue. It's a little tight when a show is sold out, like it was at the Counting Crows this past weekend, but its a nice venue. The beer and food is obviously going to be expensive, but you can't do too much about that. I like that they let you bring in your own chairs, which is a HUGE plus for my wife and I. The Stir Cove has some amazing bands play there and I will definitely be going back to another show there soon! Actually, I'll be there this Wednesday to see the Arctic Monkeys! read more

Stir Cove - Sold out Counting Crows concert at the Stir Cove. - Music Venues Near Me - Council Bluffs, Iowa

Ridiculous that you have to stand in line for 45- 60 minutes to get a drink. This is the second year in a row this has happened. If you want to sell that many tickets- you should have adequate drink service. Due to this - probably won't go back. read more

Saw Hank Williams Jr here 7-16-2016 and it was great. Locating stuff: There are food vendors on the left when you enter the gate. To the immediate right of the gate there is usually merchandise. Diagonal right from the gate entrance up against the hotel, under the "Live and Loud" deck is an ATM and mixed drink area. Zack's quick get lit up guide: Buy a stir concert cup thing, refillable drink thing can't remember what it's called. $16, comes with two shots of whatever you want like crown and coke or vodka red bull (my fav). Refills are 12 bucks. So if you plan on getting hammered up this is the way to go. It's 8 dollars for a one shot mixed drink normally so you the math. If you aren't good at math it's $16 for two shot refillable cup. After that it's $12 dollars for a two shots = 6 dollar a shot. Saving two bucks per mixed drink basically. Anyway, the venue staff are really friendly, you have to smoke by porta potties outside the gate which is the only part that is dumb if you are a smoker. Smoking in designated areas at an outdoor gig is insane to me but I get it, cigarettes are nasty and not discarded properly. Keep your ticket as they scan it when you leave and you will need it to re-enter. Sound was great. Crowd was great. Bring a lawn chair to sit down. There is a big hill that leads down to the stage and everywhere you sit is a good spot. I hope you have enjoyed this book. :) read more

I went to my first concert here a couple days ago. Counting Crows!! The sound system was nice and we could here from far away. Vendors line the perimeter of the venue, so it's easy to grab a drink without waiting in a huge line. They had beer drinks, pizza, and barbecue from Famous Daves. The set up is convenient and people can bring their own lawn chair and enjoy the music. There is hardly any shade, so wear sunscreen and dress for the weather. The stage itself is rather small. The had rows and rows of porta potties, and not sure how easy it is to get inside to go. We parked by the entrance and getting out wasn't bad at all. Give yourself time for getting in and out depending on what time you get there. read more

Silly me, I didn't check closely enough, finding out after buying tickets that this is an outdoor venue, without any assigned seats or permanent bathroom facilities. I did find out the morning of the concert, so we did dress appropriately, and had a blanket in the car. If you arrive early enough to get in line, you will be able to choose your seating "area", but watch out for encroachment from those who don't. If you arrive late, we are not going to move a little to make more room for your chairs! We choose to sit on the crest of the hill, right across the sidewalk from the portos, because the hill was steep enough there that no one would be able to put chairs in front of us. That does not explain, however, the series of clueless people who continued to try to put their chairs BEHIND us, on the sidewalk. Really? Didn't you realize there was probably a reason that this area was empty? Security is ubiquitous, so they just kept moving them on. We had eaten our meal before we entered the arena, so we didn't need to buy any of the snack food or drinks that we saw in the crowd. If the weather had not been so glorious, this concert would not have been worth the effort. Do I sound a little snarky? Maybe. BB King was more of a trophy name on the marquee than an entertainer, and I hope he decides to rest on his laurels soon. He deserves it. Peter Frampton did accord him the respect he deserves, with his intro and his demeanor; thanks, Peter. Do it again? No. Recommend? Only if you bring your own chair and your patience, and true love for the performance. We left a little early, claimed our car from the $10 parking fee golf course lot next to the casino, and were probably back at our hotel across the river by the time the concert ended. read more

Fix your parking. It shouldn't take over an hour to get out of the lot. They need a better system for getting home.

Love the outdoor venue, food and drink options. The entertainment is phenomenal! Old and new bands for everyone's taste.

Great concert venue for the outdoor atmosphere in council bluffs, Iowa. I really enjoy how you can bring your lawn chair and still have a good seat no matter where you sit. The space is tight and there isn't much room so getting there early is a must but worth it. I really love the sound the outdoor venue has to offer and it is really fun to watch people look out their hotel bedrooms to preview the concert. If you do bring a chair be sure to remove the bag before getting to the front of the line to help keep the line moving. Stir Concert Cove does a great job with crowd control, speedy service for food and beverage and also helping keep the bands on track. I do wish there was a few more options for food. It is classic concession stand food with various drink options. Note: there is parking by the venue, you don't have to use casino parking. read more

Stir Cove - Stand or sit to enjoy the concert but bring your own lawn chair and get here early!! - Music Venues Near Me - Council Bluffs, Iowa

I went to Stir Cove to see M83. I have been to this venue several times before and never had quite as negative of an experience. First of all, this facility is supposed to be NO SMOKING. Go here if you enjoy inhaling second hand pot smoke. It was ridiculous, I mentioned to security that there were people smoking everywhere- they just laughed me off and DID NOTHING. Really ruins the show when I can't even see through the pot smoke. Also, expect to wait in traffic for at least 45 minutes after the show ends. My wife and I will never be going again unless Stir Cove actually starts to enforce their no smoking policy. read more

Ive been to Stir Cove a multiple of times and always enjoyed myself. Whether it was L.L. or Snoop Dogg or last night's Masters of the Mic concert i found myself having a blast. Being outside is a plus. There is nothing like music outside. If you are on ground level you will need to bring something to sit on. The food is good and the drinks in the venue seem to be higher than in the casino but that's expected. I like to sit on the Stir Cove Bar balcony/patio. Either way is great. Keep your eyes open for new concert dates there and give it a shot! read more

Stir Cove - Music Venues Near Me - Council Bluffs, Iowa

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Based on a couple shows here spread out over a few years, this is the worst concert experience in the Omaha metro! You have to REALLY want to see a band here to put up with it. Be prepared to spend over an hour in the car trying to leave after the show. There is a single point of entry/exit to the venue; the concert was already halfway through and there was still a line of people wrapped around the street waiting to get in. It's like an afterthought design to fence in a grass lot at a casino and call it a venue. read more

Bf and I saw a show here last night. The weather was freezing cold and wet so we didn't stay until the end. The food selections are great and the drink selections are great also. Typical civet prices, $9 boot bet, 8 for wine and mixed drinks were available also. For is about $10 an order average. Pizza, hot digs, burgers, BBQ and more. The sound was great. Not a bad seat. The area up front is designated standing zone and in the back you can have lawn chairs and blankets. Staff were all pleasant and helpful making lines go by quickly. read more

I really love this music venue and I've been to Stir Cove a bunch. I'm a little disappointed with the staff. By downloading their free Stir Cove App, they promoted one $14 ticket to any concert. I tried using the promo codes several times and it didn't work, so I wrote Stir Cove a Facebook message and email asking for help and nobody ever got back to me. That's kind of disappointing, especially since I've spent a lot of money at Stir Cove over the last few years. read more

Great place for a show especially on a beautiful night. AVOID parking in the parking garage. Or behind the cove. It is hours before you get out. read more

Saw the Weird Al concert here a month or so ago...never been here before, but i had a great time...unless you get there early, you'll have to stand off to the side, which for me and my friend was fine since we were on a hill and had no problem seeing the action...Plus being bunched together like that was not that appealing...Security working the gate were friendly and not rude in anyway...Would happily see more shows at this venue read more

The show should've been shut down due to poor weather conditions. Instead, the venue held off to the last second and had the bands play hardly anything in order to prevent a reschedule or refund. Genuinely the worst concert experience I've ever witnessed and I refuse to spend any more money on a place that decides to cheat people when it's convenient. read more

Look... I've been around the world. In 1999 I saw BB King in a bull arena in Cadiz Spain. Stir Cove does this up right. Open air. Drinks. Food. Good times. read more

Barenaked Ladies was great!! Drinks are expensive but not as much as other venues. Will be back for other concerts.

Stir Cove is a venue that under promises and over delivers. I am not from this area so I have no issues with CB or Harrah's, even though I've been thrown out of there before for no real reason, other than having a few too many drinks, don't you want my money? Anyways, this venue is phenomenal for an outdoor venue. It's all GA so it's first come first serve, but even when the place is packed and you arrive late, you can find a comfortable spot. You can get a drink, a bite and hit the bathroom in a decent amount of time. Because of the landscape, there's not a bad seat in the house. It sits on a nice little slope so you can see and hear the stage perfectly from anywhere inside. If you want to walk up close and see the band you can! If you want to sit back and relax in the chair you bring, no problem! The grass they have is ample, thick and comfy if you want to have a seat on the ground. I've been to a lot of outdoor venues and this is one of the best ones I've been too. Great atmosphere, nice and clean amenities and the music always sounds great and doesn't disappoint. read more

Having seen Cake, The Violent Femmes, The Black Crowes, and Ben Folds, I can say Stir has something really going right. They have continually updated some of their services and facilities that improve the experience with both food and drinks. I would like them to add permanent restroom facilities and real running water because it gets pretty hot and paying for bottles of water sucks. read more

I had bought tickets for George Thorogood for my mothers birthday. The show was great, but I hated Stir Cove! They aren't really handicap friendly. My mother only has one leg, and it was very hard for her to get around. There was no sign for no drinks outside the casino when we went to go get in the concert. They made my mom walk all the way back inside in order for her to finish her drink. They wouldn't let her just finish it there. She then had to walk all the way back over, and then Walk all the way down to the bottom to get to the handicap spot. I feel as if they should have some chairs available for those who are in need of one. I was not aware that we needed to bring our own chairs, it said nowhere on the tickets that they were required. She asked if she was able to sit on a set of stairs, and was denied because of the fire marshal, which I can understand, but then they let people stand on the stairs and said nothing to them. They then watched her go and sit in the grass. Nobody ever told me that they had chairs for sale, until 15 minutes of the concert was left. This was the most disrespect I've ever seen for someone that is handicapped. I will never go to a show at Stir Cove ever again because of the way they treated my mother. read more