Going to arena events

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Would you attend an event such as a football game or a rock concert in an arena or stadium like setting? For me, it would depend on the setting of the arena. Outdoor venues don't seem to bother me as much. I have been to a Tennessee Titans game in Nashville at their stadium. It did get loud at times, but I didn't seem to mind, although I was way up in the nosebleed section (at least it was overlooking the 50 yard line). I do not like indoor arenas as the roof amplifies the loudness even more and the large crowds seem to make it more uncomfortable.

I'll give you an example of why I think indoor football stadiums are bad. One of the 1999 AFC Divisional Playoffs was held in Indianapolis at the RCA Dome. It was a matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans. Half of the seats inside the dome were still available a couple of days before the game was to begin. The Titans fans all drove up I-65 to Indy and bought all the rest of the tickets.

When the Titans got to the RCA Dome, they made so much racket and loud noise that the referees had to tell them to quiet down because the players could not hear. Not only that, Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning had to take a silent count on offense because he couldn't hear a word the coach was saying. As a result of the Titans fans refusing to be quiet, the Colts lost at home 19-16. Ok, I admit I'm glad the Titans won and eventually went to the superbowl, but going to an event so loud the refs have to tell you to be quiet, that has to make an aspie cringe.

Oh yes, and Peyton is a great QB, except when he has to play outside in bad weather. That's why they can't ever beat the Patriots. Seriously, I'd rather go to an outdoor venue than an indoor one because the noise radiates out into the atmosphere.

Being into arena designs.

I like attending the San Jose Arena for Sharks Games but the problem is that the seating rows are so crunched in that a tall person would feel unconfortable and the walking area in front of the seats are narrow, especially the upper end.

The atmosphere for a hockey game is good, when the team is on a roll. But I heard from audiophiles that the Shark Tank isn't a great place for concerts because of the ceiling and the wayl the sound travels. They do receive a lot of concerts and it is one of the highest selling arenas in the continent but true, it isn't the greatest in terms of concert sound. Places like the Arena in Oakland which is a little more than a half-hour away north, may be better for indoor concerts but I have only been there once, and that was before it was re- modelled to its current form.

At least the SJ Arena isn't one of those mega arena types like the United Center in Chicago. Those upper decks are high! Especially with all those ridiculous amount of luxury boxes, what like 2 or 3 floors worth? The nosebleeders also have to break there necks just to see a hockey game as the play at the near side of the boards can become unviewable and high.

Not very passionate.

At least the recent arena in Atlanta put all the snob-boxes above the lower deck, and on one end of the arena side-by-side and on top of each other. This at least allows the cheap-seats to be a little lower and can allow better and closer viewing of the action.

I like going to arena/stadium sporting events, or at least I'd like to. I really want to go to a Packers game, but its too danged expensive. I have gone to a couple of Brewers games this year, and they were fun. Watching baseball is nice, not too loud and you can just enjoy the arena and the game. Plus there is an excitement that seems to exist that is fun to be a part of...

I don't like arena concerts though, to impersonal... and any Band that is playing in an Arena is going to be too expensive for me. I went to a concert that was in a really tiny place, and it was a lot of fun. I sat in the back, in a balcony and still could see the band. And could just sit and enjoy the concert and not have to worry about people standing in front of me bein annoying.

I like going to football or basketball games that've been sold out because of the energy from all the people cheering and waving pom-poms and such. I especially like when our arch rival, University of Tennessee's football team plays my school, University of Memphis and we have this sea of loud orange-wearing people(UT colors) in the stands.

But the Liberty Bowl, our football stadium was antiquated from the moment it was built and doesn't even have a dome. It's 120 degrees on the field when football season starts because of the way heat gets trapped in the stadium's bowl shape. And they wonder why Memphis lost the bid to Nashville for the Tennessee Titans.

Now concerts are a different matter. Why is it that musicians insist on having their music at the same decibal as, say, a space shuttle launch? I went to a Janet Jackson concert where the music was so loud the insides of my ears were numb afterwards. We just had a new arena, the "FedEx Forum" completed and it seems to offer more leg room and isn't as steep as the former arena, the "Pyramid" in the upper deck, which was like climbing the Matterhorne when go up to our seats.

I like plays a lot, but I can handle small theaters ok - one time I went to a huge concert but I went with two people I really trust and I had a xanax in my pocket, so that made it ok . . .

[quote="nirrti"]

But the Liberty Bowl, our football stadium was antiquated from the moment it was built and doesn't even have a dome. It's 120 degrees on the field when football season starts because of the way heat gets trapped in the stadium's bowl shape. And they wonder why Memphis lost the bid to Nashville for the Tennessee Titans.

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Also, they couldn't sell out games at the Liberty Bowl. The one game they did sell out was a game against the Steelers. When the then Tennessee Oilers won, everybody cried and booed because the Steelers lost. I don't like the Steelers.

If I am with a group, I'll enjoy a baseball game ok. I would never pay for a ticket, but if I got free ones I'll go. I don't like concerts at all (although never been to one, I don't like school dances and am guessing a concert would be worse) and football games are unkown for me.

I think it depends not only on the setup of the arena but on the event itself. If I go to, say, a football game, then a stadium is gonna be fine. But a concert is a whole different story. I love General Admission concerts, to the point where I'm reluctant to go to any show where I need to sit down. The feelings of being tossed about by like-minded individuals, or crushed against the rail, or wailing your heart out to a sing-along are the closest we'll come to the old-fashioned tent-revivals of the bygone Gospel era. In arenas and stadiums, lack of GA instantly rears its ugly head. I went and saw The Pixies recently in a small arena with seats on the floor and it felt like a lot of energy was just lacking. People stood the whole time, sure, but nobody moved around.

Prometheus, although our experiences are probably different, I had (and still have to a large extent) the same feelings you do towards dances. Concerts of a band you enjoy are totally different and exciting experiences, especially in a smaller venue, because unlike dances/clubs, which tend to cater to people with totally masked expressions, harsh calculating behavior and a generally unhealthy outlook on life, 95% of the people who go to concerts want to be there for the music. When the lights go down they don't care if the person next to them thinks about their apperance, or their manner of speaking, or whatever. There's a united feeling, and, if the performer is good, a real connection. I always joke around and say that the same part of your brain that responds to religious experiences also responds to music (true), but that's the feeling I get after a good concert, even if the crowd gets a little rowdy (I went to see the White Stripes at a general admission show and struggled to stay standing the whole night against the thunderously clamoring crowd) - a real feeling of joy and camraderie with the folks around me, people I don't even know - in short, nothing like being at one of those lousy dances. I'd try it out once, go with people you trust, see if you like it.

As for sports and indoor and outdoor arenas, apart from the inclement weather I'm a big fan of outdoors as well. With all the excuses that every other team makes (if only this! If only that!), I think at the end of the day people are still having trouble accepting that the Patriots are one of the best teams football has ever seen and will ever see, and that if more people adapted their mentality towards the game there'd be a real rennaisance for football.

I don't do sporting Events, (No college hockey here anyways) and the last time I went to see a concert in an Arena was back in 1992, when I saw Kiss.

Other than that, most of the music that I see is at smaller venues pubs, nightclubs, and the occaisonal theatre.

I enjoy going to huge arena concerts, as well as small club concerts.

I'm on of those people who'd rather be on stage than in the audience. That being said, large indoor arena is awesome for theatrical/musical things. Small indoor is a lot easier from the viewpoint of a tech crew though.

For me, what the event is is more important than what kind of building it's taking place in.

Being in a stadium where my ears are being blasted for a couple hours wears me out. And I don't really like going to see bands or anything. But I do like sporting events and wouldn't mind going to see a pro football game. Baseball games are often much quieter-- well, at least they have quieter intervals.

Speaking of stadiums, I have only been to 2 NFL games. The Traitors, I mean Raiders. The first game I went to was the last game of the the first season they came back to Oakland. They were starting to tear down the old bleacher section of the Oakland Coliseum to make way for the unattractive "Mt. Davis," A third deck that is higher than the original upper deck thanks to those luxury suites. The second game I attended was on top of the infamous deck though. It took forever to rech the top since there were no escalators and such. Only to reach the concourse to climb stairs to get to nearly a couple rows from the very top. I don't recommend these seats for the pulmonary impaired, or those with some very bad limbs.

Plus you can't see the team that well. It's like your on the Himalayas while the players are below sea levell. Actually the field is below sea level. The only good thing about the upper deck is that you can see San Francisco across the bay along with the Golden Gate and downtown buildings. If it is a good day.

Because of the Coliseums new structure, I don't consider watching baseball games there to be as attractive as it used to be when the field was more suitable and the outfield had the symmetrical line of bleachers along with the trees at the back and the Jumbo tron in the middle.

I would like to go back again but the games are just too expensive now.