Total change from the last concert here. They now opened up part of the floor with seating for disabled patrons. We are no longer stashed in the corner with no opportunity to see anything. The staff was very kind and today's experience was easy. I do think they need to work on signage for where and how disabled patrons wait in the line. Bathrooms remained busy so I didn't use the facilities that night. Parking was the furthest away you could possibly be in the lot. They need to reopen the spaces in the front instead of making us walk clear across the parking lot to and from the venue. If they can fix that, they would get 5 stars read more

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If you like to dress the part for metal shows, stay far away from this place. If you are a metal fan who likes to express yourself through your outfits, the Ritz is not the venue for you. We came here for Hanabie and Nekrogoblikon and were treated like we were trying to breach a high security government facility. The security team here is something else. They targeted my girlfriend's outfit three separate times before finally letting us in. First it was the cuffs, then it was a studded bra that wasn't sharp at all, and finally a third guy decided her boots were a threat to national security. My girlfriend is autistic and she spent weeks meticulously putting this outfit together. For her, this is how she expresses herself and feels comfortable in a crowd. Watching these guards pick her apart piece by piece until she was in tears and having a breakdown was pathetic. They took the one thing she was most excited about and turned it into a reason to bully her. The logic was top tier. The guard told us she should just go to the Walmart across the street and buy a change of clothes. I really appreciated the fashion advice from a guy who looks like he spends his weekends LARPing as a riot cop. I was allowed in with a two pound metal wallet chain that was two feet long, but her 1/4 inch decorative studs were the real danger. My buddy has been in the metal scene for 15 years and has worn the same jacket to every show, but he was turned away too. I literally smacked his jacket spikes with my own hand a dozen times to show them it wouldn't even scratch a toddler, but they just stared at me with completely blank expressions. I guess their specialized training didn't cover physics. They only updated their website to mention sharp or spiked clothing after we made a scene about their nonsensical enforcement. The venue is nice once you get inside, but the security team's power trip ensured that my friends and I are never coming back. read more

The Ritz - Standard metal fashion items that left my girlfriend in tears after three separate harassment attempts by staff. - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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We saw the wonder years here a few weekends ago and had the best time! It's always packed but the vibes are awesome. Staff is friendly and drinks are strong but good. A great intimate concert venue! Can't wait to see my next show here read more

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The music experience was amazing, Leon Thomas did excellent! Now my experience getting to venue was smooth, limited traffic and there was plenty of parking space directly in front of the venue. Now the fact that most of the venue is flat standing room makes it a nightmare for short people. Myself being 5'3" I could not see anything. Most of my viewing experience was done from my camera and the cameras around me. Moving forward I know that I either have to get there extremely early and stand up front or do VIP and sit/stand on the upstairs balcony. Drinks were on par for concert price, I believe I paid about $15 for a cup of wine. read more

The Ritz - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I had an incredible experience here!! Aside from the doors being a bit delayed to open, everything was very smooth. They were communicative about running behind, so it wasn't like we were left standing aimlessly (like I have experienced at other venues). While in line, our tickets were scanned and our wrists were stamped and we were given wristbands so when it was time for the doors to open, we could just walk right in. We were told that running inside was ABSOLUTELY prohibited and you'd be escorted out and to the very back of the line if they caught you. Everyone understood and behaved which made for a very calm experience while we entered & took our spots. We ended up in an amazing place in front of the stage, only behind the VIP guests that had been there already. We didn't get drinks, but the menu was visible from where we stood and they were definitely pricey. Per usual for venues these days. The sound and lights for the show were fantastic. The balcony area looked so cool, I would love to watch a show from there sometime! Mayday Parade & Grayscale were incredible live, in case you were wondering. I would absolutely see another show here! read more

The Ritz - Mayday Parade - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I went to the Ritz for the first time to see Aly and AJ in concert. I had some trouble accessing my ticket but there was someone out front to help me. I opted for the standing room only option but those who need to sit can get tables which are available in the upstairs part which wraps all the way around the room. It was a great show but it was kind of a long wait between the opening act and the main event. Not sure why but possibly because it was only their first or second show of the tour. The wait was totally worth it though. Aly and AJ were great! I had a good time and even though I'm vertically-challenged, I had no trouble seeing but I did move around the room a bit. It wasn't totally packed that night. Probably because the show was on a weeknight. I don't know about the parking situation but I highly recommend always taking a Lyft or Uber to any evening events in Raleigh because parking is usually a drag and if you want a drink you shouldn't drive. I wasn't sure where the pickup spot was at first but it turned out to be right out front on the right. Maybe a sign designating that would be nice. I considered trying one of their specialty drinks which are highly promoted but the price isn't. When I found out it would be $22 just for one I declined. read more

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I visited The Ritz with a friend who treated me to the Durand show. I really enjoy the show. The venue hasn't changed much over the years. The staff here are always pleasant and work quickly with getting everyone into the venue. I appreciate all the pleasantries in the line outside before coming it. It definitely sets the tone for an enjoyable evening of dealing with massive crowds because this place gets packed out very quickly. It's best to arrive exactly or shortly after the doors open to map out your standing space lol. There were VIP seats but I don't know how to secure those. Please contact me if you know how to obtain these. We arrived fashionable late. We had good standing positions in upper level (near VIP seating). Bar staff were always pleasant and got my drinks quickly so I could go back to enjoying the show. read more

The Ritz - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

It was jam packed. A group of drunk people (like could barely walk) ended up knocking into me and another person. Security was right there and saw it happen. He called over a few extra security people and I'm assuming they safely removed the drunk people. My daughter was with me and got a soda for $8 but if you kept the cup it was free refills the entire night. It probably would have been a good deal if I was with someone else. I wasn't going to let her go alone and also didn't want to leave her at our "spots" but if we both went I knew we wouldn't end up back where we were so she drank the one cup. It was on the bigger size. Towards the end, workers came around giving out water cups which was nice. read more

Went here for the first time to see Flo. They were amazing. Not the best venue, but not the worst. I paid extra for the upstairs lounge and I'm so glad that I did! The bottom floor was PACKED and claustrophobia would have definitely set in. They also over seating, but paying $100 just to sit down just seemed ridiculous to me. Overall, the atmosphere was great and I'd come here again. read more

The Ritz - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Let me explain the upgrade options. (May not be available for all concerts/events...) BTW: there's no food here, aside from Pringles, popcorn, & beef jerky. Eat before arriving. General admission is on the first floor. Second floor is broken up into three options: Jupiter lounge access: dedicated bar that doesn't get very busy w/ very limited first-come food items (3 small plates of cheese cubes, grapes, sliced meat, & toast). No seats available to watch the show, but you can stand along the back wall. There are seats in the lounge, but you can't see the show at all. Cost: $45 in addition to General Admission ticket. Not a bad view....if no one is standing in front of you. See below: Table-Top seats. $100 per person, two-person table w/ low-back bar stools. Server will bring your drinks (ask for QR code for list of options). Great seats ... but you may still have obstructed view if people in front of you stand. Jupiter lounge access. Front Row seats: $125 per person. Cushioned seats w/ cup holder. Absolutely no one in front of you. Great seats. Server will bring you drinks, but the location of your seats makes it a tad difficult for them to get to you frequently. Jupiter lounge access. Hopefully this was an abnormality, but there were only two servers for the entire second floor! So, to say you have table or chair service is a misnomer- we had to get half of our drinks on our own. Pro tip: next time I'm going to bring like a glow stick or something like that & tell the server that I'll place it on the table when I'm ready for my next drink. I can't tell you how many times the server passed me "ignoring" me. Jupiter lounge Bartender was fabulous!!!!! All drinks were perfectly ratios. My favorite drink: Space Cowgirl!!! read more

Came here for a show recently and thought it was an OK experience. First, parking is not free :) I think it cost $14 for our show. It's maybe a little frustrating because it's not like we're in NYC or something where parking is at an absolute premium, but it's not the biggest deal either. We paid for the parking beforehand and after the employee scanned our barcode, we snagged a spot in the nearby parking lot. I was sort of surprised by how challenging it was to walk to a restaurant from the venue. My wife and I planned to walk half a mile or so to eat some tacos, but there were no pedestrian crosswalks on our route! This was particularly weird since our navigation app was the one that suggested the route, but we decided to bail on jaywalking across a busy road and hit up somewhere closer instead :) Once doors opened at 7 PM, it was reasonably quick to get into the venue using the normal (non fast-pass) line. Drinks were super overpriced and the food options were pretty limited. My wife got a couple of cocktails and thought the prickly pear one was pretty good - I stuck to beer, as usual. I was a little worried about the sound quality from reading some reviews of the venue beforehand, but everything sounded fine to me. We saw a pop show, though, so your experience may differ for other genres. Bathrooms were reasonably clean. If an artist I really liked was playing this venue, I would definitely go again, but with the caveat that I'd be paying $40 for two beers or whatever :) I'd also recommend you grab dinner somewhere beforehand. read more

I went for Bop to the Top. It's a cool space, but man was it crowded. I could barely move in there. The security moved pretty quickly. I didn't get a chance to explore or try drinks because if I left my spot, I was not getting it back lol. read more

Really was torn on this venue at first but looking back on it I think it was better than most, but nothing spectacular. First strike for me was the website and tickets said doors opened at 6 but they didn't open until 7. Going through the line and security once they opened went very fast which I was happy about. Once you get inside it was a straight shot to the stage. They did have balconies with seats but from what I read online, those seats were wildly expensive compared to GA tickets. I glanced at the bar menu and it looked like you'd be dropping nearly $50 on two normal sized alcoholic drinks. My biggest complaint was the lighting for the openers. At most venues that I remember, the stage lighting is usually pointed at the stage and not at the crowd. Many of them were pointed at the crowd here and made photos hard to take and were blinding at times. But the overall organization and setup of the venue was good and I would definitely see a show here again. read more

The Ritz - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We saw X Ambassadors here and it's a nice intimate atmosphere with nice staff. They have upstairs seating for an additional price but we enjoyed the downstairs area just as well read more

ATTENTION: DO NOT PARK AT THE COSTCO LOT! The Costco tows after 9:00 weekdays, 7:00 on weekends. Ended up costing me over $300 for a couple of hours. Completely ridiculous! Saw MagBay here and it was a fantastic show! No complaints about the venue, except maybe a warning to not park other places :) read more

Last night was my first time visiting The Ritz and I'm absolutely in LOVE with this venue!! Here's my one and only complaint...although it's standing room "only," there are seats upstairs but at a hefty up charge. The day of the concert, they were selling the seats between $100-175/pp on top of the ticket you already paid for. Yikes! Now let's get onto why this venue is AMAZING. First off, doors were promptly open at 5:30pm like the tickets said. The venue was clean, restrooms were well stocked and clean (but small...only 6 stalls in the lady's room), and there were quite a few bars on the sides of the venue. The only line I waited in was the merch line (that's right, no line for the women's restroom...unlike the men's). Acoustics were great, no feedback whatsoever. I also loved that there was a designated mosh pit area and that security allowed crowd surfing and no one was kicked out. This place is legit for metal shows!! I ordered a can of beer and the prickly pear margarita. The margarita was $18 but the bartender made it STRONG. Honestly, that was the strongest drink I've ever had at a venue. The staff are all amazing here! The Ritz has finally put my faith back into venues that can go back to the old-school days of enjoying music and going all out. The bonus was that everyone was respectful and helped each other up when they got down. Can't wait to visit The Ritz again!! read more

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The drinks are too expensive, and during a crowded, very HOT show, the fans were all off. Horrible experience, but nice employees who gave me free water and a seat in the fresh air when I started to pass out. read more

The Ritz is a pretty chill venue, however, you do have to arrive early if you wanna get a pretty decent spot to see. The floor is flat so it can be hard to see if you're short. Overall, though their staff and security make the whole admissions process quick and easy! read more

The Ritz - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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So last night I was kicked out of the The Ritz Raleigh. No questions asked for allegedly trying to trip a waitress and then laughing about it. My wife was supposed to go with me to the show so she got me to upgrade to the Jupiter's lounge which I've never been in. When you upgrade you do not get seats unless you pay extra on top of that so we had to stand against a wall. I have bad knees and a bad ankle and where knee braces when I have to stand for extended periods. Throughout the show I stretched my legs out several times. I do remember when I was stretching my leg out, I looked to the right and there was a waitress walking. She was about 2 to 3 feet away from me so I pulled my leg back in and smiled to acknowledge I saw her to let her by and I thought nothing of it. I guess she was having a bad night or something and then reported me to the Ritz security. About 20 minutes later the security guards came up and escorted me out and wouldn't tell me why until we were outside. I paid for upgraded parking and Jupiter lounge tickets to ensure I could have the best experience to watch @erraband . They kicked me out right when Erra's set started and I didn't even get to see the band perform. This is not how you treat paying customers!!!!! You could have gave me a warning or perhaps asked me to stand somewhere else if I was in the way. Mind you this was a sold out show and people were doing a lot crazier things than stretching their legs!! read more

I love the Ritz. It's my favorite venue in the area hands down. The sound is great, they get incredible artists, the air circulation is fantastic and I love that there are options to upgrade into seats if you don't want to be on the floor. Being a live nation venue they have pretty standard concessions, the staff are consistently friendly and quick. It's $14 to park across the street and they have a clear bag policy. read more

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Truly the worst venue I have ever been to. BUYER BEWARE: BELIEVE THE REVIEWS. Moved here recently from Massachusetts, home of rude people and scrappy venues. WOW. Was I surprised that my first show, trumped any show I have ever been to in Boston or the likes. The venue floor gets over sold, but there are no screens to make up for your loss of view.. Unless you are at the bar, viewing is minimal due to pillars and the large crowd. Bartenders are friendly, but the floor staff does not communicate. We were told by a staff member to go upstairs, "no sitting but standing okay," due to not being able to see. However, we got to the elderly security guard and were told to, "Go away, you're not allowed without a pass." Even after explaining what we were just told, with another couple stating the like. This place is not organized. The bands we DID get to see did not sound all that great. Just not worth the $200 for GA tickets after fees. PArking is $15 on site, with not really another option. Beers are $15+. I'd rather fly back to MA. read more

Went to the sold out show of foster the people and good neighbours. I am 5'3 but was able to see decently after arriving right when they were opening the doors. Doors opened at 7pm good neighbors came on around 8:15 and then around 9 or so foster the people. This was the perfect little intimate venue to see one of our favorite bands. They came by to give a wristband to those 21+ for alcohol purchasing prior to entering the venue. Parking was across the street $15. read more

I want to preface this by saying i've been going to the ritz since 2016 and only recently have i been compelled to leave a review because of my most recent experiences there. The ritz used to be a great GA venue but the last 3 shows i've been to have been some of the worst concert experiences i've had in the 10 years i've been seeing shows. I saw Highly Suspect in January 2025, and we were able to upgrade to the upstairs VIP section. There was a group of drunk middle aged men that were being extremely disruptive the whole show to the point someone else had to call security to tell them to knock it off. I would expect if we're paying an extra 100 for upstairs standing room or, god forbid, 150+ for a seat, that people would be more respectful. I understand the venue cant necessarily control who pays to be up there but man, shelling out that much money on top of the ticket price just to endure the same crap that goes on downstairs has made VIP not worth it for me at all. And unfortunately if you want to not have a horrible time it felt like VIP was the only option. Went to Foster the People in February 2025 and it was the most dense, rude, and drunk crowd I have ever been to (and i went to Lollapalooza in 2024). We had people, of all genders and all ages, push and shove to get in front of us. Spilling drinks and screaming at the top of their lungs. That paired with the horrible sound quality of the speakers made the worst concert i've ever been to and I LOVE foster the people, they put on a wonderful show. If you love an artist that's coming here, i'm sorry to say, it's just not worth seeing them here anymore. We're paying so, SO much for concerts these days just for people to act like fools and ruin the experiences of others just trying to enjoy the show. I don't have much to say on the staff, everyone i've met have been super nice, so i don't want this review to reflect poorly on them. Stay away from this venue if you are looking to have an enjoyable concert experience. read more

I've been going to this venue for 35 years, a number of things have changed over that time except a couple of the most important. Great location and fantastic artist/bands played in the 80's there (I saw The Smithereens, Social Distortion and the Violent Femmes in their prime), and great/artist bands are back playing here again the past several years although it comes at a steep price thanks to Ticketmaster (I hate Ticketmaster). Much preferred the industrial look of the place before and enjoyed standing upstairs (no BS extra charge). $20 for parking is ridiculous too, they get ya coming and going. On the plus side; better beer selection is nice, if you want a decent tequila in your Sprite they got it, bartenders are usually friendly and bathrooms are fairly clean/stocked when I've been there. But hey! you're definitely paying for it. read more

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I've been here plenty of times for concerts (standing room only, with a tiny VIP area), and events. The parking around the building is not big, but there is additional parking across the street. There are parking attendants who will guide you to the next available spot so nobody is aimless wandering to find parking, or to make up parking spots. I suggest coming early if you know how bad parking can be at any event. They have bars and bathrooms on either side of the space, and it's always clean when I go. There is usually a food truck or two outdoors. It holds sound pretty well, and like most shows, you don't really want to be next to the stage as you can't make out the lyrics because of the base booming. I will forever return for shows, and as long as the place is clean. read more

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We attended a live concert last evening. I've been to this venue in the past (pre-Covid). The staff was friendly, there's plenty of parking, the sound is amazing. The ladies restrooms were clean. It was great to go back to a live concert indoors. read more

The Ritz - Manchester Orchestra - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Never come to this place for any damn thing! Nothing! This place gets no stars! Came for the Duran Bernar concert... purchased access to the "Jupiter lounge" in advance! Get inside after they check my tix outside and have to wait in line, a long ass like just to get access to sum I've already purchased in advance... only to find out at the front of that line that mfs are purchasing access at the line!!! Why would I have to wait in a line if I've already purchased?! At this point I sincerely hope and pray (since this is the Bible Belt) that this place swiftly goes out of business! Because wtf?! This isn't how you do business! I want a refund because they oversold the top portion/jupiter lounge! I genuinely would not have purchased my tickets tbh, especially because it's standing room only at the bottom and at this point I might as well be on the bottom fighting to see the stage for less money! Yea, I'm bouta make this place go through it because I'm reporting this bullsh** to the better business bureau! Get ready. read more

The Ritz is a music venue that's been around for years. It's General Admission so standing room only unless an upgrade is bought which gives you upper level access. Costs for upgrades put ticket prices significantly higher but people still buy them. Amusing fact- all purchases inside the venue are cashless but the bartenders will take cash tips. Hmm. Either stick to your word or drop the cashless verbiage. The restrooms are my only real issue. 1 restroom for each sex in a venue that has max capacity of 1400 people. Really? I think Live Nation has the funds to do the upgrades to keep the lines from going to the other side of the venue. Aside from that it isn't a bad place. Entry 20 minutes before the show started was fast. Walked right in fast. Exit was just as quick after the show. For parking use your brain and be resourceful. read more

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I thoroughly enjoyed this venue. The staff was friendly and sound was excellent. I didn't want to stand in general population and we opted for VIP. There's two bars upstairs, but the restroom is located downstairs. I'd definitely attend another concert here. read more

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We are all entitled to our own opinions, right? Well here's mine: Parking: 4 Location: 4 Decor/ambiance: 4 Customer Service: 5 This place is heavensent for the RDU area! So glad to see a venue that holds a decent sized crowd that won't charge you Convention Center, Stadium prices. Then venue probably holds a couple hundred people standing on the first floor. There is VIP on the second floor. IF you are short, i'd advise you to get there mad earlier to get in the front OR get VIP because most shows have standing room only and its hard to see around some of these giants walking around here. The location is cool and the parking situation is ok. Cost of that is approx $5 - $10. They have several bars in the venue. Be sure to bring your ID... a mistake I made lol. Overall great place, cool staff, no issues. read more

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I love the layout of this place. It's not intimate but it's close. It's nicer than Amos' Southend and Cats Cradle (bigger then the Cradle too). The have pretty good staff and the security and ticket line is always fast and well executed. They have pretty decent bands as well. Beer is what you would expect and it's nice that they have hot pizza by the slice if you get hungry. Always a good venue (so far!) read more

The Ritz - Alter Bridge at the Ritz (again!!) - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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My first time at The Ritz last night. It is a nice venue with standing room only on the bottom floor and limited seating on the top for a upgrade price. It was well managed and music was great. read more

The Ritz - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Super friendly security & staff, super competent. It's weirdly hard to find a good mix of all of those traits at concert venues. The place itself has great vibes and a nice little aesthetic. The way the venue conducts itself is SO IMPORTANT to a concert experience, and I really appreciated The Ritz making it a smooth one. read more

The Ritz - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

If you don't pay their 15$ parking you probably getting towed. I don't like additional fees that I'm forced to pay. Give us another option thanks. read more

I got tickets for a free 80s dance party so decided to check out the place. Not being familiar with the area, we paid to park in the lot across the street. If we would have driven around more, we probably could have parked for free on the street. They definitely overbooked because there was a long, long line to get in. After entering the front door I tried walking up the stairs but was told it was a VIP area. Some signage would be nice. It was way too crowded inside and we only stayed for about half an hour before leaving. We got tired of being jostled and bumped even though we were in the back of the venue. Not the best experience, and I don't expect to come back any time soon. read more

The Ritz - DJ on stage (from the back of the room) - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Loved this venue! My first show since relocating to Raleigh. I attended one of the trap karaoke tours last night and enjoyed my time. The venue reminds me of many of the night clubs in New York City specifically Roseland Ballroom. I love the 2nd floor balcony, area with plenty of room for social distancing. The black and white tiled floor is classic. The security was wonderful, the bartenders were courteous and quick! Overall I had a great time at The Ritz. Can't wait to attend another concert here. read more

Remembering the time I went to a concert here a couple years back when Louis the child played. Some kid threw a beer can at my friends, I picked it up walking in to throw it away since I hate seeing people litter. I was 100% sober. The ticket people refused to let me in over 21, almost didn't let me in at all and threatened to call the cops because they saw me throw the van away. Then when I got inside without a 21+ wristband, my friend and I were dancing on the floor and bouncers grabbed him and kicked him out because of mistaken identity then refused to let him back in when they found the other guy they were actually looking for. Huge power trip ruined the night that we spent a lot of money on to come and see a show from out of town. A lot of good artists have been on your event calendar but I'd never go back. read more

I never look forward to going to the venue for a show when there are other great venues and staff local to the area like the Cat's Cradle, etc. My biggest pet peeve is how the staff who are in charge of directing traffic just stand there with their arms crossed and get upset at cars who can't move in the middle of road because there are a thousand people exiting the venue at once. I guess if you don't have any other qualifications for a normal job, you would take it out on people who are coming into the venue and providing your paycheck. The staff need to do better in this aspect if they want to prevent traffic after a show ends. I wish I had taken a picture of the guy who stood there for 5 minutes allowing hundreds of people to cross the street however and wherever they liked and then had the audacity to question why my car wasn't able to move. I hope I am able to make this issue publicly known for all people who are trying to leave the venue after the show. The only way to prevent the staff from yelling at you through your window is if you leave the show 15 minutes early. Overall, absolutely terrible and lazy staff. read more

Great Space!! The venue was packed! But you still had space to move around and have a good time! It wasn't hot and muggy like some of the other venues! The staff here were also great, they kept the lines moving and made sure we were aware of what was going, prior to the start of the show. read more

The best venue ever. They have the sweetest people working, they are always happy to help out, and it is the best concert I have ever been to. I am so grateful for them for making my night the best night ever read more