We attended the Howard Jones concert on August 21. 2026 and were very disappointed that the screens were not on. It is not only not giving the atrendees their money's worth, it is also disrespectful to the artist. read more

Of course the concert was excellent. Lots of restrooms . That was a great design element... that is appreciated for ladies. For this event , I learned There is a tier that you could choose for early entry and closer parking. Otherwise parking was 'free'. And there was a line for without bag and then another security line for those with clear bags. It looks like everyone knew about the clear bag rule. Take note! Enjoy the show!! Thanks to all the hardworking folks who do their job so well for the benefit of us all. Everything was lovely read more

See all

GREAT performance, BAD venue staff experience. I went to see BABYMETAL September 9th. They did AMAZINGLY, and VIRA, another one of my favorites, also did spectacular. I didn't really know Halestorm, and they're still not my thing, but they did great too. The performance was amazing all around, and I'm happy I was able to get both BABYMETAL and VIRA merch, they're both on my list of favorite artists and I've seen them both before in New York. The venue, unfortunately, was unsatisfactory. I went with my girlfriend and my little cousin. I'm 18, and my cousin is 15 but could look even younger, he's a small guy. He got dinged for a wallet chain. He said to the lady he didn't want to be separated from me, so she let me go too but then dinged me for a belt and a belt chain they said nothing about until then. I shrug off and go with him while my girlfriend waited for us. We see this man with a blue bucket filled with bracelets and accessories. He had ray hair in a bun, gray eyes, diamond stud earrings, gray stubble, and a green shirt with circular logo under the blue work shirt. We waved us over. I went with my cousin and we gave him our things since he seemed to want to take them. I was very overwhelmed at this point and just wanted to get out of this crowded thin line. My cousin then asks him "will we get our things back?". The man then aggressively said "No, you're not getting this shit back". We went to find the lady from earlier, who was very nice. She went with us back and said it was a mistake. He basically thew our things at us and said "take your shit, losers." as we started to walk away he said something about me and pointed at me. My cousin is overprotective, while I'm very passive when I'm anxious with a big stomach ache. He yelled at him to watch his mouth along with a curse word. The man gave him this look that unsettled me, I took his arm along with the lady and we left. My cousin very rarely cries, but he did this time. He was scared he made me mad too and cried. I felt very bad as he was just defending me but felt overwhelmed with anger to the point he had to cry. The baggage claim people in the shed were also very nice. When we joined back in line the man was fist bumping another man for being from New York. He also halted the line for two minutes when he saw us, while the other security workers didn't seem to see a need to. I felt angry as we're from New York, and he looked like he was in his 50s (I'm assuming) yelling at teenagers. The lady found us again and took us and we reunited with my girlfriend and found our seats. We missed most of VIRA. I was really upset as I adore her much and was so excited to see her again. BABYMETAL cheered us up. I'm glad I was able to at least get VIRA merch to support her, as I've been a big fan of her since she released I Don't Care and has been in my top five ever since that relase. BABYMETAL really put on a show as usual and were absolutely fantastic, I wouldn't expect any less of them as I've loved them since I was a young kid back when Yui metal was still there (she was my favorite, I even ran a fan page). We also still got to cheer for VIRA which I was happy about. Halestom also did great and siad to cheer for both BABYMETAL and VIRA after their performance which was so sweet. On the way out, I was holding hands with my girlfriend and my cousin, since it was very crowded and easy to get lost. I saw the man, and my heart sank to my stomach as he stared at me. I actually felt sick. My dad was there to escort us to the car. So my girlfriend and I went to get our chains while my cousin decided he wanted to get this mans name, my dad followed to make sure he was okay. My cousin wanted to record but forgot in the heat of the moment. I'm sure anyone surrounding saw what happened as it was a little funny. My cousin approached him saying "may I have your name? For how you treated my cousin and I". He faked a confused expression and said he "didn't say shit" until he looked up and saw my dad. My dad is 6'6, mcuh larger than this security guy. Suddenly the man said "I have work!" and bolted up the stairs. My cousin chased him saying "the reason you don't live in New York anymore is because you can't afford it!", something I muttered under my breath when he halted the line. We never got his name but I immediately wrote in my notes app a description, as it was a 3 hour drive home and very late, I didn't want us to forget any details. I think he shouldn't be working with customers if he has the audacity to act like that, it was truly disgusting and disappointing that he had the nerve to treat teenagers like that, but gets scared once he sees someone bigger than him. He's part of this odd subtype of men who disrespect women and children. It really was unprofessional. read more

PNC Bank Arts Center - Receipt over the wallet chain - Ticket Sales Near Me - Holmdel, New Jersey

See all

Still have not heard back from Rep who asked about my experience! __________________________________________________________________ My wife surprised me with tickets to John's concert to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first time we saw him together at Madison Square Garden. That concert remains one of our favorite memories. Unfortunately, our experience at PNC was the complete opposite. In my 62 years, it was one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a live event. When we purchased our tickets, we also reserved four lawn chairs. Upon arriving, we were sent to three different locations to retrieve them. One location was closed, another didn't exist, and the final location in the upper deck--where we apparently should have been directed in the first place--had already run out of chairs. One of the couples with us is in their 70s, and all six of us ended up standing for nearly three hours. Had we known there would be no chairs available despite paying for them, we never would have purchased lawn tickets. To make matters worse, another couple in our group paid to bring all six of us into the Cadillac VIP area, hoping we could at least sit there. Unfortunately, there was still nowhere to sit. One of our 72-year-old guests briefly sat on a storage box containing towels and was immediately told she had to get up. She wanted to leave the concert, but because we all traveled together in one car, she stayed so as not to inconvenience the rest of the group. Beyond the chair issue, we all felt the venue was significantly overcrowded. It created an uncomfortable and, frankly, unsafe atmosphere. Whether or not it actually exceeded capacity, it certainly felt that way, and the concern over what could happen in an emergency added unnecessary stress throughout the evening. In the end, we paid $80 for chairs we never received, $60 for VIP section, spent nearly three hours standing, left with sore backs, and are still talking about how anxious the overcrowding made us feel. What should have been a special anniversary celebration became a very disappointing experience. I'd be happy to speak with you if you'd like to discuss what happened, although I have to admit it would be difficult to say much that was positive about this experience. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. read more

PNC has trashed an iconic summer experience. If you'll forgive my overly technical explanation, this venue was once split up into actual seats and a grassy area known as a lawn. This may shock or offend, or sound like an urban legend, but there used to be people who enjoyed standing during concerts. Now, Live Nation has adopted the clever strategy of cheap lawn admission while pushing lawn chair rentals. At yesterday's seemingly oversold John Mellencamp show there was no place for regular standers. Then many of the chair renters stood up, creating the worst of both worlds. The density made it more difficult to evade the shouters. Why did you go to a concert when you can stay home and yell at your morally diseased friends? I wish John would have thrown a drum set at you. Years ago my friends joined me in the "family section" for Fleetwood Mac. We had no particular opinions on drinking but this section had more space available. PNC "fixed that problem" by shrinking the family section and much worse, making it in a section where you can't see the stage! At least the shouting was less frequent so I could hear but not see Smalltown. PNC avoids one star because when the lucrative chair rental operation scaled back it ceded some of its territory to the general public, so we found a spot under the shed that wasn't ideal but was an improvement. This was a rare "friend with car" trip so I didn't take my usual school bus from the Matawan station. The parking/traffic wasn't as bad as it might have been but the non-premium lots are distant. read more

See all

PNC always does concerts well. The summer kids they hire to do traffic control could be better but it was the first night so gotta cut them a break. The seat jumpers are a real problem here. I don't mind a person who Is industrious enough to find their way from the lawn to a seat but dammit stay there then. They get up and down and in and out and NO staff monitors them. It's frustrating for those of us paying for seats that they stand in the aisles and go in and out. read more

See all

As a Jersey kid this is probably my most nostalgic venue and I think you'll hear the same from all of the other Jersey kids you poll. I returned after way too long for the most perfect summer concert with lawn tickets for Jack Johnson and had A BLAST. -Decently easy and well organized parking. You'll probably run into a few snags if you are trying to park in the same lot as others you drove separately from as they are directing traffic into specific locs. Also, once you are in the parking lots there is basically no cell service. -The walk from parking lots to the venue is anywhere from 10-25 minutes. -The lawn is PERFECT for a summer concert. Just hope that the weather is nice and it hasn't rained in the last day or so. Bring blankets or you can rent folding chairs. There doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house. -Canned seltzers, wine and beer were all around $15 each I think? Not too bad. Just a great night and happy to be back at PNC. read more

My favorite concert venue bar none. Not too overwhelming, just the right size. Been coming here for 20+ years for all kinds of artists. Beer and cocktails are hella expensive but we know that's wassup. Still, I'll be here this summer for all my fave bands. See y'all here. read more

PNC Bank Arts Center - Drunk muthafukas - Ticket Sales Near Me - Holmdel, New Jersey

See all

Our first concert of the year - we went to see Kid Rock. We enjoyed the concert very much. There were some tough spots with traffic control but other than that well organized. It's a nice venue. read more

See all

I saw The B-52s and DEVO last weekend at PNC Bank Arts Center. Because it's a bit far for us and a drive, we don't often go down to this venue for concerts, but being DEVO fans we really wanted to go see them. Our seats in the amphitheater were in section 403 row 3. My husband purchased the tickets. We were pretty dead center. The section isn't close to the stage, but there are two large screens that project live camera footage of the performers on stage. We parked in the non-premier parking lots (no extra charge) where it's about a 12 minute walk to the PNC Banks Arts Center itself. We were fine with the distance. All the vendors from food and drink areas to the merch stations were all friendly and kept it moving. Crowd control was fine overall, but there was some confusion about the lines entering the venue. It wasn't clear right away that there was a non-bag entry line and a bag entry line. A few people were walking to the front to get the the non-bag entry line, and I swear it got a little tense when people who had been waiting started shouting. A staffer in a yellow vest eventually cleared it up, but perhaps more signage would help diffuse any situations like that lol. It was a great concert and fun time at PNC Bank Arts Center! read more

See all

PNC Bank Arts Center has been one of my most-visited concert venues over the last few years. I would like to praise some of the improvements they have made! First off, parking here isn't too bad. I do feel as though the paid parking is pretty expensive, but it's fairly close to the venue. They could make things clearer getting into parking, but besides that it's not too difficult to navigate. At the end of the night, getting out of the venue through the premium parking is fairly easy. After that, the security process is also relatively easy. The security here has been super friendly and quick. I did find it somewhat annoying that on a particular night, they were not clear with directions until the last minute, but besides that I entered security relatively fast. When it comes to navigating to our seats, I have never had an issue. The staff are pretty helpful, and I've never had a bad view from seats as close as the 100s sections to as far as the decks. Food and drink here has become surprisingly good, although it's VERY expensive. I always get the nachos, which are surprisingly tasty and have a nice variety of ingredients. Even the chicken tenders are pretty tasty. The $2 hot dog is a simple, cheap bite that I often can't pass up on. They also carry some unique and yummy pre-packaged food, like the CVT soft-serve ice creams. Lines for food usually move pretty quickly and never get too long! Additionally, the bathrooms are surprisingly clean and there are a ton of stalls. I never have to wait, even during busy times, just because they have SO many stalls and clear vacant/occupied signs. Overall, this venue looks great and has had some excellent improvements in the last few years. While things can be very pricey, I feel like this venue has a lot of excellent features that I have to praise. read more

See all

I saw a free summer show here thanks to friends in the band. This venue has been here for ages & I think it's cool that NJ hosts free concerts in venues this large. There were 13,000 in attendance! I'm from PA, and I was able to find it fairly easily since it has its own exit off of the main highway. I think you do have to keep in mind based on age that depending where you park you may have a longer walk to get into the facility. During the free shows they do not enforce the bag policy, but during all their other shows, you are limited as to the size of your bag and what you can bring in. Due of the age of attendees for this show, which was an oldies show, it took much longer than I expected to get in just because you still have to go through metal detectors and open your bag to be searched. I also felt that there are quite a lot of stairs and it seemed like it would be challenging for people with handicaps and mobility issues... And there were a lot of those people at this show who I saw going up and down steps with canes and what have you. The main part of the amphitheater is covered & then there is also lawn seating. The sound was very good at the show, as was the lighting and it is a very large stage. I did not partake of any of the concessions. They have lots of staff/volunteers. I had a reserved seat with my name on it from the band, and in the first several rows of the center section there were quite a lot of seats like that. However, many of those seats remained empty so after the intermission, I just tried to move to an aisle seat in my same row, and I got yelled at by the usher. And then he decided to sit in the seat himself! I was only moving out of the center seat section because I needed to leave a little bit early, and didn't want to bother people to move mid-song. So that was the only part that annoyed me because there was literally nobody sitting in those seats the whole show and there were lots of people who moved down to those seats who did NOTA have access to the VIP section and I legitimately did. But all in all it was fine. they had volunteers with lighted flashlights directing people out of the parking lots, but as I said, I left early because having 13,000 cars of people at 60 and up exiting a parking lot does not always go smoothly ha. read more

See all

Go to this venue only if you have a lot of money or enjoy being treated like a 2nd class citizen. They blocked off where we usually park forcing us into the paid parking area. since we weren't planning on paying we were directed to a lot so far away there was a bus to take you. After trekking to the entry way, we found out not this is the VIP entrance, our entrance was another trek to a long line. This line did not start moving until after the show started. I was subjected to 2 bag checks of my little clutch handbag and then again we were in a line that did not move. While we had given ourselves a decent amount of time to get to the concert it was now 20 minutes into it. The concert was excellent but I will not go to this venue again. read more

I love the vibe on the lawn but this place is showing its age and the fact that Live Nation has little interest in upgrading the sound system and screens. read more

It's a decent venue I seen all the concerts I've seen here through out time but the food and drinks cost way to much and they took out all the Water Fountains read more

Went a concert here this summer. Paid for the VIP club. Arrived a little late, so all seats taken, but a family saw us looking around and shared the table with us. Turned out to be a fun time - food decent, pricey but we expected that. Drinks good. Concert was very good also. Not sure about lawn area but we had good seats. I don't think there's a bad seat in the place. And the sound quality was excellent. Overall a great place to see a show. Everyone working there was very friendly and helpful. read more

The last two concerts I attended here were way too crowded. First in the cabana. No seats and we had to stand. Then lawn seats where we weren't even on the lawn because they again sold too many tickets. We were on the path not the grass. You could barely move. Forget getting up for a bathroom break. read more

PNC Bank Arts Center - James Taylor. Couldn't see much from our seats. - Ticket Sales Near Me - Holmdel, New Jersey

Went to see halestorm and volbeat. Venue was clean , bathrooms clean. Food was was decent and not worth the price being charged but it was typical venue pricing. Security seemed bothered when people asked them questions like where is the bathroom. Best part was upgrading from lawn to 8 rows from stage for $25 read more

See all

1 beer = $24 with tax. I haven't been to PNC in around a decade, and it's safe to say that I was sticker shocked. Everything else is equally WILDLY priced - I paid $11 for a soft pretzel with cheese. This place makes MSG look cheap which is saying a lot. Crowd control should also be much better. The security line is in a hot open field and took 20 minutes to get through. I'm surprised they don't have a better system down at this point. This is a good place to see a show but the insane price gouging kind of put a bad taste in my mouth. Don't know if I'll be making it back any time soon. read more

PNC Bank Arts Center - Ticket Sales Near Me - Holmdel, New Jersey

See all

Overpriced food and drinks, the second tier "VIP" seats are a scam, you get a waitress coming around, the restrooms are far away. I don't know how they get away with calling these VIP, there is nothing VIP about them. This was absolutely the last time I go here. The acoustics are not great either. Im so done! read more

The parking is completely gone down hill this year. Every time we go they send us a different way. Funnel us into the furthest lot, I guess give some 12 year olds. Vests and walkie talkies and they think they are cops read more

9/6/24 1st time ever at PNC Bank Arts Center We had VIP Merch package, so we were able to enter early. Which made the entrance easy peasy. Although the signage outside was not helpful we saw VIP and Fast Pass (are they not the same? LOL) We ended up just waiting off to the side until people started to show up and we formed behind them. The merch package included a drawstring bag, poster, can cozy and VIP lanyard. We left most of it in the car but hubby had 1 bag flat on his back, in case we bought merch inside. Security told him he can't go in with it because it was not clear... So I just said can we just fold it up and put in my purse, which he said ok. Once inside all we saw were stalls for alcohol and no food... :/ Saw a sign pointing to our section, which was past another set of gates. We had to show our ticket to another security person, even though we had the VIP lanyard, before he would let us head to head to our seats... The next section had the Merch stall and some food with more alcohol. Grabbed 2 cans of water, they only have Liquid Death, at $7 per can! Never had water in a can, but here we are... It taste like a can... :/ Since we are not allowed to bring a water bottle to refill there is no choice :/ Got the chicken tenders and fries, it was $18 for 3 pieces of chicken :/ Although the chicken was flavorful, we didn't need sauce. It was a lot of fries which were ok. I was not expecting to go down stairs since when we came in there was stairs going up... Man it was treacherous going down with a can of open water and an open container of chicken and fries! I definitely spilled water trying hard to not spill the food while trying to open my phone to show my ticket! I can not imagine how drunk people make it down those stairs lol Seats were pretty good! Section 104 Row P Seats 1 & 3 Aisle seats so clear line of sight to the stage. I do have to give kudos to the women's bathroom! During 2 of the breaks between artist, I got there and there was no line. At the end of the concert, I got on the line at the turn to the bathroom past the exit, but it moved fast! I had just started to complain to other women on the line about how long it would take and next thing I know I'm near the entrance. There was a woman with a big voice moving us along. Unlike other venues where you are stuck in line for what seems like forever. Fun concert and a nice venue! Will make sure to eat before we come if there is a next time LOL read more

See all

My friend and I went to PNC for the Doobie Brothers and Santana concert. We were told to bring clear bags. Although we did that we had to have someone go through our bags TWICE. Allegedly there were lines for people with bags and those without. Then suddenly we saw a new line and they were getting in before us. While we were stuck on those lines, we could hear the Doobie Brothers singing. By the time we got in, they had completed the first half of their show. There was no organization, older people had to endure ling waits. The show was good but I was totally unimpressed with the way things were managed. I don't blame the employees. I lay this at the feet of management. I won't be attending concerts there again. read more

First and probably my last time ever coming to PNC. It's a beautiful outdoor venue with ample seating and some of the cleanest facilities and layout I've seen. But the staff ruins the entire experience. The parking here is an absolute disaster. Unless you do preferred paid parking which my party opted out of this time be prepared to walk a very long distance to the venue. As the staff directs you to the furthest lot even when there is ample parking open and available in the closed lots. There is a shuttle that takes you from the far lots to the main lot however it runs very slow and often has no working air conditioning. Next make sure you read their bag policies and hope you get someone who kind. There is a bag check line and bag less line when going thru security. I always use a small crossbody bag for all concerts I've attended and it was in their required 6x9" requirement. I was about to go thru security until this random and extremely rude woman who worked there said your bag is too large go check it you're not getting in. Not even a pleasant way to talk to someone whatsoever. She was holding up this print out laminate sign with a box and going up and measuring people's bags. My bag was well within the size requirement however the strap that went on my shoulder and the bags top handle did not fit in the box. She actually removed me from line and said I had to check my bag or I would not be let in. This frumpy and extremely rude and unpleasant woman continued to keep doing this to multiple other women like myself waiting in line. I started to notice a pattern as she was seemingly only singling out the younger girls and women and let multiple older women through security with backpacks and much larger bags. I was not checking my bag as their bag check looked like an absolute disaster and I did not trust them to not lose my bag. I decided to hop back on line and try again. This same woman came out of nowhere as security was checking my bag and physically pulled me out of line. I'm sorry but there was absolutely no need to grab our touch me as the rest of security seemed to have no issue with my bag size or me. This one woman working there definitely should be fired or have some major type of retraining because she is a huge liability and a lawsuit waiting to happen. I opted to walk all the way back to my car and leave my bag in my vehicle because I had a feeling if I did check my bag that met their requirements this woman working there would have done something to it out of her misery. Probably the worst experience I've had and I was patient and didn't snap at the woman once. It's a shame that PNC allows some of their staff to be unhinged and rude like this. Enough to make me never want to return. read more

This is a great venue! I love the open space, and they have so many great entertainers. They have stadium seating in front of the stage in addition to the lawn seats you see in the photo. Most of the seats are under a roof, so if it rains, you are still good to go. Not so much on the lawn. Drinks are as expensive as any other concert. Parking is free, but renting a chair so you don't have to sit in the grass or on a blanket (which you are welcome to bring) is $20 per chair. You aren't allowed to bring your own chair, unfortunately. All in all, I always enjoy a concert at this venue. More often than not though, I get tickets in the seats in front of the stage. Keep experiencing things my friends! read more

See all

The PNC Bank Arts center is a pretty mixed bag: The good: - we paid for premium parking which was absolutely worth it. Close to the entrance, and we were immediately back on the parkway after the show. - the sound was good, and we had a good view from the lawn. - bathroom lines were very short. The bad: - absolutely no vegan food options. They offer an Impossible Burger, but it comes with cheese, and they explained to us that they aren't allowed to make any changes to the burgers. The fries are prepared in the same oil as the chicken. So we only ate chips. You can bring your own food in a small clear bag, and if you are vegan or vegetarian who doesn't like cross contamination, you should do that - Also bring water, because it's $7 for a Liquid Death can! read more

The concert (simple minds) was great! The prices for drinks etc are outrageous but we should all know this by now. This is why you tailgate. My buddy had VIP passes so we enjoyed some overpriced delicious whiskey cocktails!! read more

See all

Went to the light show. Magic lights. Never again. We waited over an hour to get in. The website to buy tickets wouldn't load on anyone's phone. The tickets would have been 35.00 had to pay at the gate for 43.00. It was not worth it. Save yourself. read more

See all

Maybe I am showing a bit of my age, but I remember when the PNC Bank Arts Center was the Garden State Art Center. With that being said, I am saddened that it has become a trend to brand entertainment venues after corporate sponsors. So many of my memories of concerts were at Madison Square Garden, thank God that that particular venue has not been rebranded the Doritos Theater, Pizza Hut Arena, or some other nonsense. Anyway, this venue is still a great place to catch a show. I have had some great experiences at this venue and have seen some amazing shows here, whichever the name of the venue was at the time. This venue has been around since it opened as the Garden State Arts Center back on June 12, 1968. The first concert was pianist Van Cliburn accompanied by conductor Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Judy Garland was the second performance. Glen Campbell recorded a live album here, which was "Glen Campbell Live" back in 1969. I personally have seen bands and artists as diverse as Willie Nelson and Lynyrd Skynyrd to Rick Springfield. I have caught a lot of heavy metal shows here, as well. Truly a great venue and I would definitely recommend catching a show here. read more

There is free parking with free shuttle to theater or can walk the designated lit path in 10 minutes, or can pay for VIP parking close to the theater, awesome sound quality, plenty of bathrooms in multiple locations, 2 big screens but when it's daylight, too bright & can't see the artists onscreen, cheaper lawn seating in back, merch & food concessions. read more

See all

First time coming to this stadium. Parking: There was a VIP Parking, which you pre-pay and very close to the venue, and a General Parking, which was free and required a bit of walking to get to the venue. The General Parking you find a spot and you park (just remember where you park). Before you leave the parking lot, make sure you have a clear bag otherwise you allowed wristlets that isn't see-thru. To walk all the way back to your vehicle after lining up would be torture. The walk was about 10 minutes: walking up a slope, walking on flat ground and around the stadium to wait on a long line in the grass. Food Highly recommend going further into the stadium to get food. The first stand was so crowded and took a while to get food. Also there were 2 additional options at the inner food stand. I found out that the food stand workers were volunteers raising money for cheer camp for their kids. Don't forget to tip, it goes to their cause. Center Definitely worth paying for the seats. The view from the seats were closer than with the camera. The only negative item was so many concert goers walking back and forth that it blocks your view. Bathroom There were 2 sets of restrooms. One when you enter the center. The other was further in. It was clean and the line moves fast. Enjoy. read more

PNC Bank Arts Center - Signage - Ticket Sales Near Me - Holmdel, New Jersey

A NJ summer is not complete without a concert at PNC! Recently saw yellow card and third eye blind here and had a great experience. Their parking lot is great for tailgating. I like to park in the far lot, you have to walk up/down a pretty big hill to get to the venue but easy access to the parkway (north) when you leave. The concession and bathroom lines moved quickly, and this year they added a free filtered water bottle fill up. read more

PNC Bank Arts Center - Ticket Sales Near Me - Holmdel, New Jersey

Want to hear about the sh1t show last night at PNC??? Well let me back up. PNC can be 4 Stars one day and 0 the next, hence my 2 Stars I've been going to PNC for decades. It's an amphitheater. Mostly outdoors with lawn seats. The covered seats have a roof but no walls. It was never known for its great sound system but many like the outdoorsy feel. And for years you could see a great band for a very good price compared to arenas or stadiums. Keep in mind some of the free parking lot could be a good half mile walk to the front gates. But lately the tickets have skyrocketed. They stopped letting you bring in beach chairs for the lawn ( not they rent them $). They will offer \ bombard you with offers for VIP Parking ($100-$200) to Fast Pass entrance ( get in 15 minutes earlier for $10......oh boy!), cabanas, lawn decks, etc etc. Try calling the venue on any business day ( Mon-Fri) to get info and good luck. Leave a message and no one will call back. I will say the people at the box office when you go to an event are very nice but that's it. LAST NIGHT....... We had VIP seats for a concert ( 2 bands). Doors were supposed to open at 530pm but because of thunderstorms in the area ( on\off all weekend), at 613pm they told everyone to go back to their cars until 830pm. This this done IF you sign up for text\email alerts or follow them on Facebook. Then 1000's of people get back on line around 8pm ( and notice all the gate workers staff are gone..hmmmm). Another message at 817pm says doors will now open at 9pm ( and both bands will play complete sets). Still NO staff, supervisors, or anyone directing the masses. Then at 934pm they send messages ( and now blast a message on a speaker only some in line can hear) that it's been postponed to a future date...sorry.... Fans waited for 3.5 + hours without access to food or water....That's BS Listen PNC Ats center has been around over 56 years. They now charge just as much as going to the Prudential Center or MSG. Time to get it right LIVE NATION ( you know the same company that owns Ticketmaster and sold you the seats runs it.) It IS an outdoor venue, you can get wet if it rains even on lines for food & drink. The problem with the venue is they should have postponed this show hours earlier with the forecast showing heavy rain & thunderstorms all day night. read more

PNC Bank Arts Center - great view...from our car seats - Ticket Sales Near Me - Holmdel, New Jersey

Disclaimer: Just wanted to hear LIVE music from Doobie & Santana and wasn't sure this place was worth $150+ per ticket so went with the LAWN OFFER. Went optimistically. Immediately met ONLY 2 lanes to park and a 30-minute wait (watching others walking from a lot 1/2 mile away?)!! If somebody didnt see my Handicap tag, i'm not sure where i would have ended up. Poor signs for 1st-timers. Finally get to the lines and no idea what "Bagless Entry" meant because people with bags were in those lines. They look at my little plastic bottle holder and say "No Coolers"??!! They look at my friend's harmless bag and said "It's too big"...yet they had Security inspecting other bags??? I had to walk them back to the car! Then i'm carrying my 2 "allowed" water bottles BUT THEY SAY THEY HAVE TO BE SEALED!!!!!!!!!! I ASKED WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND THE PURPOSE, IT'S ONLY WATER??!! THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO DUMP IT AND THERE ARE REFILLS INSIDE???????? I GOT SERIOUSLY ANGRY AT THE STUPIDITY AND HAD NO IDEA AS TO THE RESTRICTION AND WHAT WAS SEALED!!! So i entered and threw the bottles in the trash viciously in protest in front of them (to my dentriment) and wound up forced to spend $7 for WARM, CANNED WATER!!! They uttered something about one is recyclable which made me realize i was in the Twilight Zone, a plastic bottle vs. aluminum can??!! Then at 73yo and a recent heart patient, the steps to the LAWN were many and steep. Finally seated, the Concert was great as we watched the TVs and sound was fine. Of course we felt like we were in a 3rd world country with the people there and all the drunks and smoking BUT - they were having fun....UNTIL, one person asked these 3 in front to stop gorging the weed and a fight nearly ensued. THIS WILL BE MY LAST CONCERT AT PNC...THE LOWERED STANDARDS AND STUPIDITY ARE REALLY GETTING TO ME WHEREVER I GO!! read more

My first time back at PNC Bank Art Center in a long time, for a long-overdue Dave Matthews Band concert. What I was greeted to first was an hour plus-long traffic jam trying to get into the lot. For an establishment that's been around for half a century and has regular events, it should be like clockwork. So I went from being an hour early to the concert to being almost a half hour late. The arena itself is ok, my main complaint being that there are lots of stairs and sloped surfaces that make it a bit tricky to navigate, especially when dark and/or wet. On the plus side, tailgating is allowed and there are *many* places to get food. Many more places to get alcohol. Though the prices are pretty outrageous. $10 for a Rita's custard? Hard pass. read more

PNC Bank Arts Center - Ticket Sales Near Me - Holmdel, New Jersey

We felt tricked. We got 303 row AA. I thought we were the first row, row A. So freaking annoying. Be real sure what you are booking. Their "suggestions" are NOT the best seats for the price!! Also bring food & pre-game in the parking lot. The food for sale is crap. Oh and the portapotties in the general parking area were the worst i have ever seen. No excuse for that!!!!! read more

I grew up going to the PNC Bank Arts Center- back when it was the Garden State Arts Center, with fond memories. However, my recent experience on Saturday, July 26th left me NEVER wanting to go back. The upgrades and the venue itself is beautiful. However, the way that people are crowded onto the lawn does not seem safe and allows for drunken idiots dancing while holding beer to splash beer on seated guests, specifically ME! Security, or whatever they call themselves were absolutely useless! It's as if this is done to make customers who prefer a more civilized music event experience to have to pay extra for the "special" seating areas. The parking here is an absolute disaster, with what appeared to be High Schoolers directing you. Unless you do preferred paid parking - another $100, be prepared to walk or wait for a slow shuttle. And their bag policies are ridiculous. My cross body bag was 1/2 an inch wider than the allotted 6x9, and therefore I had the choice to either check it or put it back in the car. I did not trust checking it, because it is a designer bag, and the check in did not look well supervised, so I had to purchase a $10 clear bag (which did not compliment my outfit, that's another story) to hold my belongings and walk back to the parking lot to put my purse in the car. Definitely got my steps in! Of course prices are exorbitant, but we expect this. Perhaps a more subdued artist might bring better behaved patrons and less of a crowd. The Arts Center should not look like standing room only at MSG. read more

Saw Five Finger Death Punch with Marilyn Manson. The concert was amazing. Had front-row seats and the staff was amazing! The bathroom lines moved quickly and were pretty clean. Tons of options to beer and alcohol. read more

See all

I have seen handfuls of concerts at the PNC Bank Arts Center over the years. While many things have stayed the same for this old outdoor venue, there have been substantial advancements as well. The bathrooms used to be down some stairs and located underground, but now, there are huge rooms above ground that can accommodate a vast number of people. The food options are still largely fried, but the drink selection has become immense - with everything from White Claws and beers to plastic carafes of wine and funky cocktails. Their bag policies are always evolving, so it is important to check them out online before leaving home. They currently expect either fully clear bags up to a medium-size or very small clutches that do not have to be clear. If your bag does not fit their requirements, you will be forced to either check your bag, bring it to your car, or swap it for a clear bag you need to purchase from them, and they are not cheap (~$25 I think). You are also now allowed to bring a gallon-sized bag of sealed food/snacks and one unopened bottle of water or empty bottle to fill at a fountain. The concept is super helpful in saving money on these items once inside the place. The parking can be complicated, as well, though they do have a lot of it. There are several designated areas that are a good walk from the actual venue, though they provide free shuttle buses if the half-mile or so walk is undesirable. Unfortunately, you cannot pick the lot in which lot you park (staff will direct you based on spot availability), and some lots only provide access to the Garden State Parkway North or South, but not both. That means that you may need to get on the highway and U-Turn, resulting in paying double tolls. Once inside the gates, the entrance way is full of food and beverage vendors. You have to walk around either side of the bowl-shaped amphitheater in front of you to get to the stadium seats or lawn areas. As you approach the entrance on either side of the stage, there are more food and beverage vendors, the merch tables, and the bathrooms. Seating options include a vast lawn, which comes at a cheaper ticket cost, but, also, with the risk of getting stuck in the rain. There are then 4-5 sections of seats, from the front stage back to the lawn, with everything being covered except the last few rows. The seats are arranged in a semi-circle around the stage and are pretty close together, so expect to get cozy with your neighbors. There are staff members everywhere to check your tickets (always have them handy) and point you in the right direction for your seats. The acoustics here are great and being out in the fresh air can really invigorate the crowd. As the sun sets, it can get breezy and buggy, so keep that in mind in terms of clothing and bug spray. The bands that play at the PNC Bank Arts Center often play at Long Island's Jones Beach right before or right after playing there, but I far prefer going to PNC for its ease and comfort. (Jones Beach seating is super steep and uncomfortable.) The quality of the venue, like the caliber of artists they attract, is top-notch! read more

Still love this venue for enjoying a concert, especially on a beautiful summer night like we had this past Wednesday June 29th seeing Dave Matthews Band. One update this year - I'm calling out the food. I had the "bad as* nachos" and added brisket for $5 extra. It looked great but once you got past the top layer, they're more like "lame as* nachos". C'mon folks - throw down a layer of chips, add the good stuff, add enough layer and then more good stuff...please! Beers are still good and cold (and pricey!) read more

See all