I attended the Bastille show and thoroughly enjoyed both bands. The sound in the facility is very good. That being said, I was extremely disappointed in the accommodations. It was about 5000 degrees in the place and with it being that hot, free water is a must! I saw people dropping left and right due to the heat, and my partner and I had to listen mostly from outside to avoid passing out. I paid $80 plus to attend this show. I suggest using some of the ticket money to take care of patrons with an AC unit that can handle a crowd like that (which is small compared to other venues). I probably will not return, but wanted to provide feedback Also, the email link on the website is not functioning and the info email address provided kicks back unable to deliver. read more

Went to see the band garbage recently and had a blast. They checked IDs at the door, went through a small security check and scanned my ticket to enter. The temperature inside was nice and cool despite the crowd. Awesome Bar and the bathrooms were clean. Sound system was great and I will definitely be back for more live music read more

The Stella VIP Lounge is where it's at. I'm a bourbon girl and this is the only bar to get the good stuff (Basil Hayden's, Bookers, Four Roses ). Craft cocktails are also at this bar and the balcony view that leads off from it . read more

Very dissapointed in this place today. Here to see Trial by for the Journey tribute band and they are charging $35 a seat for the upstairs. thats a lot to add on to the price of a ticket but I guess people pay for it read more

This is a standing room only venue, which I'm not particularly fond of. However, there is VIP seating upstairs. I chose the VIP route and was pleased. The sound and view of the stage were both great. I went to see Jazmine Sullivan and the concert was great! I would suggest that you arrive a little early for parking. Traffic can be a little hectic turning on to Industrial Blvd. The staff was extremely helpful. I would see another show here, but only in VIP. read more

The Ritz - view from VIP - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Not the ideal place to have a hip hop/ rap concert in. If you're not front row by the barricades then you're going to have to survive through the shows as people like to get crazy and push you, elbow you, punch you, etc., saw too many people yesterday passing out because of the heat. Mixture of heat and dehydration caused my friend to pass out and she had to leave because she couldn't take it-she couldn't even enjoy the show. i've had to pull people out of the crowd because they were passing out and people around them were elbowing them and stepping on them hard. I can never enjoy a show here (except Mac Miller and PND, where I was front row) because i've had to decide whether to help people out or be a douche bag like the rest. on the bright side- it doesn't matter if it's raining outside because this is an indoor venue, and the employees are nice. read more

Love this place! Big name bands and a small atmosphere. Sound is alright and is very well managed from parking to entry and mini bars around the perimeter. Only drawback is high drink prices, but that's typical. Check out a show here. You'll have a good time. read more

Box Office Fee charge. Don't be misled by the venue's advertising of a show. If a show is advertised for $30 'on the door', there will be a $5.50 charge added to your ticket fee if you buy a ticket on the door. Yes, you will be directed to the Ritz's box office when you approach the door, they will print off and charge you the fee then. As per their website :- "Are there service fees charged at the box office? - The box office service fee is just $2.25 per ticket for shows with a face value less than $20, and $5.50 per ticket for shows with a face value of $20.01 and above." The sound seems to be OK for quieter bands - Aquarium Rescue Unit was excellent. Trombone Shorty last night was quite good. Some of the louder rock acts a lot can get lost in the mix or the show can be at very high volume levels. The venue does serve a good range of craft beers, which is a real improvement and music does start on time. read more

Best venue I've ever been to. I'm from NYC and this is my only NC venue so take as you will. You can rage up front or hang back and chill, drinks are fast, staff is friendly. Couldn't ask for more read more

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

I have been to this venue many times. We got tickets to see Black Label Society, and paid 30.00 extra each to access the upstairs Stella Lounge. When we got there, we were told it was standing room only, and that we had to stand along the back wall, or go to a walled off sectoin to see the show via closed-circuit. So...we paid 60.00 to stand where we could see nothing. We went downstairs. This was not specified on the website, or on the tickets. To sit upstairs, it was an extra 125.00 per person. Really? That would have been 360.00 to see the show for two. We were ripped off. This vvenue has not changed in 20 years, other than to add seats upstairs, so nothing special about it. Not worth this price. A beer was 10.00, even PBR was 5.00. I would rather drive to Richmond or Charlotte, stay in a nice hotel and see the show, with seats, for the same price. Shame on the owners of the Ritz. read more

I could never come back to this venue & I would be completely happy. My significant other bought us tickets to see Ledisi & she was amazing. However, the sound guy needs to review his manual. You couldn't enjoy the opening act because if the high pitch noise. Plus the concert started almost an hour and a half late. It's already this end of a work day the least that could happen is that the show could start on time. The alcohol choices were very limited & way over priced. read more

About a month ago I saw Asking Alexandria at The Ritz. I honestly thought the place wasn't that bad. I get what everyone's complaining about but it really isn't as bad as people say it is. When we pulled up to the place, I will admit it didn't look like a place you'd want to go to see your favorite band. It looked a bit run down and in a serious need of some color. And sure, it wasn't the cleanest but other than that, it was pretty cool. The inside itself was fairly small but I prefer smaller venues anyway. I wasn't anywhere near the front and I could still see the band perfectly. I could also hear the band amazingly well also, despite it being relatively small. However, I am warning you, DO NOT step outside. Right before Asking Alexandria took the stage, the place was pretty sweaty and disgusting from all the moshing and jumping everyone around me was doing, so I decided to get some fresh air and was met with a FUCKING CLOUD of smoke. I literally could not even breathe not to mention the fact that my clothes smelled like smoke for a week straight I can tell that most of the people that are complaining about this place are complaining because of the price of the alcohol. Yes, $5 dollars is WAY too much to pay for a beer but if you're like me and not old enough to drink and are just there to have a good time, this place will do just fine. read more

Saw Bastille here. The venue was pretty decent. Good access to bathrooms, plenty of bars, nice big loft. The drink prices are on par with other area concert venues. Had to park at the Costco across the street. However, I give this place only one star because of the lack of air conditioning. Unfortunately, I had to leave the show early, i felt very sick due to the heat. I saw at least 2 people that had collapsed/passed out. Fortunately, one of the guys that had collapsed was near the back entrance, and thus paramedics had good access to him. The ownership needs to invest in Air conditioning. The bathrooms seemed to have AC?!? I hung around the bathrooms for long periods of time in order to cool down. read more

I've been to all kinds of music venues for the past 20 years and this place has to be my least favorite. The sound quality was all over the place, and the lighting was blinding one second and obsolete the next. It was mostly clean minus the dust literally hanging from the ceiling fans above. Seemed like security was top notch when entering the venue, but were nowhere to be found inside. People were getting knocked around pretty bad from the over intoxicated drunks. I know you're at a show and having fun, but please be a little considerate of the children at an all ages show. Would've been nice to see at least ONE security guy monitoring the crowd, instead they were all outside on the smoking patio just standing around. More then likely I won't be returning here. read more

Changing my rating because The Ritz is very unclear with their wording of Seating. We bought tickets to ITM and my husband purchased Stella Lounge thinking it included the WHOLE upstairs area not just a bar and some couches where you can't even see the stage. Apparently you have to call them to buy ANOTHER upgrade on top of your first, just to have a barstool. There needs to be better communication of this process. Very disappointed. So basically, an extra $25 per ticket for us to stand upstairs behind a wall. Cool. PS-they don't give you the option for the premium seating online. If you order from Ticket Master (which is what he did), it did not tell you anything about the premium seating being extra. There were 3 other people that night around us that had the same complaint. Please add the feature to purchase the seat upgrade, in this day in age where most things are done online, it would make it so much easier and clear up a lot of the confusion. read more

I went to the Ritz on September 25, 2017 to see Colony House and MuteMath. The sound was so terrible, we left early. The staff at the Ritz cranks up the volume so loud that you can't pick out individual instruments and there's no way you can hear the singer. If you like hearing drums and bass, this is your place. Other than that, the sound is very muddy and bounces around the little warehouse so nothing is understood. Oh yes, be prepared to have your ears hurting when you leave, and maybe even into the next day. This is too bad because it looks like they get some good bands playing there that I'd like to see. The security seems too be a bit too tight. What are they expecting, a riot? From what I saw, the house with filled with a bunch of computer types going there after work to hear some of their favorite bands. Nobody to be afraid of. Some security is needed, but not even the largest venues in Raleigh have as much security per person. Security was polite to me though. Maybe it's because I have gray hair. There is no seating, downstairs, so if you want a seat, be prepared to shell out an extra $25+ to sit in the chairs in the balcony around the top of the main floor. I asked, but decided to not to spend the extra money. I'm going to avoid the Ritz even if my favorite band is there. The cost is reasonable but ruined by the horrible sound. read more

What a great venue! We went to the Ritz to follow one of my favorite bands Johnny Swim! I love the venue as you can pretty much stand wherever and have a great view of the concerts! The downfall is definitely the parking and the cost for the beers! Parking was $7 and the beers were $12! Personally, I wish they'd up the cost of the concerts by about $10 and cut down on the others! Made for a pricey evening! read more

The biggest problem is the aggressiveness of the security. We didn't have a problem but saw them bully and hassle several people. To the point where it was uncomfortable to others around. From our view it looked like security was the ones starting the problems and looking for trouble. Drinks were fair priced, the place was fairly clean but I wouldn't go back until the wanna be military changes. Stick with PNC, Walnut Creek or even the Cats Cradle or Carolina Theater where you won't have to watch people get hassled and bullied for no reason. I need to say also it was a much older crowd at the event. Average age was probably 50. read more

HOLY INFERNO. I've never been more uncomfortable at a concert in my life. And I've been in some uncomfortable spots. Like the time I was nearly trampled and needed rescue at the Busta Rhymes and N.E.R.D. show. Not really sure what I was thinking there, but I'm not sure what Disco Rodeo is thinking by not turning on the AC, or getting any sort of ventilation in their building. I think they may actually be trying to kill people. I went for the Arctic Monkeys show. And as much as I love them, and as big of a fan as I am... it really wasn't worth the heat stroke. I don't think I"ll ever return to this place to see another show. Even if The Stones rolled in for a free show, I'd rather drown in a pool than sit through that misery of heat and stinky bodies again. There isn't mcuh else that can redeem this place. The staff are rude cause they hate being there too, and the drink prices aren't anything special. They're about par with DC area drinks and I'm not sure if they're aware... but this isn't DC, lower your drink prices! Bring a fan, come prepared and always know where the nearest exit is in this place. read more

Absurdly overpriced. Greedy management. Inept staff. The Ritz SUCKS. It's supposed to be new and improved, but it's really just renovated yet somehow shittier than ever. I'm really befuddled by all of the positive reviews saying this place is now a good venue. It's not. Physically, the renovations have made it marginally better than it used to be in a few aspects, but that's really not saying much. And it's still operated by short-sighted, greedy management and apathetic inept staff. Here's my experience from last night. I pull up to the Ritz and there's a parking attendant. Attendant: "It's $5 to park." Me: "$5?! For what? The venue is right there. This is your lot. What's to stop me from just parking on the street for free?" Attendant:"You'll probably get towed." Me: "Why would I get towed? There are a dozen cars already parked there and no signs that say no parking..." Attendant: "I don't know man. It might happen." Translation: Management told me to scare you about being towed so we can weasel another $5 out of you. The ticketing fees were 40% of the original ticket cost making an advertised $20 ticket nearly $30 at the end of the transaction. We're not downtown. Parking is not limited. Get up to the entrance and there's a barrage of redshirted goons doing pat-downs and scanning tickets. It is not until after your ticket has been scanned that you are allowed near the door where there's a small sign that says no re-entry. Me: "I have an extra ticket I wanted to sell." Goon#1: "You can't sell tickets." Me: "It's completely legal in NC to resell a ticket as long as I'm not profiting." Goon#1: "Well here, I'm telling you that you can't. You can go stand in the street, but not on our property." Me: "But you just scanned me in and now I see this sign that says no re-entry." Goon#1: "That's right." Me: "So what you're saying is I'm screwed and you don't care." Goon#1: "That's right." Yep... Head to the bar for a beer... Me: "Draft IPA please." Bartender: "That'll be $10." Me: "$10?! WTF?!" Bartender: "It's 20 oz." Me: "A whole extra 1/4th of a beer for double the price?" Last time I checked, this is America, and when you buy goods in bulk the cost per unit is supposed to DECREASE. This is a dumpy venue in the industrial district of Raleigh. This is no Carnegie Hall. Head to concessions for a snack... Snackgirl: "We have previously frozen, microwaved, dried out slices of pizza about the size of your palm for $5. We have previously frozen, dried out hot dogs for $5. And we have previously frozen, dried out pretzels for $4." Yum. I'll go check the new balcony/mezzanine. Hmm, no one is up there... Mezzanine Guard: "It costs extra to walk up these stairs." No thanks. Was hoping the music would sound good in this newly revamped venue. But you couldn't hear the keys or 2nd percussionist in the opening band. The other levels fluctuated for the rest of the show. Exit the building and my car is right where I left it, not ticketed or towed. So I guess that was a positive aspect of the experience. I told a few people about the experience and literally every single person said the exact same thing. "Oh yeah, the Ritz blows. We don't go to shows there." I just don't understand business owners who operate their businesses in this manner. It's so short-sighted and foolish to try and leech every dollar you can out of people. Sure, you'll make a few extra dollars on that one beer. But you know what, many patrons will choose not to buy a 2nd or 3rd beer (or ever return to venue at all) because you've left a bad taste in their mouth. So long-term you make less because there is no loyalty to your venue. It's just another overpriced dump. Wouldn't it make more sense to at least act like you give a shit that your patrons pay your salary and are the only reason your business exists? Scrap the parking fee, revise your re-entry policy (or make it abundantly clear before you scan people's tickets), adjust your drink prices, and train your staff to treat people like people and with some level of respect rather than the powertripping douchetastic attitude they all have now. To the owners/managers: If you had a close friend or family member come to your venue and had the same experience I did, would you be proud of your business? Good luck with that... read more

I have been to a lot of shows. And I mean a lot of shows! Hands-down this was the most uncomfortable show I have ever been at. I saw green sky last night and it was sold out. They were only general admission tickets left and they said it was standing room only. There was not any standing room. Everywhere I tried tostand I was told to move out of the way and keep the isles clear. I looked at one of the attendants and said there's nowhere for me to go! She shrugged her sold her Shoulders and said "I know it sucks there's way too many people in here". The only place I could go to get mild relief was outside where everyone was smoking at. The only thing that was talked about outside where people were smoking, was how crowded it was and the only reason they're outside was to get some relief. I do not recommend this place to see music and I will never be back. Not worth it. At all! read more

Where to start, where to start. Okay, the location. The most interesting thing I encountered on my way here was video/DVD store that also sold "novelties," which I assume is code for jelly dildos that will give you a bacterial infection and fuzzy handcuffs. If you want a bite to eat before the show, there aren't any options. If you're at kings or cat's cradle, there are lots of great restaurants in walking distance. There's just warehouses and car dealerships near this venue. And an Applebee's, but you don't want to eat there, do you? That's what I thought. There's also a McDonald's, but have you read fast food nation? Because my mom's book club read it, and she won't shut up about it, and now I can't patronize fast food establishments without feeling like I'm disappointed my mother, and I already disappointed her in so many ways. Let's not add to the list. Now let's discuss the sound. Are you in a fuzz or shoegaze band scheduled to play here? Leave your distortion pedal in the van, because you won't need it! Remember that time when the Internet didn't exist or I guess it did exist when I was a kid but only people at the pentagon had access but remember that time? Well, kids had to find ways to amuse themselves, and sometimes we put wax paper over a comb and sang into it. That's kinda what the vocals sound like. And if your band uses a fog machine, you can also leave that in the van because befogged! A thick cloud of vape smoke hangs in the air. And thank you Martha Stewart for tweeting about being befogged and having to land your hot air balloon in the horse paddock, because I am a better person for having "befogged" in my vocabulary. And how about how absurd the idea of a VIP area is in such a venue. This place is anything but ritzy, and they want to charge you a not insubstantial amount to sit on a stool in the balcony? Hard pass. They also overcharge for drinks. You can manage to get crummy $3 beers at other triangle venues and reasonably priced mixed drinks but the cheapest option is 5 bucks here. I ordered a jack and Diet Coke, and it cost $10, and they used a 20 oz bottle of Diet Coke, which is pretty low budget. The back room @ cat's cradle charges $7. A warm bottle of Aquafina water will set you back $4, and I would prefer to drink toilet water over Aquafina or Dasani. It's literally filtered tap water, which I can drink at home. I have a Brita. Plus they nickel and dime you if you want to park! $5 or $10 if you want to park closer to the exit. And then there's the ticketmaster service fees too! I hate excessive service fees! It's pretty much the only thing I have in common with Eddie Vedder. Also the crowd was super low key. I mostly came for the opening act, mikal Cronin, and pretty much everyone was standing still. Like, he's pretty great, and "weight" is one of the best songs of the '10s, so maybe you can at least nod your head a bit. Or maybe you're as disappointed as I am with the ritz and can't muster up the energy to move even a little bit under the crushing weight of your disappointment, in which case I can't blame them. The reason I gave this 2 stars and not 1 star is because they do keep it really cold, and I guess that costs a lot since this is literally a warehouse. Kudos to them for actually keeping the ac on, because some of the earlier reviews made me kinda nervous for tonight. I didn't really sweat even though they really pack people in here. I bet sold out shows here are miserable. Maybe that's why they charge for parking. Gotta pay those bills. Driving to Raleigh from chapel hill for shows is kind of a pain, so I don't think I'll return. I would be more inclined to go to kings, and I once got hit in the head with a beer can at a ty segall show, likely thrown by one of the several inebriated frat bros present. In all honestly, I did go back to see thee oh sees and I saw a drunk frat boy urinate on himself and then get kicked out. There were drunk frat boys here too, and two of them got rowdy in he front row and engaged in a shoving match, which father John misty put a stop to. The only thing that can save this night is if father John misty yells at us. Fingers crossed someone up front films the show despite the gigantic "no photography" neon sign! Maybe the show talkers who shouted over mikal's set will keep yelling "what" at each other each other for the rest of the night! Update: people took photographs but there was no rant. Oh well! And I almost forgot! If you smell popcorn, don't worry, you're probably not having a stroke (or is it the smell of baking bread that signals a stroke? I don't know). They get around north carolina's antiquated Bible Belt law by selling popcorn and soft pretzels now, I guess. I don't know how much they charge for it. If they charge $9 for a PBR tallboy, maybe a pretzel costs $20. read more

I saw another show here a few months ago and the venue had greatly improved. I believe they're under new management. It was much cleaner and better beer selection, still pricey, but I think we all know you pay more for drinks at a show. Overall good time, much improved! read more

My wife and some friends came to see Modest Mouse here in March, 2015. Overall ok experience with two major negatives that prevent me from returning. Upon first arrival it seemed pretty well organized with cattle chutes directing people into admission areas with a standard large-venue search area to make sure no-one had weapons and whatnot. There was paid parking and a large lot for a department store across the street that handled the sold-out crowd pretty well. We bought tickets online for a moderate price ($50+ per head) which were checked at the door. Immediately inside more lines formed to buy a "membership" for a dollar, which allowed purchase of alcoholic beverages (standard practice at a few clubs I've been to in this area). Large floor space with good views of stage hampered only by pillars which were placed center stage and left and right. Plenty of balcony space that quickly filled up. Risers were placed at the rear of the balcony to provide a second balcony level, which were also full (sold out crowd). Bars were overpriced as stated in many of these reviews, but there was a serving bar every 15 feet around the wall and at least two bars on the balcony. The light setup for this event was phenomenal and definitely worked well for the performers and the overall experience. When the openers began the venue got very hot and someone had some kind of medical issue (believe the review before me stated that she pooped on the floor...so yeah, I think that happened), but the staff got her into a bathroom and isolated the event. There were two bathrooms, so blocking off one women's rooms didn't shut down bathroom access completely. After whatever this emergency was (EMS and fire/rescue showed up) the A/C kicked in and ceiling fans were turned on and the temperature was comfortable for a concert venue. Two major negative factors will prevent me from ever returning unless there is some kind of once-in-a-lifetime tour that is only playing here in the future: 1) The sound sucks. Absolutely horrid acoustics in almost every part of this venue. There are probably about 50 people who think the sound was ok, and everyone else had terrible sound quality. It seemed to be a nightmare for the sound techs - sound checks took forever, and the mix was never good. This place will probably work ok with house/techno/dubstep/electronic music, but nothing else. Vocals were nonexistent throughout the entire event. The techs tried - I ended up very close to them and they were scrambling to try to overcome the acoustics, but to no avail (and more than a few frustrating feedback moments during both sets). During song breaks anything that was said into a mic was completely lost to the room (except for maybe those 50 people who were right in the sweet spot). If you want to go to a show, but not hear the music or anything said from the stage you will not be disappointed. Anyone who wants to actually enjoy music will leave feeling cheated. 2) Despite posted no-smoking signs there were multiple times that people lit up their joints and smoked pot in the crowd and on the balcony. I can put up with people vaping around me, since it doesn't linger and I don't have to breathe in their vape (and there were tons of vapers), but when I am surrounded by pot smoke I get pissed off. The management didn't seem to do anything about this, although they actively grabbed people crowd surfing or anyone who tried to sit on shoulders. Glowing joints aren't hard to spot in the crowd, why the management tolerates it is beyond me. I don't really have an issue with this in open-air/outdoor venues, but you can't escape the second-hand pot smoke in a packed and relatively stagnant indoor venue. Left feeling cheated for not being able to enjoy the music, and pissed that I had to stand in second-hand pot smoke. Consensus was the same within our group - we won't be returning any time soon. read more

I'm a big fan of this venue. It's spread out so you are not crammed next to a ton of other people (unless you want to be!) and you have some room to breath. There are three bars downstairs all conveniently located so you don't have to go too far from your spot to get a drink. They also have people walking around mopping up spills through the entire show which can be annoying but is also an awesome thing so someone doesn't fall and crack their head open. There are also bathrooms on each side which is really nice. The venue is wide rather than long so you are really close to the speakers so it can get kind of loud. If you don't love that, I'd recommend taking earplugs. I've been there for two shows now and for each show they've offered an upgrade to sit upstairs which is a cool option, there are three different levels of upgrades so you can shell out whatever you choose. The parking and getting in and out of the venue is really nice too. There is a lot just past the venue that's $5 a car (bring cash!) that I parked in both times and it was super easy to get in and out. This venue is bringing in some awesome shows so go support! read more

This venue is downright dangerous. Three people collapsed from the heat in front of me (who knows how many on the other side of the venue). Major kudos to the staff who responded quickly with ice and bottled water, but the fact that they seemed so well-prepared for this is striking. Safety aside, people should not be coming to see their favorite band only to spend the night in a chair in the back corner being treated by venue staff. Previous reviews are spot on: heat, sound quality, and prices are all bad. Opening act started 30 minutes late, spent another 30 minutes standing in the heat waiting for the main act. First collapse occurred before the main act even made it on stage. Only redeeming quality is the staff that worked really hard to make the best of a bad situation. They deserve better. Saw CHVRCHES here on 4/28/14. read more

Saw Mat Kearney here on March 30th. Overall the experience at the concert was pretty great. Free parking was offered in the parking lot in the back (by the tour busses) which was very appreciated. The location was easy to get to and didn't seem to be in a bad part of town or anything. The building and it's surroundings seemed clean and maintained. The staff were also very helpful and informative when checking bags and taking tickets. They do require you to get a membership to buy alcohol (laws and such), but it was free that night and quick to sign up. The fast pass ticket worked great for the General Admission show; for this concert it was the difference between getting front row center and 2nd row off center. I read a lot of reviews where this place gets really hot. It was 60-70 degrees that day so it wasn't too bad inside. They definitely had the AC on and the temperature was pleasant. Of course we were at the front so it might have been warmer in the middle. They did have coolers of ice water staged around the room though with free dixie cups though, so that was nice. Negatives: - Sound: I'm not a sound expert, but from where I was standing front row center, the sound was pretty horrible. Maybe it was better in the middle/back. - Alcohol Prices: Beers were $10 each. Too expensive for my tastes. - No Re-entry Policy: I had forgotten my camera in my car and wanted to get it, but I wouldn't have been able to get back in. Sucks for smokers who can't go a few hours without a smoke also. read more

If you want to be blinded by house lights for a show, this is the place for you. The lighting crew cares more about the audience being lit up more than lighting​ the acts that are booked. Also...The audio mix at this venue tends more towards loud instead of intelligible. I guess for a venue behind a car lot, you can't expect too much. read more

Me and my wife got to the rits an hour early after calling and asking about seeting which they said first come first served and it was $15 a seat when we got there it was $40 a seat we paid that and we was eary but we got a second row seat after being there an hour we moved up front we sat there another hour then we was told to move we ask questions but was told to come up front when we got up front we was greeted by police and told to leave after spending $200 plus do not go to th8s place its a rip off read more

I want to give this place 3 stars because it could be good, but my experience last night was a 2 star one. The band, Umphrey's McGee....1 million stars. The venue had just enough wrong with it to warrant the low 2 star rating. Location isn't great, as there aren't many places close to enjoy a pre-show beverage or meal. The parking was fine for us, pretty big lot and no trouble finding a spot. The line is where the annoyance begins. There is a will call/box office located at the left hand side of the front of the building. The way the walk way works is that if you are in said line, you will be blocking the main doors to the entrance, where you can go if you already have your ticket in hand. How did we know this? The nice police office managing the line told us "if you have a ticket already push your way through the crowd to the front door". Thanks dude. So, we had to push our way through the very large line for tickets to get to the front door. Once in, you are immediately pushed into another line....the ATM line. This line was so long I thought it was for the bar. No, the bar takes only cash, and they have only 1 ATM machine located right next to the front door. Push our way thought this line cause we don't need no cash, to go to the next line, the ID checking line. Got through that, which is right next to the bar....and you guessed it, another long ass line (which is expected, not complaining about a long bar line at a concert). We opted to go to the other side of the venue where there was another bar which a much shorter line. Jeff was not thrilled with the beer selection at all. Almost all establishments in the Triangle area serve local brews, but not this one. They had all cans, which is fine, and they had Bud, Bud Light, Heineken, Modela, and I think that is it. For the low low price of $5 a can. It would be different if you were paying $5 for a Big Boss draft, which is what other local music venues charge. Big Boss taste great, and has a higher than normal ABV. But $5 for a Bud Light can?? Ugg. Oh, and liquor drinks were $6, and they were served in the tiny plastic cups you used for lemonade stands when you were 5. Water....$4 bucks for a bottle. Since I am preggo, I wanted some water, but I didn't want to keep paying $4 bucks all night for it, and they wouldn't give me water in a cup. Awesome. The bathrooms were actually not gross, and there were like 20 stalls, so never a line, which is a major plus. My final gripe was the smoking situation. Again, I am preggo, so this may have bothered me more last night than it normally would, but, people were just puffing away on their cigs all night, everywhere. GROSS. The security guard said you cannot go outside and re-enter, but he also said it was a no smoking place. But, I guess 5 security guards can't stop a couple thousand people from smoking. Pluses - very large and roomy inside with a huge downstairs viewing/dance area, and a huge upstairs balcony. Great sound and amazing lighting (which has a lot to do with the band's lighting guy, but the stage was huge and offered a great lighting system). I will totally come back for a band I love, just wish they would fix the annoying little things that all add up to a 2 star star rating. read more

I went to a Five Finger Death Punch concert (metal band) at this venue on 10/15/2013, not knowing what to expect. While the show itself was good, there were parts of the venue that left much to be desired. For example, they had the heat on inside... a sold out show, with people already hot & sweaty from moshing, just made it even fucking hotter inside, even to the point the lead singer of FFDP commented about it on stage. Second, the drink prices were HORRIBLE. A small Jack & Coke was $10, which wasn't worth it at all. I've bought liquor drinks at major festivals and they were cheaper. Third, where the merch table was set up, also happened to be right by the smoking door. Other than that, I had a hell of a time and I will return. **PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PURCHASES MUST BE MADE IN CASH, HOWEVER AN ATM IS ON SITE** read more

I didn't expect much with this venue and didn't get much in return. It's your basic warehouse with a large dancefloor platform, decent size stage, upper level balcony area and 3 bars to fuel you up. I went here to see Girl Talk and although we started on the dance floor, after fighting our way towards the bathroom we decided that we'd be better off on the side, next to the bar. Parking was plentiful, Beers for about $4. Bring cash, because cc's aren't excepted, although they'll let you give a "cash advance" if you are really desiring a beer. Agree with the other reviewers. It's HOT in there. Can't imagine what a show in the summer time would be like. read more

Went to Lettuce last night. Love the band, but sound in this venue is mud in a lot of spots. This is a venue that can make a good band sound bad. Then there's the nickel and dime factor: paying for parking, extra $ for the balcony, overpriced drinks, way more security presence than necessary. Not to mention the girl working the wristbands telling my date not to drop his money because she had recently scored $200 from someone dropping their money and her pocketing it instead of returning it. Glad y'all got all those staff looking out for your patrons. Much prefer the downtown Raleigh venues. read more

This venue is alright. It's run by Live Nation and according to other reviews, it's improved since they took it over. I never buy drinks or food at concerts because it hurts my wallet too much. But the sound is good and the security folks are pretty friendly. $6 to park in their lot, which is pretty annoying given that you're already paying $10+ "convenience fees" on top of the ticket price. But for each concert I've been to I've actually been able to get in and out of the parking lot fairly quickly after the show. The bathrooms were a bit messy, but not too bad all things considered. It's not my favorite venue, but it's worth it if an artist you really like comes to town. read more

Crappy beers for 5 bucks I could deal with, but when the sound person butchers a really good band, I draw the line. This place is aweful.

Bought tickets to concert here and paid extra for VIP tickets, which was supposed to mean premier seating, Stella lounge, etc. but when we got there, they said there were other tickets you had to only call in to buy (that weren't shown on ticket purchase site), and you had to stand behind the real premier ticket holders for the show. Which was an obstructed view. Was a bummer experience read more

Over sold "VIP" section. Spent the entire evening being asked to move or told we could not stand where we were standing. I've seen smaller shows here. This show was larger and was undoubtedly the worst experience. Unequivocally do NOT recommend. I'm sure the band was great but I couldn't see, spent the entirety moving to accommodate bouncers without a viewpoint at any angle and regretted not experiencing the show. The Ritz is a neighborhood establishment I wish I could support. read more

I have lived less than a mile from The Ritz for over a year and finally made it to a show. I rode my bike over on a beautiful night. My phone and check card dropped out of my bag on the way out. The staff at The Ritz were great all night and recovered my things for me as well. Thank You! read more

Honestly, I wish I could leave no stars. This was by far the worst venue i've ever been to (and i've been to lots all over the country). From the outside it looks like a sketchy warehouse and inside isn't all that much better. It was about 90 degrees out the day I went (to see Bastille as well) and inside was probably 20 degrees hotter. People were passing out in front of my friends and I before the show even started. The stage lights and speakers were worst then my college's spring concert and that's a free show! Bastille, despite the horrible stage/light/sound set up did an amazing job, and like another reviewer said i'm thankful they didn't cut it short-though I wouldn't have blamed them if they had. Now here's the part that should have this place put out of buisness. They have no AC. Give no free small water cups (like various venues that i'm used to- in D.C./Virginia. And it's cash only. If you're going to have a no air-conditioned venue then on 90+ days you NEED to be giving small cups of water out. My sister, who felt sick one song in to Wolf Gang left the crowd to get water. Once at the counter she asked for a water, the lady told her 5 dollars (for a lousy water bottle) so my sister hands over her card and the lady waves her off meaning they couldn't take it. So my sister asks if they have an ATM and she tells her she doesn't know. The employees were all just about the same like that, very clueless and unhelpful. This venue has a lot of potential. It's big and with some good management and renovations it could be a nice place. But until then you couldn't pay me to go back, and probably couldn't pay Bastille or Wolf Gang to either. read more

Gabe was absolutely the most helpful person I have ever spoken with about my concerns with venues and accessibility. The hospitality and genuine care he showed me was priceless! I can't wait to come see y'all in November! read more