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Anybody remember the rainy year at Alpine (1996?)when Jimmy and Fingers started the show on the scaffold at the end of the roof, for the lawn people. He was about 20 feet away from me (I was last row of the pavillion.

Then when it started pouring he kept playing, "If y'all are stupid enough to stay, I'm stupid enough to keep playing" It was the best show just about ever

If you really wanted a road trip why not go to "the best parking lot" at GREAT WOODS?

it took two pages for someone to mention thee best tailgating in the country GREAT WOODS!!!!!!!! A must for anyone who hasn't been.
Also VEGAS behind the MGM is pretty damn cool.

I've been to Indy twice, Cincy 3 times, Tinley Park 4 times, and Alpine twice. It's a really tough call to say whether Alpine or Cincy is better. Alpine is so much bigger. The Cincy show is so fun and the venue seems more intimate, even for an outdoor arena. The first time I was at Alpine, I was in awe with how much bigger it was then Riverbend. Last year, we got into Alpine at 1pm. We got into Cincy around 3pm. I think the tailgate experience at Cincy was more authentic, but I still contend that Alpine was the best experience overall. Indy just don't really compare to Alpine or Cincy. Cincy's been on a weekday the past few years, and Alpine's usually a Saturday. I don't think you could go wrong with either those two. I say go to both!!!

Being from New England:

If Jimmy was to play these venues and I wanted to catch a few shows, what 2 venues can I go to without driving for days?

PirateJeff wrote:If you really wanted a road trip why not go to "the best parking lot" at GREAT WOODS?

This thread is nothing to do about what is the BEST venue out there. This has to do with the best experience for a Midwest show that I can get to within 6 hours so take your Great Woods to a different thread!

While I enjoy the tailgating and party atmosphere as much as most, I don't like it when my experience is messed up by a boatload of drunkards! Alpine & Cincy seem to have the people's vote, but my concern is with twice as many people at Alpine, that means twice as many drunken idiots. I guess it depends upon the crowd that you happen to come into contact with.

One thing that confuses me is one person says we got into Alpine at 1:00, but couldn't get into Cincy or Tinley until 3:00 or 4:00, then the next guy gives the complete opposite. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!!

Anyway, I guess the great debate will continue to rage and my decision will basically come down to availability!

Here's hoping to hell Jimmy doesn't forget about "The Knob" this year!!

Tiki Bar wrote:No time for details, but I'm sure the concensus will steer you to Alpine... it's 1 of the top 2 spots on the tour every year for tailgating excellence.

You may want to consider staying in Janesville and signing up for the party bus... see the sig line of finsupnorth in the Alpine thread.

I am with you on that one Joanne! Here is the link in my sig line by the way!

Haven't been to Alpine so I can't compare. Hopefully that will change this summer.

Indy: Great venue but the tailgating is terrible and the traffic afterwards is the worst of any venue I have ever been to. They do not open the gates until 5:00, if you want to tailgate before hand then head to Sleapybear campground.

Chicago: Venue is ok but I thought tailgating was great. Lots of fun to be had at the Holiday Inn parking lot before the show. This past year we got into the parking lot at 2:30

Cincy: Great tailgating, best of any venue I have been to. You pretty much can do as you wish in the parking lot as long as you don't act like a complete idiot. Problem with the venue is the huge pillars that block your view if you are in the lawn.

I would rank as:
1) Cincy
2) Chicago
3) Indy

Ok...I'm going to show my ignorance for a moment. Where exactly is Alpine valley, and why is it such a good concert??

After reading through the thread and the concerns about timing of the parking lot opening and how long it takes to get in, etc...here is my experience.

We took the Alpine bus from Janesville last year. We started with a pre-party at the Best Western in Janesville around 9 a.m. We left that parking lot at 1:00 and got to Alpine just before 2. Because we were in buses, we got in right away and parked pretty close. The crew immediately started setting up the grills, beer, wop, and food. We had a huge tailgate all day in the parking lot, had great pavillion seats that we didn't have to search for tickets because they were included with the trip.
The best part was not worrying about driving anywhere! The bus took us right back to our hotel afterwards while we all sang 100 bottles of beer on the wall...some of us slept It was great, we will definitely be doing that every year!!!!

Been to Tinley, the company was awesome with the BN crew, but the rocks were hell! And the bathroom situation was not so good...(another benefit for the bus trip, the buses have bathrooms on them!!! no waiting).

I really want to make Cincy some year...sounds like a lot of fun....then again, want to make all of them eventually!

bananaman wrote:Ok...I'm going to show my ignorance for a moment. Where exactly is Alpine valley, and why is it such a good concert??

Alpine is in East Troy, WI. Use mapquest for details, but roughly an hour west of Milwaukee.

I've not done Indy or Cinci (want to) but have done Alpine and Tinley for 15 years. Hands down, Alpine spanks Tinley - and I drive twice as far to enjoy Alpine. I still go to Tinley but it's such a let down after Alpine.

Alpine's the best venue because:
1) over the years Jimmy's seen us stand in down pours for hours, withstand sleet and snow(!!), and he appreciates what that says about our feelings for his music and message.
2) the tailgate starts (on site, anyway) at 1:00. The crowd goes all out - this is not about food & drink, but putting on an interactive show and community party. Wildest section definately the buses.
3) the crowd is mostly very mellow - not as many druken idiots per thousand as Tinley, especially if you stay away from the buses. They started drinking earlier & never stopped since they have a designated driver.
4) Alpine's got a small pavillion, and I don't want to start a whole pavillion vs. lawn thing, but pavillion tends to be older & sedate, IMHO. Tinley has more pavillion but the lawn has NO slope, can't see anything. Sound poorly balanced and sounds harsh.
5) At Alpine, post show parking madness, so fire up the grill, have a brat & beer, leave after an hour. In Tinley, equally madness but can't do anything but sit in your car, not moving.

If you do Alpine, watch the pre-show parking lot crowd and when they start to migrate South to the gates, grab a blanket to sit on, a beer for standing in line, and high tail it to the gate to get in and get good lawn. Early arrival inside highly rewarded!

Dr Corona-

I've been to them all and I'll share my opinion. I still think Knob is the best though

Alpine - I'll give them credit, they can tailgate, it is Wisconson after all. But when we went it was brats, beer, and Bon Jovi! We got to the tailgate about 2pm, we were in the mid-front area. And the people around us tailgated more like they were at a Packer game then at a Buffett concert. It was american beer, brats and seriously...BON JOVI I will say that Alpine pavillion really does have a good sound system! But pavillion seats are $$$$ and hard to get. Any seat is good, it's really tiny. And you couldn't pay me to be on the lawn there! 30,000 people, and it's a REALLY steep slope!

Tinley - I've been there 2 times. And the ONLY reason we go back is #1 pavillon seats are pretty cheap on Ebay (I think we paid $125 for 2 Sat night CENTER, row 26). And we meet up with some college friends. But that's it! The tailgating doesn't start til 4pm, and the sound STINKS!

Cincy- It's my home away from home. Tailgating in the truest Buffett form (of course Dave, deimoff, has alot to do with that ) The venue is great. I've been on the lawn twice and once in the pavillion (4th row center). Never had a complaint about it. Although I did almost get in a fight on the lawn one year, and I had my crotch grabbed by some slime ball

Good Luck with your choice....If I had to rank them I'd say

1. Cincy
2. Alpine
3. Chicago

ParrotheadCMC wrote:Alpine - I'll give them credit, they can tailgate, it is Wisconson after all. But when we went it was brats, beer, and Bon Jovi! We got to the tailgate about 2pm, we were in the mid-front area. And the people around us tailgated more like they were at a Packer game then at a Buffett concert. It was american beer, brats and seriously...BON JOVI

Was this last year? The reason I ask is I happened upon a girl I knew in college in the mid 80's in the lot last year; and her nickname was Bon Jovi because she was such a big fan. Maybe you were by her group!

I've seen very little domestic beer - more Corona, margaritas, and shots. I'm guilty of the brats however!

Tiki Bar wrote:

ParrotheadCMC wrote:Alpine - I'll give them credit, they can tailgate, it is Wisconson after all. But when we went it was brats, beer, and Bon Jovi! We got to the tailgate about 2pm, we were in the mid-front area. And the people around us tailgated more like they were at a Packer game then at a Buffett concert. It was american beer, brats and seriously...BON JOVI

Was this last year? The reason I ask is I happened upon a girl I knew in college in the mid 80's in the lot last year; and her nickname was Bon Jovi because she was such a big fan. Maybe you were by her group!

I've seen very little domestic beer - more Corona, margaritas, and shots. I'm guilty of the brats however!

I wish I was guilty of the brats.....they had so much free food for us, and I never ate a thing! went right to the WOP and let me tell you, that stuff was potent!!!! The bus area was definitely a lot of fun to party and all we heard was JIMMY!!! The bus usually has a live band playing so that is really cool! Our pavillion seats were great also...although, lots of bruises when you try dancing and keep falling on those annoying chairs they put there...

Dr.Corona wrote:While I enjoy the tailgating and party atmosphere as much as most, I don't like it when my experience is messed up by a boatload of drunkards! Alpine & Cincy seem to have the people's vote, but my concern is with twice as many people at Alpine, that means twice as many drunken idiots. I guess it depends upon the crowd that you happen to come into contact with.

Exactly. I heard about a lot of fights and drunken idiot incidents at Alpine last year...after the show. I never saw them first hand. I did get to see a wedding though and that was cool as hell. I genuinely don't think twice as many people means twice as many drunken idiots. It's all about who you surround yourself with. We had no problems at Alpine last year whatsoever...and never had any at Cincy either. (only at Tinley )

Dr.Corona wrote: One thing that confuses me is one person says we got into Alpine at 1:00, but couldn't get into Cincy or Tinley until 3:00 or 4:00, then the next guy gives the complete opposite. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!!

You can get into Alpine at 1pm (despite what others say) and you can tailgate in all the lots. One bummer about Cincy is that you can't tailgate in all the parking lots. You can tailgate in the racetrack's parking lot next to Riverbend, or across the street in the grassy section. Otherwise, you have to park and move your tailgate to another area where it is allowed.

Dr.Corona wrote:Anyway, I guess the great debate will continue to rage and my decision will basically come down to availability!

Yes it will. And it's probably more likely that you'll get tickets for Alpine. Really though, you cannot go wrong!!! You will definitely enjoy yourself at either venue.

I've been to both Alpine and Cinncy. Never made Tinley because I've heard it isn't very good. Still would like to see for myself someday.
Anyways, If I had to go to only one, I would choose Alpine. But Alpine just has a better setup for tailgating, in my opinion.

You won't be disappointed with either venue.

Note: The crowd can get pretty rowdy on the lawn at Alpine, so if you want to avoid that potential problem, pay extra to get reserved seats. That's what we try to do.

volcanohead wrote:I've been to both Alpine and Cinncy. Never made Tinley because I've heard it isn't very good. Still would like to see for myself someday.
Anyways, If I had to go to only one, I would choose Alpine. But Alpine just has a better setup for tailgating, in my opinion.

You won't be disappointed with either venue.

Note: The crowd can get pretty rowdy on the lawn at Alpine, so if you want to avoid that potential problem, pay extra to get reserved seats. That's what we try to do.

Hey stranger!!!! Where ya been??????

If everything goes well this year, I will go to Cincy. Lord help me!! It's a long way from Chgo. From what I hear, Well worth the drive. I guess the ph in Cincy know how to throw a party.

I guess the ph in Cincy know how to throw a party.

Oh yes, those crazy Parrotheads in Cincy can throw a party. But if you care anything at all about the music, stay off the lawn and upgrade to pavilion seats. Without a doubt, the Riverbend lawn is the worst I've ever epxerienced.

I'll have to look for the thread about Cincinnati from a few years back. I wasn't the only one complaining about the rudeness (and fighting!!!!) on the lawn.

But like I always say, a Buffett show almost any place on earth is still a good time!

Well, in reality, there's complaints about the lawn section at every outdoor venue... not just Cincy, not just Alpine, not just Tinley, etc....

I don't want to start a lawn vs. pavilion discussion either, just trying to clarify so that no one thinks one place is worse (or better) than another...