The good: I had no problem seeing the band or hearing the band despite being halfway back from the stage. There are two screens flanking the stage to help you get a close up of your favorite rockstar. The staff was good about getting you in and settled quickly and the fact that it is in a casino makes for good pre and post event activities. Oh and plenty of bathrooms, so no long lines. The bad: The folding chairs are not very comfortable. I feared that they would break under a heavier person's weight. Maybe it was the chairs or maybe it was just the band itself, but I felt the set up of the room brought the energy down. If you stood up to dance to your favorite song, you were looked at like a jerk. So you were forced to sit. If I was the band, I would have rathered a standing room so that I could feed off the excitement of the crowd. Oh well, it was not my gig. Also not the prettiest place in the land, but it will do. The casino itself is nice. read more

We saw Blink 182 here this past september. So we all know Blink is the best band ever, which blows my mind why they would play at this shitty venue. Horrible acoustics, drunk people EVERYWHERE, rude staff. My husband almost got in a fight with a guy who was completely wasted and kept stumbling into us. It was awful. They really shouldn't serve alcohol at a venue like this. read more

Took a friend to see Rock of Ages for his birthday. Acoustics sucked. We could hear the band, but had no idea what people were saying or singing. I saw the show before, so at least I could fill in the gaps for my friend. I e-mailed the event center afterwards to complain - didn't even get a canned response from them. Another friend of mine went here and described it as a glorified high school auditorium. I agree. Getting to and from the building is rough, since roads are pretty much single lane until you get to Route 78, and Route 412's been in constant states of construction for years now. Make sure you give yourself extra time to get around. read more

I want to like the Event Center. I really do, but I just can't get over how bad the sound is in this room! It doesn't matter if you are seeing a band or a comedy show. The sound is awful. Ownership/management must have been aware of this sound issue because sometime since it opened they have tried to make it better by installing acoustic panels mounted on the walls everywhere, but I have not noticed a significant difference. Again, I wish it were a better place to see live bands (because they do book good acts), but I cannot get over how bad it sounds. read more

I think the Sands is trying for an industrial look at its events center but it is missing the mark entirely. The walls and floor are a uniform grey and there are a few sound baffling panels on the wall which are black, beyond that I can't remember anything else in the space except for the black folding chairs. Yes that's right, a permanent event venue with folding chairs! Ok, they're not harsh metal but still not real seats. The concert had a terrible audio engineer (really terrible!) so I can't comment on the acoustics but just looking at the room I doubt even a talented professional could do much in this space. That said, there's plenty of free parking (don't go to the casino parking rather enter through the shopping mall if you want the shortest walk) and the highways all around make it a very easy venue to get to. read more

I always have a good time here. Drinks are expensive ($20 for a mixed double) and they should put more bartenders on during a show. Other than that the place is great and beats driving to Philly. read more

Went to see the Celtic Thunder last night..Had never been there before but I found out that they had just completed some renovations and we were at the first show since the work was completed..Acoustic tiles were put on the floor and some panels were also put of the walls,so I didn't hear any problems with the sound.They also added some huge Flat panels at each side of the stage which helped see parts of the stage from the back of the venue. The problem I did see is the foyer/vestibule is way too small and it's hard to get in and out with the kiosk full of souvenirs for the show built in the center.Next time I'm going to pay for valet parking because getting out of the parking garage at 10:30 PM is a nightmare with cars trying to get in line from 3-4 different directions.That really took the fun out of a otherwise nice evening. read more

Besides a New Year's Eve event last night was the first time I'd been for a show. My review is mostly based on the ticket purchasing process. I was so disappointed in how this venue runs their customer service. There was an ad in the paper for 50% off tickets (nowhere did it mention it was only select tickets). I called and they said Bob Saget was not included and would not be going on sale. I went ahead and purchased them on ticketmaster and a week before the show they went on sale for 50% off on Groupon. I called immediately and was told I needed to call ticketmaster for a solution. After getting the runaround on ticketmaster I called the venue back and talked to a manager. She said there was nothing at all they could do. The venue itself isn't wonderful at all (plastic chairs in a large room), but if there is someone there you want to see perform I guess you can decide to take the good with the bad. I would definitely beware of the changing ticket prices!! Maybe they need to look at the reasons why they can't sell out a show without reducing ticket prices as a last ditch effort! read more

Went to see George Lopez at the sands event center. It was a good show the he put on but center was less desirable. As other people mention the seating were metal chairs and it uncomfortable and you can rub shoulders with the next person. If you were going to do folding chairs at least have cushion ones with more space. Yes, getting out from the show can be a nightmare with cars leaving in all directions. The act was fine though because we were laughing the whole night and didn't really think about the chairs. read more

The venue is fine but the security staff are rude, unprofessional, and incompetent. Scanned both tix at once ( they were both in my wife's hand at a right angle) then told us one had been already scanned. Had to go to box office so they could take 15 minutes figuring it our. Finally get in. I had a small bag from the shops. Security looked inside, no problem. Got our bearings then decided to use the restroom, which for some inane reason is outside security. As I attempted to re-enter I was told I couldn't bring my bag in. I WAS ALREADY IN! These TSA wannabes in yellow shirts get off on their"Power" and need to get a life. read more

I visited this venue within 2 weeks of it opening, as I attended a Flogging Molly concert, but the venue wasn't listed on Yelp at the time. So my review is, oh, only a couple years late. Having said that... Maybe it's because I spent my teenage and college years going to some of the biggest dive music venues imaginable, but I *loved* this place. It was nice to finally have a classy place to see a concert. Other reviews are right in regards to the ambience. Yes, it's industrial-looking at best, just lots and lots of concrete. But the floor was spacious...both wide and deep. I did a lot of walking to and from the bar over the course of the night, and it was nice to not have somebody's elbow in my face the entire time. There was no floor seating at this event, but there were raised sections along the left and right walls where you could sit. Those filled up quickly. The sound, surprisingly maligned here in some of the other reviews I've read, was MARVELOUS. It was a perfect balance, with every instrument heard clearly and not a single one drowning out the other. It was loud, as you'd expect any concert to be, but not so loud that you were in pain at the end of the night. I didn't deal too much with the staff, but when we did, there were no complaints. There was a weird setup with the bathroom where you actually had to leave the venue to use one, then come back in by flashing your stamped hand. As I was unfamiliar with the casino layout, my friend and I parked all the way on the other side of the casino and then had to walk through the casino to get to the music venue. Next time, we'll know better. When you first get into the venue, there's a sprawling bar in front of you: Very modern, very flashy, really impressive. My only gripe is that the beer selection was horrid (and overpriced, but I'm used to that). I don't think there was a single craft beer on the list. To get from the bar area to the music venue portion of the club, you just had to step through some double-doors (of which there were two sets) and then it was game-on. The separated bar area was a nice change of pace from the drab decor of the music venue. I docked a point for the decor and the lousy beer selection, but as far as the music and space goes, they really nailed it. I'd definitely go back for the right act, and it's a nice alternative to the city hustle and bustle I usually have to deal with when I go to Philly, D.C. or Baltimore. read more

I really enjoy everything about the Sands, and the event center is no exception. However - if you're expecting stadium seating, or a great view from the floor, think again. I've seen comedians and bands at this place, and I think it's great. The size, the bar in a separate room, and the location all make it ideal. I'll definitely be back. read more

Very crappy set up ... no seats? Have to stand for 6 hours unless you want to sit on the side of the stage? Or all the way in the back in a box? Nah, I'll stick with PARX from now on for a concert read more

Had a seat in one of the VIP areas. Great view of the stage. Seats were very uncomfortable. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. Beer wine and food was complimentary. Nice touch. Lounge area preshow was a nice area to mingle. read more

One star is generous! My family and I had a terrible experience here over the weekend. The management at the restaurants were rude and the service was beyond slow. The restaurant wouldn't seat us and treated families with kids like they are not welcome. The security people had a bad attitude. Overall horrific experience. We will never return. read more

Don't believe any of the bad reviews. Place was great. We saw Rod Stewart. He killed it. Sound was great. View was great. And the place was super clean. Seats were comfortable. We driver 2 hours instead of going to AC which was much closer to me. The only complaint I could say is the balloons that were released for the last song. Where popping once and a while through the performance. But by no means was that ruining his performance. read more

I've read a lot of negative reviews regarding visibility and audio issues at the Sands Event Center. With that said...I am a pretty seasoned concert goer (well over 300), and I just went there for the first time this past week for Colbie Calliat and Christine Perri. Great show, great value. Nice Bar area. Kim (in the ticket office) was amazing. Very personal and accommodating, you can tell she wants everyone to have a good experience. A+++ The floor was GA standing room only for this show. It is what it is (same as any other GA venue). I am 6'2" and would not have a problem standing in GA. If your 5' you may want to go to the outside walls or back to the sound board to get some space. With that said...your still going to be close. If your sitting in the wings. The Left Wing is definitely better. The section is not wide as the Right Wing and there is no overhang. The Right Wing is wider (this is important to know as the further away you get from seat 1...the harder it is to see). The sound also is a little muffled because of the overhang of the suites above the Right Wing. Long story short if your going to sit in either wing, try to get seats 1-4...and the Left side is slightly better than the Right side. The Suites and Luxury Seating above, while not overly plush definitely are worth the extra price. Especially in the first two rows (Row 1 is the best at ANY vantage point in this venue). The sight lines are good from rows 1 and 2. Row 3 is pretty good, but you may get a head in front of you. Free beverages upstairs and waitress service. All good! The acoustics are as good as the sound engineer for the touring bands. Its that simple. For the show I saw, the mix was very good. I walked the entire venue without any issues (other than the very slight muffle under the Right Wing overhang). Overall, I recommend the venue. They get top acts in a smaller setting than usual, its a lot more convenient than you think (I drove from Philly) and Kim and the others in the Box office made the experience great. If you go to the show with this knowledge, you'll have a great time. read more

Just an awful place to hear live music. The venue was designed to assure that it provides the worst sound possible. The only two good things is there's free parking and no seat is too far form the stage. Highly unlikely I'll ever go back. read more

Unless you sit in the first few rows, don't bother with this place. The seating/view of the stage SUCKS! You can't see a thing. I have no idea why they didn't put stadium type seating as in theaters. I'd much rather go to Musikfest Cafe or The State Theater! read more

The acoustics and sound mixing are terrible. I went there to see Dwight Yoakum on July 3rd. You could not hear the vocals over the guitars and drums. I have seen Dwight at other venues and he puts on a great show, but the acoustics and sound mixing ruined the show. It was the same problem when I saw Steve Earle there a month ago and the sound was awful then, too. If you really want to see a particular performer I would recommend going elsewhere. read more

Free parking. A plus. Having to walk through the Casino floor and avoid the temptation of gambling which would surely result in double or triple digit losses. A minus. Plenty of pre-show food and shopping options. A plus. Disorganized event staff at the entrance. A minus. Pleasant staff and reasonable concession prices inside. A plus. I think you can see how this review will go. At any rate, the Sands Event Center is a great mid-level concert venue for seeing some of the top touring acts in the US these days. I'd certainly return back, but there is plenty they can work on. read more

I can't believe all of the bad reviews on here. Have you people ever been to Philly? Those venues s*ck compared to this Sands Center. Saw Yes last night and every seat in the house is spectacular. I was in the right wing, row 12, just fantastic viewing. I found all the staff in the casino, the burger joint and in the concert area to be very nice. I will definitely come here for any future bands/shows I want to see! read more

Wind Creek Event Center - Yes concert, from right wing, row 12, no zoom. - Music Venues Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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Enjoyed my concert, venue much better than when I was there in the past.Staff super nice and upbeat. Totally great time.

These seats are a joke..mthis place is a joke. Couldnt see the act... and traffic is horrible getting out of here....no one directs traffic..cops just stand around....never again.. read more

I have seen two events here now. I had a decent experience with the first one and a freaking awful experience with the second one. I want to start by saying the sound is very clear and they really have that down well. Distance wise, there is not a bad seat in the house. You can see everything from any spot in the room. Unfortunately, if you get purchased a seat that happens to fall right behind someone who is obstructing your view there is absolutely nothing that can be done for you to help you enjoy your show and get your money's worth. I bought tickets for me and my mom to see The Beach Boys for her birthday. It was an hour and a half ride for us and I forced myself to go, despite not feeling well-so that was tough on it's own. We get there and they have this ridiculous line formed outside the venue. It took about 25 minutes to get in. We wee lucky in that respect that we slipped through just as the show started, but many others missed some of the Temptations and it was purely the venue's fault. Then we find out seats, which would have been great, had I not been sitting behind a larger woman with huge hair. The view from behind her blocked my ENTIRE view and I certainly did not pay to see a live show from their dinky TV screens. I asked if I could be moved, even if it meant I had to stand somewhere in the room. No one was of help to me whatsoever. I tried to stress that the tickets together cost me nearly 200 bucks and I was very upset with my seats as I had such an obstructed view. The best advice they offered me was to move to an empty seat if one was available half way through the show. I asked if they could check their seating arrangements to see which tickets had not been purchased and no one wanted to have any part of that-they just kept saying it was a sold out event-even though I said I checked ticketmaster and saw a few seats had not been purchased. Had the 2 seats in the row in front of us been filled, I would have been extremely upset for the whole show. Luckily one couple decided not to show up and we were able to relocate to better seats . They should really arrange their seating so that you are positioned with a space in between to prevent obstructed views. I found the venue employees to be EXTREMELY unhelpful and could have done more to accommodate their guests. I will have to think twice about seeing another show here. read more

The seating is horrible at this venue for concerts. I've attended about 5-7 concerts here and while the acts they attract are great, the seating is horrible. You can't see unless you are right in front. The seating is flat. The stage is not high enough. I've sat on the floor in the middle with heads obstructing my view. I've sat in right wing and more heads blocked my view. Plus the VIP section they added on top made the sound horrible since I can hear every conversation happening near me with that ceiling above me. On the leftwing, one of us was by the railing and can see everything find, the second seat in...another head obstructing the view. It's fine if you want to watch the video screen all night. Staff is really nice and professional. But the seating is awful!!! read more

Went for Sarah Brightman concert in September 2013. Floor seating, but we weren't too far back, so not bad. However, if you're way in the back on the floor, good luck with the view. The place seemed like a giant school gym with concrete everywhere and crappy metal chairs for floor seating. It isn't luxurious at all. They could have at least made it look nicer like the Zoellner Center at Lehigh U. Main gripe: Restrooms are OUTSIDE the venue. You must exit into the mall/casino building to use the facilities causing a line and a little wait to check tickets to get back in to see your show. This could be easily fixed with new walls/hallways. read more

I wouldn't waste money on seeing another show here. I've been to three and the sound is horrific. When you have concrete all about how can the sound do anything but bounce and echo? Add in folding metal chairs and you have a high school gymnasium. Just awful for the price of tickets. read more

Can I give it less than 1 star. Was thrown out for getting in a pocket size point and shoot camera which was smaller than an iPhone. Mind you the prohibited items list for the show outside the event didn't say cameras were prohibited and security at the front saw it and said no issue. The show which was WWENXT allows photos and cameras. They lied and told me WWE forbids it but they said before the show photos are allowed. Terrible security who just want to show off their power to make up for their sad lives. read more

The inside has a costco/BJ's feel with its industrial ceiling and exposed rafters & pipes, the floor is flat so don't get a seat in the back of the floor because you'll be peeking in between everybody's head (specifically if you're small), and there's a balcony in the back that is connected to the bar so you can enjoy your drink and watch the show without anyone blocking your view. I believe the side seats are the best if you're not willing to pay big bucks to sit in the front of the floor because you're slightly above the rest of the crowd and still not too far away since this is a medium sized venue. Another benefit of seeing a show here is that parking is free and you can try your chances at making your money back that you dropped on the concert in the casino! lol. read more

No complaints. I don't have much to compare to. We are not drinkers but it was pretty cool to have the entry to the event at the Vision bar serving food and drinks that can be brought into the show. (Not such a good idea when the couple behind of you teamed of onions) The 'bad' seats we got were pretty good. I've seen two comedy shows there and sat in the left wing and row 25 of right center. We snuck out a lil early because the area tends to get congested at the end of an event but I suppose that happens anywhere. My rating of a 5 is based on the fact that it was what I expected and I would go back. Had no incident. read more

I do not know why the rating is so low for the Venue. I saw the Killers at the Sands Event Center and it was an awesome experience. A small intimate venue with plenty of concessions, nice staff, and clean amenities. It would be great if Sands could improve the parking situation. No one wants to wait an hour to get out of the parking structure after a show. read more

This was my first time here and I loved it. We went and saw Chippendales perform and the venue was perfect. I loved how close the parking was, the seats were comfortable and the staff were nice. I didn't drink at all (I was the DD) But everyone said the drinks were too small and over priced. I did notice that they had chickie and pete's inside there, but I was in charge of watching the table. . . so I didn't get to have any. I will definitly be back here! read more

I had never been here until the YES concert, 4/7/2013. Parking is ample and free. You don't have to go through the casino to get to the venue if you park in the event center/hotel/mall parking lot. We sat in one of the suites above the floor; very nice seats and I thought the acoustics were great. Beer a little pricey, but that's the way it is everywhere. I will go back. read more

Went to a concert here over a year ago, and was surprised by the extremely uncomfortable seating. So a friend wanted to see another band there, and I did a search and found that they still had the same crappy seating. Folding chairs. I kid you not. So I am NOT paying $55 to have back pain. Not worth it. Steelstacks is soooooo much better. read more

We went to The Sands Event Center for Melissa Etheridge on 12/7/2017. The show did not dissapoint. Directions and no fee parking were nice. We had floor seats which were small foldable chairs that were literally right up against the seats next to you. Its impossible not to bump, step, get in your neighbors way through the show regardless if you were standing or sitting. Very uncomfortable. On the postiive side the sound was above average and the venue was very clean. Drink prices however were outrageous $11 for a 24oz can of beer. But what really earned the low rating is during the encore of the show, Melissa Etheridge was finishing up the last song of the night when the house decided to cut her sound. Both mics and instruments went silent at 10:15pm sharp. I've worked at concert venues and have also attended over 100 concerts throughout my life and never have I ever experienced an artist having the plug pulled on them. It was unbelievably disrespectful not only to the artist but every single patron in the house. Turn the house lights on, send a roadie out, hell even lower the sound would have been a better way to handle. If an artist goes over their alotted time thare are so many better ways to try to end the show rather then cutting the mic. Not cool Sands get your act together or I won't be back for a show. read more

The actual show was great, but event center and restaurants were terrible. Do yourself a favor and pick a different venue. Service was terrible and refused to accommodate my family. It's such a shame because we were looking forward to this show for weeks and the whole experience was ruined by poor customer service. Doesn't even deserve one star. read more

Yesterday I took my mom for her 80th birthday to see Vicki Lawerence. The show was fantastic. The staff was wonderful. The staff is friendly there was a security woman by the door who was super nice and Jim who showed us to our seats was great. Jim was friendly and made us laugh. Seats are comfortable (much better than the seats to see a concert in Hershey.) I do have 1 complaint for this show the sound system wasn't great. When Vicki would sing you couldn't make out all her words. I couldn't tell if it was the volume or what it was but that was disappointing. Now without music playing you could hear her fine. That was a bit annoying for the money that was spent. That needs to be looked into. Now I attended other shows there and I didn't notice that issue. Now not sure if it was where we were seating (far right riser 3 row) but that shouldn't matter. It is a nice small venue place to see a show. read more

$469 for a room?!?!? OUTRAGEOUS!!!! We used to be able to stay at the Sands for $125/ night and slightly higher on weekends. However, now they're gouging guests like faithful Celtic Thunder fans on "special" dates. Disgraceful!!!! While the venue is convenient for dining, entertainment, and shopping all under one roof, it's not worth $469/ night. Come on! They don't even offer eggs at their breakfast buffet! The outlets stores offer very few worthwhile deals nowadays, and the casino is disgustingly full of smoke. Sadly, the Sands has lost our loyalty over this recent experience. read more

Security was very tight, which is a good thing I suppose, but being the redneck that I am, I had my pocketknife with me. They confiscated it because I didn't want to go all the way back to my car. Luckily it was a cheap knife. read more