This is a great venue , not only for concerts, but for weddings, anniversaries or any celebration . I've been here 2ce now for concerts. It's a nice sized place, With a bar in the center (that only accepts cash unfortunately), A big ladies room with lots of stalls & pretty clean. Chairs for us old ppl who can't stand long. A section for the handicapped. A nice big section for bands' merchandise & for "Meet & Greets." There's actually parking & it doesn't take hours to leave the lot. This is probably my favorite venue for concerts. You don't stick to the floor or anything, lol . read more

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So I came here for the first time on a Wednesday and had an interesting experience. Upon arriving, the parking lot in back was completely full, which was impressive seeing as how big it was. I ended up having to park across the street in a tiny lot though I did arrive about 10 minutes before the show was supposed to start. Walking around to the front, I entered in and there was plenty of security at the door. Girls and guys were separated into two lines and we had to empty pockets and I was pat down. After scanning my ticket and getting my wrist band, I was in. The interior was really cool though, I liked the aesthetic. Since it was a Wednesday, I didn't really want to get into the booze, so I asked for just a water, but they don't serve tap, only bottled (which they take the cap away) that cost $3, which I thought was a little strange but oh well. Afterwards, I went up to the balcony and was able to find a chair and high-table to sit down. As soon as I did though, the power went out. In all of Niagara Falls. All the way to Schenectady (apparently). This occurred about five minutes before the show was to start. It took over 2.5 hours for the power to be restored. I was a little disappointed at the lack of communication to the crowd. Though it was pretty cool that some of the members of the bands that were going to perform came out and played acoustic. Once the power was restored though, they were pretty quick at getting the bands on. The first four bands played abbreviated sets while the headliner was able to play their full set (even though they were pushed about an hour behind). The instrumentals came across very well into the balcony but the vocals seemed muffled, I couldn't really understand what the singer was singing. I have a feeling that this would've been rectified had the power not gone out. In the end, I had a good time here. I wish management had communicated a bit more about power restoration times and alternatives, but this is such a rare occurrence for them to have to deal with something like that. I would like to come back here again and, hopefully, experience a normal night here! read more

The Rapids Theatre - View of the stage from the balcony - Music Venues Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

My husband and I recently attended a catered event for his work here. It is a lovely venue. The balcony was set up almost like a lounge with small tables and intimate booths. Shame it closed after the cocktail hour. Solid acoustics. After experiencing the venue, my husband is more interested in coming back for concerts. The bathrooms are so cold, though. read more

The Rapids Theatre - View from a booth as band sets up during cocktail hour - Music Venues Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

Came here a couple weekends ago for the first time for a concert and was impressed by the venue b/c really, it is beautiful. The parking was located behind the theatre and there was plenty of it, which was appreciated. We were in a general admission standing area and it was packed but that is really to be expected. The acoustics were good and it felt intimate which is always great when you're seeing a band you've loved FOREVER. However, with that being said, they need to get some kind of A/C system or something in there to help with the humidity/hotness because we all were sweating so bad and it wasn't even that hot outside... The girl next to me ended up falling over because it was so hot and it took awhile for security to even get over to her... Other than that, I'd say it is a good venue but definitely dress appropriately because I was really cold waiting outside but once we got in there, I was so glad I didn't have a jacket because it was horribly hot. read more

The Rapids Theatre - Music Venues Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

A great venue for an intimate evening listening to Blues. We enjoyed the reserved table with walk up bar service.

The theater inside is very nice, but security wasn't great. The security guards didn't know how to handle crowd surfers and pits but overall most of the staff was very nice. They don't give water cups even though they have a bar, which I think is illegal. Overall it was a great show though! read more

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+ Great sound, balcony tables and bar - Balcony men's room closed; entrance to show far too slow. Went here last night for the Papa Roach/Stone Sour concert and had a great time. I really like this place for seeing a rock band. The sound is always bang on and it's a great size, not too big. Pretty much anywhere you are in the balcony, either sitting or standing, you get to see the band very well. They have tables and a convenient bar up there. Beer is $5, not bad for an event. The only problem is that the men's room always seems to be closed in the balcony. The big issue last night was that even though we arrived one hour after the doors opened, we had to wait outside in a long line-up of people in the frigid temperatures (7 degrees). This was a poor set up. It took us a half hour to get inside. They only had one guy putting alcohol wrist bands on, and then another guy scanning the ticket. Towards the end, there was a separate line for women, but still, they could have managed it a lot better with having a couple more staff check everyone in. They have a box office in the front of the building to buy or pickup your tickets. Just don't buy them an hour before the show or you will have to wait a very long time in a separate purchasing line. I'm not sure why it takes them so darn long for you to buy a ticket at that time. I find the best parking for the show to be by the Family Dollar lot across the street. read more

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i'm going to give this review 5 stars, but man it comes with a hell of a story. came to this venue with one of my good friends to see my favorite band in the whole world in flames, the day that we came to see them was the day of a huge wind storm, literally all day, high winds, warnings, even cell phones were going off due to weather warnings BAD, very bad wind! we were fortunate to get into the venue early for VIP to meet the band, there was about 20 of us on hand and inside the room just waiting, one of the other bands was doing a soundcheck, and mid way through the sound check the vocalist starts bellowing out his trademark scream and...darkness. everything dark. the only light was from the doors of the foyer, next thing i know we have people in the venue telling us that this was round 2 just like a previous concert a week ago(or something) so yeah, we sat inside the cold foyer for 3 hours while they had a electrician wire the building up to a generator, the staff were super nice during this time letting us go to the bathroom and stuff, but didn't help us out in respect to getting us water or a drink for being inconvenienced, according to one security guard, they were doing us the favor by allowing us to be inside instead of outside in the cold...*insert laughter here* the night went on without a hitch, just delayed by 3 hours, each band cut a couple of songs, but other then that no issues for the rest of the night. there was a funny moment where they had two projectors displaying pictures of shows coming up and they had the advertisement for in flames come up and it was an old promo photo from 2008 with 3 band members in the photo that weren't in the band any more, caused me to laugh a bit great venue, great sound, great aesthetic and vibes, parking is in the rear of the building and is free of charge. would definitely come back, if the show was worth it and not happening in Toronto, of course! read more

I have been going to concerts for 15years maybe more. I have NEVER left a show more disapointed and angry as I did today. What the hell is this bullshit!? Posting set times that are over an hour off!? As well as shortening sets to get everyone out by 11. We got a notification on the venue FB page that doors were 630, show started 730. Veil of Maya 815, DGD 9pm, Underoath 10:15. We got there at 8, and found out we had missed 2 of the 4 bands. We went almost entirely for Veil Of maya. I love DGD and I wanted to see both. I showed up at just after 8, expecting to have enough time to grab a drink and find a good spot. And then DGD comes out and I find out I missed Veil of Maya bY 20min, rather then being 10min early. My friends and i Will NEVER go back to the Rapids Theater. That is the second show where the venue changed things from the rest of the tour. read more

The Rapids Theatre - Music Venues Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

I love the setup of this concert venue. The inside has such beautiful, colorful woodwork. The bar is large and fully staffed so you can get a beer anytime. One of my biggest complaints is the video quality on the TVs. Its so blurry you can't even tell who is on stage. I would love to give 4 stars because it's a good venue but based off of my most recent experience, I just can't. Power was out around the area and there was a severe lack of communication from the venue management to the crowd that was standing in 25 degree weather and 60 mph winds. Doors were supposed to open at 6, we didn't get in till after 8. Power or not, I don't understand why they couldn't let us in so we didn't freeze to death. They did post on the Facebook group twice, once to say they are working on the backup generators and the other time said "bear with us". It was brutal. Despite those complications, the sound was good and there was plenty of room for dancing and moshing. read more

The Rapids Theatre - Terrible video quality on TVs - Music Venues Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

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Love the two beer choice! Sound was superb! Bartenders were amazing, will be back again real soon!!! Get some mezcal so I can rip some shots though! read more

Decent size venue; not too big that the band look like ants, and not too small that it can't fit enough people for popular bands. Negatives: Drinks are near impossible to get if the place is sold out. There's at least 3-4 rows of people constantly packed around the bar. They either need to get people moving, or add another bar on the side(s). Parking can be tough to find on a sold out night as well. read more

Such a beautiful venue. I've attended around 5 shows here. Security is so nice here and the bartenders are very helpful when trying to select drinks. Prices are pretty fair for food, drinks, and coat check. It's a venue. So there will be the typical dropping of plastic cups and garbage. That's not a concern of mine. The only complaint I have is that there seems to be no toilet paper in a handful of the stalls. But that's expected... unless you don't check beforehand... read more

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I saw a show here on Saturday and while the Theater is indeed beautiful and the sound/acoustics great, I was disappointed with the bar as the only drinks on tap are Labatts and Bud Light. Furthermore, they don't let you buy tap water in a cup and instead make you cough up $4 for a bottle of water. I'm not even sure the legality of denying people tap water in a very crowded venue (what if I didn't have any cash on me?), but whenever venues do that I leave with a very bad taste in my mouth. I'm happy to get a cup of water and leave a tip for the bartender, but to be forced to pay for bottles is just plain evil. Anyway, back to the show: the music, stage set up and staff involved in the show were all professional and courteous. During one of the rowdier parts of the show, a security personnel gave one of the performers a piggy back ride, which is always fun to see staff get into the fun of the show and not just look mean the whole time. I'll gladly be back here, but they would do well to make this place a touch more elegant. The bar wouldn't be so bad if it had some more options and more staff working it during a show. read more

Drove 2 hours to see one of my favorite bands last week. From the out sidenthe building looks questionable but the inside is very unique. Before entering you are searched and your IDs are checked. Very friendly security and it goes fairly quickly. I stood in line maybe 6-7 minutes tops. Walking in straight ahead you run smack Dab in front of the bar. The cool part about the bar is that its horse shoed around the whole room. Very easy to get to during the concert without having to miss any of it. Drinks were pretty pricey so prepare to bring a good amount of cash If you plan on drinking. I love how there is a floor level and then you can go up a few steps and be on another level about 3 ft higher. It makes it wonderful for short people, like my self, to see the stage perfectly! Never missed out on anything. They also have balcony seats that looked pretty awesome. They also had tables and chairs to sit at as well. It was a wonderful concert and would most definitely make the road trip again to come to this theatre. Its kept clean, friendly staff that run it and the sound is perfect. read more

I can't speak to the experience of being there, as the first concert I was to attend there was cancelled. BUT, I can tell you this business could care less about its customers. Received an email informing me of the cancelation, and that refunds would be issues within 20 business days. Here we are some 8 months later, and STILL no refund. A subsequent search through their Facebook page stumbled me on a post basically saying "We still have bills to pay, so we're not refunding you." OH yeah? Well we will see what the courts have to say about that. NEVER, will I purchase anything at this venue ever again. read more

It's worth the drive to Niagara Falls just for the decor. I love the old theater look. The balcony is amazing, too. It's seen better days, but it's still cool. Props to the Rapids for being one of the last small Buffalo concert halls standing. We saw Club Infinity and the Waiting Room close recently, but the Rapids has remained relevant. I would assume this is because they book great bands and use the space for weddings and events. I also like that there is a fenced-in place outside where you can smoke. No need to have to leave the venue. The logistics weren't so hot. Six bucks for a draft beer? Bathroom stalls that don't close? Being patted down by security? C'mon now. Still, they have a pretty nice concession stand. Lots of candies and other theater fare. read more

Came in for the Our Lady Peace Concert. This was my first experience at this venue and honestly hope it's my last. It is absolutely gorgeous inside and the way it is laid out would be beautiful for a wedding. I was not here for a wedding, but a sold out concert. You can't move when you find a spot. And people will be bumping into you and rubbing on you and spilling drinks on you all night long. They do have two bars which is nice. They do have a little concession stand that had some grody looking pizza and pop, water etc. I bought a bottle of water for three bucks. The bathrooms are not the nicest but were clean enough. They have an outdoor area for smokers. The security was very friendly and the highlight of the venue, apart from the beautiful ceiling. read more

The Rapids Theatre - Music Venues Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

Just look up, and you'll see.... how beautiful this venue is. The ceiling is gorgeous. We saw Flogging Molly at the Rapids. Quick entry, cheap drinks, plentiful bathroom stalls ... not sure what else you could ask for. $3 shots. $5 well drinks. $6 Labatt Blue??? We were perplexed at the last one, but no worries ...we can make do with wells. read more

The Rapids Theatre - Music Venues Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

My husband and I got married at Rapids Theatre on 7-7-17. I cannot say enough about how incredible the venue was! Our guests were absolutely blown away and have not stopped talking about it how impressed they were! The venue looks vastly different than it does for concerts....much, much shinier and cleaner! And the lighting! Even the pictures don't do it justice. Absolutely breathtaking! The staff was so attentive, especially to the bridal party. They made sure that we were on schedule and always had everything that we needed to make the night run smoothly. Lindsey was SO helpful in the planning stage. She was always available for questions and gave us great advice. I am SO thankful that we decided to have our wedding at Rapids. Truly the best day of our lives! read more

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Decent venue, decent sound system, awful policies. Went for a Hardwell concert (which was amazing, by the way), but they charge $4 for water (fair, whatever, that's not the issue). I bought a bottle, and decided to just refill it in the bathroom with the tap. A security guard goes in after me, grabs the bottle, and forces me to throw it out, stating that I have to buy water or I will get kicked out. Since when was it illegal to fill up a water bottle that I purchased with tap water? Never going back here again. read more

This place is absolutely beautiful inside. It has old style, but looks brand new. The sound was great. The staff and security were pleasant and easy to deal with. It's a bit of a drive for me coming from Rochester but if they have bands that I'd like to see I'll go there again. read more

The Rapids Theatre - Mastodon Concert - Music Venues Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

Pretty disappointed with how this event was put together. I attended a concert 7/26/17. Concert was barely big enough for a crowd of this size. Security was terribly RUDE. My best friend was punched in the face by two audience members and the security guard witnessing it told me and my friend to leave, not those who assaulted her. On the positive side, the security guards were great at catching crowd surfers, the bathrooms were clean, and the bartenders were friendly. All in all, an enjoyable concert, but many of the staff just weren't too pleasant. read more

This place is like the little theater that could! While it's not located in the most vibrant neighborhood (today), it's a real gem and a becon of hope and possibility amidst countless currently unloved heritage buildings! I attended the Main Street Symposium that The Rapids Theater graciously hosted and was awestruck by the character and energy of the place itself. I showed up just as the presentations were getting underway so unfortunately didn't have the chance yet to take everything in but I absolutely cannot wait to attend as many shows and events as possible at this local venue! Support Niagara Falls today and in 2020 when the city is alive with culture and vitality you can say, "I remember when..."! Be a part of the progress and support local business! read more

Unfortunately not the best experience here. Overall, we had a great night thanks to the band performing, but the venue as a whole leaves a bit to be desired. Pros: We found on street parking right out front, which was awesome, and ended up making friends with the couple behind us. Band, as mentioned above, was excellent. Good sound in the space, relatively nice interiors. Cons: The security staff was pretty rude to everyone as we were waiting for the doors to open. Then, when the doors did open, all the men were separated out from the line and went through what appeared to be a fast-track lane to the entrance since there was only one woman on staff to frisk all of the female guests. Getting a full pat-down into a concert in a pretty small town was a first. And, we were literally right next to the police station. Once we got in, I was asked if I was drinking, which I wasn't, not thinking much of it. From there, the staff immediately put a giant black permanent marker "X" on each of my hands. Had I known, I would have just shown them my ID... Note: Get there super early and you get the possibility of snagging a seat in the balcony. Otherwise, prepare to stand. read more

Went there for a Blondie Concert, loved the space. It was spacious, and still has many of the original features. But it also have many modern amenities, a large bar area and a very good stage for concerts. I do hope other gorgeous, but neglected, buildings in this area of Niagara Falls get a similar treatment. read more

Still waiting on a refund for a show that the tour was canceled in June 2020. They have yet to send anything out officially regarding the refund procedure, or lack thereof. Initially their response if you reached out was that they were going to only give venue "credit". Then a month or so later they posted on their website to contact your CC company and dispute it, I did and the venue rejected the claim (thanks for wasting my time) now they are passing the blame on eTix. This isn't the only venue in 2020 that I had canceled tickets with, this is not the only venue that tickets were purchased through eTix, this is however the only venue that isn't returning monies owed people. I have reached out to them via email a few times, they told me that if I emailed them one more time they would have their atty contact me for harassment, maybe they'll help me get my money back? They also told me I was added to a list not to be allowed in the venue, unnecessary because I would never spend another penny there. Bottom line......purchase tickets at your own risk, even when a tour is canceled you probably won't get your money back. Lessoned learned. I'll stick to the venues that treat their customers better. read more

This isn't stone Temple Pilots. They were scheduled at 7pm. This band is Camp Power. Young as 20yrs old. Wtf.

Absolutely the most UNPROFESSIONAL place I have ever done business with! Never again will I be attending a show here ever again. They had the nerve to cancel our show THREE DAYS in advance for the second time! Unbelievable how you can work in this industry and not know how to do your job!!! read more

Awesome venue. Great acoustics, the staff was great, even security was really on top of everything. The only reason this is a 4-star is that the bar takes up about 80% of the floor. I was here for a metal concert, so the bar issue really made it difficult for the pit. We weren't able to open it up as much as we would have liked. Other than that it was amazing. I'd definitely go back. read more

I purchased concert tickets for a concert that was initially postponed and eventually cancelled. The ticket service (Etix) that Rapids Theatre (venue) used for this show hasn't been able to provide refunds to the ticket buyers (like myself) because the venue is withholding the funds. I haven't received any communication at all from Rapids Theatre and Etix has indicated that they are waiting for Rapids Theatre to provide them with the money from the ticket sales so they can then issue refunds to the paying customers. read more

DISCLAIMER: I am writing this strictly from a point of view of an average height female. I am 5'4" and from the south. I don't know what's in the water in Buffalo but most of the guys here seem like they're 6'5" and up. lol BAND: Our Lady Peace (Fan-freakin-tastic!) VENUE: -The architecture of this place is breath taking! I agree with fellow Yelper Amanda W. in saying that this place would be beautiful for a wedding but as a concert venue it's lacking. -The GROUND level has a large flat pit or initial standing area with two raised side platforms about 4-5' off the ground level. Unless you are on the railing it is hard for anyone under 5'9 to see anything. Even on the rails prepare to share your bubble with some strangers. -There is a BALCONY area with tables and seating that is first come first serve from what I heard with it's own upstairs bar (I think!). I didn't go up there but it looked nice and they had a great view. -The sound system was ok. Nothing special but no complaints. -There is a BAR in the middle to the back of the ground level. It was annoying for my husband because people were standing 4 deep blocking the bar so he waited for 10 minutes before giving up. I was then tasked as drink mule because I'm little and can worm my way through. -They had CONCESSIONS that have the usual reheated frozen looking overpriced food. I never eat at concerts but it's good to have just in case. PARKING: I didn't see a private lot but we parked a few blocks down even after arriving after the opening act. Not the best but not the worst. DRINKS: We had beers and mixed drinks. The bartenders make drinks by the book and have accurate pours so I don't feel cheated nor did I feel special. Pregame at a bar before if you desire a buzz for your music listening pleasure. Overall, I enjoyed the concert since I was able to find a rail on the raised platform but as a short person, I would not go back to this venue unless I was able to get there when doors open. read more

Absolutely beautiful venue! I had been to Rapids for a few different concerts, but had the opportunity to attend a wedding there recently. Wow - I was blown away! The set-up with all of the lights was stunning. My best friend and her husband were so happy with their decision to choose Rapids for their special day. read more

Friendly security and great boos at the right price great views from the balcony. Get in early gets packed quick. Parking in the back not near the signs behind that. Why!!!!!! The acoustics suck in here but only for the main attraction? Omg my ears. Love the band but better sound engineers or equipment please ‍ read more

It smells of fresh buttered popcorn! Free public parking is directly behind the venue, where friendly people were warming up for the show. Doors opened on time, security moved us in fast, and bathrooms required no waiting. Willcall ticket window is outside beside the entry. Get in the right line. Bars were somewhat under staffed but did very well. Selection was limited but fair. Drinks were correct, with no over-pours. Someone mentioned snacks. The floor is perfectly flat from the curb to the bar to the stage, with not a single stair. No need to climb stairs at all. The sound is great everywhere, even the secure smoking area outside wasn't too bad. Be prepared for weather. Balcony seating filled up instantly, was way too high a climb, and 4 tables were reserved in spite of the venue's website insisting that tables cannot be reserved. Those seats are highly prized, since the rest of the theatre is standing room only. A second bar is up on the balcony level. Be careful coming back down. Handicap reserve area is directly left of the stage, with a steep but short ramp to enter. Amazingly comfortable padded chairs were made available apon request. Bathrooms are as far from handicap seating as possible, but the trip is flat except for the ramp. Be prepared to navigate through the crowd. Security and staff were friendly and helpful at every turn. I'm already looking for reasons to return to this excellent music theatre. read more

The Rapids Theatre is gorgeous and a perfect venue for wedding and concerts!

This venue is one of the best to see a concert at. I've been to at least 10 concerts here. The bar is great, maybe just a little understaffed during big shows. All the bartenders are moving to try to help customers as fast as they can. I will be back here to see my favorite bands... read more

I saw an absolutely amazing concert here - Mother Mother, Blondfire and Awolnation for $25ish. Ambiance - An anchor business in an otherwise bleak area, this relatively unassuming building has a gorgeous interior boasting high ceilings with traditionally painted plaster decals and a large, free standing bar. Raised side platforms on the main floor (yay for short people like me who would like to be in the "pit" but can't see over anyone, I got right up next to the front rail and had a PERFECT view of the stage and was close enough to make eye contact with the band members ) and a decently large balcony with seating and standing room (VIP only for our show) all provided great views and the open layout allowed ample standing room througout the place. Large enough to accomodate a decent sized crowd (1500ish) but still intimate. Service/Parking - Professional staff got us in quickly - they had one person checking ID's, another giving wrist bands (or X's for underaged patrons) and several lines once inside for security and ticket taking. I thought they moved the crowd very quickly (we got there maybe five minutes before the door opened, getting in the back of a line stretching around the building, and were inside in under 20 minutes. I did read later on FB several people missed Mother Mother's entire set because the line stretched to massive proportions the closer it got to show time and the staff couldn't keep up - get there before the doors open! There really just isn't the space for more employee lines, even if they hired more people, so I can't fault them for not having more people working - the theatre wasn't set up with the modern day need to ID and search 70% of the patrons in mind. From what I saw, bartenders were quick bartenders but as drinks and water were a little pricey I didn't sample (that is typical of ANY concert venue with few exceptions though). I came to see bands, not drink, and a pack of gum alleviated dry mouth for free. We found parking in the lot out back, but it was definitely approaching capacity - again, get here early or risk searching for parking elsewhere. Sound - I thought the acoustics were great. I'm assuming the groups have their own "sound" guys and the bass was a bit too intense at several times where it overpowered everything else. All in all though well mixed - vocals were clear, every instrument was noticeable in the tapestry of sound. A great, mid-sized venue with excellent sound and reasonably priced tickets! read more

Stopped by while traveling up to main to see a venue. Place was disgusting, bathrooms were never kept up with, bouncers were yelling profanity at the younger guests, and all in all too expensive for the venue advertised. read more

Honestly, this venue is gorgeous and would be an amazing place for a wedding or concert, etc. But the reason I gave 3 stars is because of the lack of air flow or air control. I was there on May 18th for the Marianas Trench concert. They're my favorite group and I've seen them many times--usually at Artpark. They switched it up and went to Rapids this time and I've never been. Walked in and was immediately hit with the humidity and heat of the place. Decided to get water and cool down before trying to get near the front. Now I'm 4'10 and 20 years old so being able to see at general admission concerts is quite difficult for me but for my favorite group I can manage. Made it through the DJ and the opening act, but only saw 2-3 songs of the main act--who I went there to see--before I blacked out and fell to the floor in the middle of the crowd. I was told to stay down as I couldn't see anything from blurry vision or stand. Security helped me outside and gave me pizza and water to perk me up and make me alert. I'm not lying when I say it was about 95 degrees and humid AF in the middle of the crowd. I can totally expect heat in GA but that was ridiculous. The staff and security were super attentive and kind. They made sure I was good and checked in on me for the rest of the concert. I take partial responsibility for not researching the venue much and seeing reviews of the lack of air flow, but with a crowd that big and a band of that caliber, the place should be ventilated better or something. I'd go to a concert here again..but maybe in the dead of winter or if the air control gets better. read more