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Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 4:01 pm
by TropicalTroubador
In Vegas, the "parking lot" is an alley next to Margaritaville. Some folks tailgate in the parking structure next to it - I've had some fun there. Also, the "Last Man Standing" parties are usually fairly decent.
San Francisco Bay Area has perhaps the least conducive parking areas to decent tailgating. The "Shark Tank" (HP Pavilion) in San Jose doesn't really *have* one big lot; people end up in a bunch of smaller lots scattered over a bunch of city blocks. The Fillmore in San Francisco has no lot, and the cops will bust folks for drinking in line waiting to get in.
Even the venues with parking lots - Concord Pavilion and Shoreline - don't open the lots until 5 PM, and both local police departments are *very* anti-tailgating. They confiscate or make you spill out your booze, and they'll make you extinguish grills. Shoreline at least has the nearby Sports Page bar for afternoon tailgating.
Maybe if Jimmy went back to the Oracle Arena or Coliseum in Oakland, we might get decent tailgating. Yes, it's Oakland. But they're used to the Raiders and *their* tailgating "Nation."
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 4:04 pm
by Coconuts
Add me to the list of people who don't understand the lure of Alpine. It seemed like a lot more drunken frat boys than parrotheads when we were there.
I need to nominate Pittsburgh as well- it took us an hour to get the bus parked, from the time we turned into the venue. It took an hour and twenty minutes from the interstate, because our bus driver went down one more exit and turned around- that definitely saved some time.
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 4:21 pm
by Dr.Corona
Since I can't help with the worst parking lot on the tour I can vote for 2 venues that SHOULD NOT be on anyones worst parking lot list........Riverbend in Cincinnati & Pine Knob (DTE) in Detroit (Clarkston).
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 4:22 pm
by ph4ever
Stevie Ray Vaughan died at Alpine
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 4:46 pm
by z-man
Add me to the list of people not impressed by Alpine
Cincinnati is great
Orlando and Tampa are a lot of fun
The old Starplex venue in Dallas was an excellent scene, have not made it over to Frisco
Don't like Woodlands in Houston, but the downtown concert was great
Indy would be better if the parking lot nazis would loosen up
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 4:52 pm
by PirateJeff
Although I did see one of the funniest/dangerous drinking games I've ever seen in a parking lot. (at Camden)
At first i thought it was some kinda redneck thing, it consisted of 1- flipping a hammer in the air 2- catching it 3- hitting a nail and driving it into a stump. I'm not sure where the drinking came in or how many broken toes came about during the game
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 5:29 pm
by tangy8
Bicycle Bill wrote:I notice these are all east-coast venues. You really need, as Horace Greeley said, to "Go West, young man" and visit Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. It would definitely make top three, and might even knock Jones Beach down a notch.
The parking lot tailgate is legendary, even though there were some glitches as to when they were going to start letting people in this year; and there is usually not just one but
*TWO* major Parrothead parties in the area — and in the last two years one of them has featured the
"Beach Bums" band with members of the Reefers sitting in — on the Friday night before. The venue itself is a natural amphitheater, with lawn seating on a hillside so even if you're way in the back you've still got a reasonably good view of the stage.
And it's pretty much a given that Jimmy will be coming back. I think he's only missed one year here since the early '90s.
The only problem I could foresee is that the lot is unpaved and is basically an open field with driving lanes worn into it. If the weather turns nasty, or if it's been a rainy week beforehand, it could very easily turn into a sea of mud.
-"BB"-
That would have been "The Boat Drunks" with the Reefers
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 5:59 pm
by FINSUPinIdaho
In Vegas, the "parking lot" is an alley next to Margaritaville. Some folks tailgate in the parking structure next to it - I've had some fun there. Also, the "Last Man Standing" parties are usually fairly decent.
Just me, but I don't consider the Vegas party set up (alley, LMS, MGM party) as a "parking lot" where people tailgate/set up/hang out before the show.
I consider a parking lot/tailgate to be like Lakewood in Atlanta when I went in '99. That was fantastic. Or say SD, the Gorge, Desert Sky Pav that I went to. Places that people tailgated and hung out in the parking lot.
LV is way different than any other place. Apples and oranges.
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 6:03 pm
by TommyBahama
In no Order.......Love Tampa.....Mohegan Sun ( fun intimate tailgate)....Orlando.....and Greatwoods ( until they moved us to the back of the lot)...and Jones Beach ( the best set up, being on the water )...enjoyed Chicago ( Tingly) and i do like Alpine......Worst AC
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 6:34 pm
by Coconuts
z-man wrote:Indy would be better if the parking lot nazis would loosen up
They did! They opened at 11 this year, and didn't seem to stop any set ups from what I could see. However, the mess getting out of that lot, and the lack of bathrooms makes it a bad venue for me.
Agree that Pine Knob is pretty good. It's not on the level with Cinci by any stretch, but it is a much better home venue than Indy. Although the steps on the back of the lawn need to be quadrupled in width, or they need to add a few more exits.
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 7:05 pm
by ph4ever
z-man wrote:Add me to the list of people not impressed by Alpine
Cincinnati is great
Orlando and Tampa are a lot of fun
The old Starplex venue in Dallas was an excellent scene, have not made it over to Frisco
Don't like Woodlands in Houston, but the downtown concert was great
Indy would be better if the parking lot nazis would loosen up
As far as Starplex (or whatever it's being called now I think superpages.com but probably wrong) vs Frisco I think because of the location Mr Play has been able to secure Frisco beats Starplex hands down (if for nothing but the running water restrooms
) however overall I like Starplex WAY better than Frisco. I miss the lawn. Thought I'd never say that either.
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 9:32 pm
by Glorfindel7
This year at Alpine, I had such a bad parking experience I don't know if I want to go back
I was redirected to the "green lot" because I was in the wrong lane and didn't get advance notice of the "early opening" with $20 fee which pretty much screwed my day since I got stuck in the crowd attempting to enter the venue at 2 (waited about an hour stuck on the road from Geneva...cops should at least have been making people move on if they weren't going in....)
Las Vegas isn't a parking lot per se... probably maybe this year I'll go a little early and see what they mean by the little tailgate in the MGM Grand but for the most part the party on the street next to the flamingo/Margaritaville is good enough... Add LMS and you have a worthwhile concert experience
Toyota Park is a good parking lot IF you get there early enough because there just isn't enough room for everyone....
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 9:38 pm
by SMLCHNG
Have been to several venues. Not as many as some.
I'll always love Fiddlers Green as my favorite, with the Rockie Mountains in the distance. It's no Red Rocks, but still nice.
![[smilie=cheeky-grin.gif]](./images/smilies/cheeky-grin.gif "cheeky-grin")
Aside from the great company of BN'ers at Camden in 2003, it was probably my least favorite venue. Sound was bad on the lawn, and the trash left behind was the worst I've ever seen.
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 10:52 pm
by Bicycle Bill
tangy8 wrote:Bicycle Bill wrote:I notice these are all east-coast venues. You really need, as Horace Greeley said, to "Go West, young man" and visit Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. It would definitely make top three, and might even knock Jones Beach down a notch.
The parking lot tailgate is legendary, even though there were some glitches as to when they were going to start letting people in this year; and there is usually not just one but
*TWO* major Parrothead parties in the area — and in the last two years one of them has featured the
"Beach Bums" band with members of the Reefers sitting in — on the Friday night before. The venue itself is a natural amphitheater, with lawn seating on a hillside so even if you're way in the back you've still got a reasonably good view of the stage.
And it's pretty much a given that Jimmy will be coming back. I think he's only missed one year here since the early '90s.
The only problem I could foresee is that the lot is unpaved and is basically an open field with driving lanes worn into it. If the weather turns nasty, or if it's been a rainy week beforehand, it could very easily turn into a sea of mud.
-"BB"-
That would have been "The Boat Drunks" with the Reefers
Ooops!!!
And I've got my necktag from last year, autographed by Nadirah and Mr. Utley, hanging within five feet of me. I should have checked rather than trusting my memory ... although in my defense, there were more than a few brain cells that were 'on vacation' that night.
-"BB"-
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 23, 2010 11:39 pm
by nutmeg
Pine Knob (DTE) has become my favorite venue. I could never get tickets there for the longest time. (and it's in my home state)
Tons of clean restrooms inside the venue (not so much in the lot
), vendors who sell you stuff at your seat, nice folks and trees in the parking lot. The waterfalls and gardens are really nice too. I've come to really love it there.
I also enjoyed Tinley park(it was my first concert...so special in its own way) and while there was no tailgating at the Shell in Waikiki, that night will always be remembered as magical. Sometimes its not all about the tailgate.
In fact the only venue I didn't like was Alpine. We missed the beginning of the concert because of the stupid crowd control and lack of entrances. The bathrooms were few and far between and filthy. The nazis on horseback herding people and causing us to nearly be crushed were terrifying. The best thing about that concert was that we took the ferry across Lake Michigan to attend it. We have relatives that live less than 1/2 hour from that venue, but I can't see myself ever going there again.
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 24, 2010 6:34 am
by Bfan53again
Funny, but my one trip to AC (2009) was very enjoyable for my wife and I........
Granted, you lack the central tailgate setting that most BNers prefer, but seeing all of those flowered shirts and grass skirts slowly take over the Boardwalk as the day went on was a hoot! Even funnier was watching the non-concert goers looking at the "scenery" and guessing that some "cult" was invading AC.....
We had a nice dinner at Caesar's pier, went to our room to freshen up, then casually walked to Boardwalk Hall for the show. The best thing? Walking back to our room at Caesar's after the concert......no parking lot hassles!
![[smilie=coolup.gif]](./images/smilies/coolup.gif "coolup")
The show we attended was packed so although many may dislike the location, it didn't seem to affect the attendance.....
To each his own, right?
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 24, 2010 10:11 am
by FINSUPinIdaho
Las Vegas isn't a parking lot per se... probably maybe this year I'll go a little early and see what they mean by the little tailgate in the MGM Grand but for the most part the party on the street next to the flamingo/Margaritaville is good enough... Add LMS and you have a worthwhile concert experience
Avoid it. Stay away from the MGM, they used to have a great party, but slowly they have ruined it over the years.
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 24, 2010 10:53 am
by Tropic_Al
Bfan53again wrote:Funny, but my one trip to AC (2009) was very enjoyable for my wife and I........
Granted, you lack the central tailgate setting that most BNers prefer, but seeing all of those flowered shirts and grass skirts slowly take over the Boardwalk as the day went on was a hoot! Even funnier was watching the non-concert goers looking at the "scenery" and guessing that some "cult" was invading AC.....
We had a nice dinner at Caesar's pier, went to our room to freshen up, then casually walked to Boardwalk Hall for the show. The best thing? Walking back to our room at Caesar's after the concert......no parking lot hassles!
The show we attended was packed so although many may dislike the location, it didn't seem to affect the attendance.....
To each his own, right?
Even though there isn't a tailgate, I enjoyed AC. In '08, we had a block party w/John Frinzi & Mark James. Doyle & Peter showed up for a bit & signed autographs & pictures. In '09, Frinzi & his band were @ The AC Hilton Beach Bar for a pre party. Then after the show, still had bands playing in the beach bars. Wish JB had gone back to AC this year.
Everybody has their favorite.
It is what you make it.
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 24, 2010 11:47 am
by TwelveVoltMan
Bristow, Va has the worst parking lot EVER!
However it does have some great people.
Re: Worst parking lot on the tour(not worst personal experience)
Posted: August 24, 2010 1:47 pm
by Snowparrot
Has anyone considered how hopeless tailgating in Toronto is? Ontario's anti-drinking-in-public-places rules are strictly enforced. And, of course, the last time Jimmy played T.O., it was in November!
The Molson Amphitheatre venue, though, was wonderful!
Of the U.S. venues I've been to, I really liked Pine Knob and Tampa.
Most are so FAR from any kind of public transportation, hotels, etc., that it's hard to get there without a car.