Chicago show venue failures a breakdown
Posted: June 30, 2013 7:15 pm
Yesterday I wrote a post about how the venue Jimmy was playing in Chicago had fans upset before the show even began last night. I mentioned in that post only one issue (of many) that had fans angry and that issue was the change in parking pricing that was announced just a few days before this show.
After reading many many scathing reviews of the venue which is called FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island (went tickets went on sale it was known as Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island), I think a more detailed look at how this venue failed many Parrot-Heads is in order given that there were too many problems to ignore and they need to be discussed.
1. Parking Pricing
I will review this again from previous post just so it is included in this post as part of this post concert discussion. Tickets for the 6/29/13 show went on sale on April 1, 2013 and at that time parking was included in the ticket price, which for actual seats was $157 with all Live Nation fees included. Also available was VIP parking for this show at a separate $30 through Live Nation
So what went wrong with this? Plenty
On June 26, 2013 three days before the show, the venue announced the following parking information for the day of Jimmy's show:
Parking between 2:30 pm-4:30 pm:
Adler (VIP) Lot: $49
East Lot: $49
South Lot Oversize: $120
South Lot Car: $40
Waldron Deck Car: $40
31st Street Oversize: $60
31st Street Car: $30
After 4:30 some of the lots reverted to parking being included with the price of the ticket as had been advertised. Most Parrot-Heads like to arrive early and tailgate before the show. However for this show they had to pay to park for the first two hours despite the being told parking was included in the price of the ticket at the time tickets were purchased. In short Jimmy's fans had to pay what amounts to a "tailgating fee" which is something that is not done at other venues. Also note the first parking lot in the list above is denoted as the VIP lot this the lot that parrot-heads paid $30 in advance for through Live Nation to park in, only to have pay an additional $19 dollars for parking that was already paid for.
Another issue about parking for this show is that the lots were a considerable distance from the venue (a mile to a mile and half in some posted complaints). Apparently little if any consideration was given to offering shuttle service of some sort to and from the lots and the venue especially to senior Parrot-Heads of which there were many at this show.
2. Lawn Chairs
Again when tickets when on sale it was stated that lawn chairs (no higher then 9 inches) would be allowed in the venue for those holding lawn tickets. Again this policy was changed on short notice and left every one on the lawn last night standing for the all show.
3. The Lawn (or lack of one)
Okay this seems to be one of the biggest complaints coming from last nights show and the in this case the complaints seem justified. According to several complaints from actual concert attendees, the lawn at this venue was a complete mess caused by sod becoming over saturated with water from a heavy rainstorm. The result was mud this being called absolutely disgusting and based on some descriptions this is actually kind. Many people who had lawn tickets had shoes and clothes ruined by the mud which was six plus inches deep throughout the lawn. the mud also according to some posted complaints was tossed around by some drunken concert goers.
Another issue with the lawn last night was the lack of sanitary facilities (bathrooms) which lead to people re-leaving themselves on the muddy lawn. (Think about what I wrote above about the mud being thrown around).
The other major issue with the lawn was that unlike other venues it was not a lawn with a slope so people on the lawn could see the show from there. There is almost no elevation to the lawn at this venue which made it next to impossible to see the show from the lawn and this coupled with the lawn conditions lead to a large number of walk outs very early in the show which is almost unheard of at Jimmy's shows. Some people left before the third song of the show
4. Concession stand issues
Apparently along with all of the other issues at this show, there was a shortage of all things BEER! Some reports indicate that BEER was gone by 7 pm at some concession stands which was an hour or more before Jimmy took the stage. The shortage lead to long waits in lines for beer and once people actually got beer the beer was being served WARM.
5. Sound system issues
Another complaint coming from this show was that the venue sound system was week and not balanced correctly making the show hard to hear on enjoy unless you were close to the stage. There were also issues with the video screen set up for concert goers which were not working correctly including extra screens set-up for the lawn area.
6. Other complaints
Along with the issues above there were issues in the tailgating lots over what was and was not allowed in those lots. Tents and Canopies were ordered taken down despite there not being listed as unacceptable. There was also an issue with water bottles which concert goers had been told could be brought into the venue (up to 1 liter in size max.). However instead of being allowed in water bottles were confiscated by security as concert goers entered the venue. However several cans and bottles of alcohol were brought in by the less then effective event security.
I am sure there other complaints and issues regarding this one particular Buffett concert
After reading many many scathing reviews of the venue which is called FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island (went tickets went on sale it was known as Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island), I think a more detailed look at how this venue failed many Parrot-Heads is in order given that there were too many problems to ignore and they need to be discussed.
1. Parking Pricing
I will review this again from previous post just so it is included in this post as part of this post concert discussion. Tickets for the 6/29/13 show went on sale on April 1, 2013 and at that time parking was included in the ticket price, which for actual seats was $157 with all Live Nation fees included. Also available was VIP parking for this show at a separate $30 through Live Nation
So what went wrong with this? Plenty
On June 26, 2013 three days before the show, the venue announced the following parking information for the day of Jimmy's show:
Parking between 2:30 pm-4:30 pm:
Adler (VIP) Lot: $49
East Lot: $49
South Lot Oversize: $120
South Lot Car: $40
Waldron Deck Car: $40
31st Street Oversize: $60
31st Street Car: $30
After 4:30 some of the lots reverted to parking being included with the price of the ticket as had been advertised. Most Parrot-Heads like to arrive early and tailgate before the show. However for this show they had to pay to park for the first two hours despite the being told parking was included in the price of the ticket at the time tickets were purchased. In short Jimmy's fans had to pay what amounts to a "tailgating fee" which is something that is not done at other venues. Also note the first parking lot in the list above is denoted as the VIP lot this the lot that parrot-heads paid $30 in advance for through Live Nation to park in, only to have pay an additional $19 dollars for parking that was already paid for.
Another issue about parking for this show is that the lots were a considerable distance from the venue (a mile to a mile and half in some posted complaints). Apparently little if any consideration was given to offering shuttle service of some sort to and from the lots and the venue especially to senior Parrot-Heads of which there were many at this show.
2. Lawn Chairs
Again when tickets when on sale it was stated that lawn chairs (no higher then 9 inches) would be allowed in the venue for those holding lawn tickets. Again this policy was changed on short notice and left every one on the lawn last night standing for the all show.
3. The Lawn (or lack of one)
Okay this seems to be one of the biggest complaints coming from last nights show and the in this case the complaints seem justified. According to several complaints from actual concert attendees, the lawn at this venue was a complete mess caused by sod becoming over saturated with water from a heavy rainstorm. The result was mud this being called absolutely disgusting and based on some descriptions this is actually kind. Many people who had lawn tickets had shoes and clothes ruined by the mud which was six plus inches deep throughout the lawn. the mud also according to some posted complaints was tossed around by some drunken concert goers.
Another issue with the lawn last night was the lack of sanitary facilities (bathrooms) which lead to people re-leaving themselves on the muddy lawn. (Think about what I wrote above about the mud being thrown around).
The other major issue with the lawn was that unlike other venues it was not a lawn with a slope so people on the lawn could see the show from there. There is almost no elevation to the lawn at this venue which made it next to impossible to see the show from the lawn and this coupled with the lawn conditions lead to a large number of walk outs very early in the show which is almost unheard of at Jimmy's shows. Some people left before the third song of the show
4. Concession stand issues
Apparently along with all of the other issues at this show, there was a shortage of all things BEER! Some reports indicate that BEER was gone by 7 pm at some concession stands which was an hour or more before Jimmy took the stage. The shortage lead to long waits in lines for beer and once people actually got beer the beer was being served WARM.
5. Sound system issues
Another complaint coming from this show was that the venue sound system was week and not balanced correctly making the show hard to hear on enjoy unless you were close to the stage. There were also issues with the video screen set up for concert goers which were not working correctly including extra screens set-up for the lawn area.
6. Other complaints
Along with the issues above there were issues in the tailgating lots over what was and was not allowed in those lots. Tents and Canopies were ordered taken down despite there not being listed as unacceptable. There was also an issue with water bottles which concert goers had been told could be brought into the venue (up to 1 liter in size max.). However instead of being allowed in water bottles were confiscated by security as concert goers entered the venue. However several cans and bottles of alcohol were brought in by the less then effective event security.
I am sure there other complaints and issues regarding this one particular Buffett concert
