Soma

3350 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110, USA

Related:	amc thoroughbred 20
Address:	3350 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
Phone:	+1 619-226-7662
Site:	somasandiego.com
Rating:	3.7

Location

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Leaflet

Photos 100

Reviews 8

Christie Coats

We recently went here on a Friday night when Alt-J was performing. We were stocked that a place this small had booked Al-J and were excited when we purchased our tickets for a great price when they went on sale. Thats about where the excitement ended. As our event date arrived I looked up the venue and the concert details so that we could make our dinner plans beforehand. That is when I learned it was an all-ages venue and by all-ages, all-ages. This includes no booze and lots of a 18-21 year olds running around. Once inside the venue, there was a massive line for the womens restroom and women were being escorted out of the venue for using the mens restroom. I get that they have rules, but maybe they should add some more restroom facilities. This was all well before the concerted started. Once we went into the MainStage area and joined the other 2000 people, we quickly realized there is no A/C here (or if there is, it doesnt work)! While we waited for the opening band we were already dripping with sweat. Kids around us were getting high, sneaking their booze and all around getting crazy. Thank goodness Alt-J was amazing to see or we would have left very quickly. We prefer to go to venues that arent all ages, that have A/C and that dont pack 2000 people into a sardine can. Prices for the concert were great but not worth enduring that environment. We wont be back here for a concert.

A Private User

Cant I give a half a star? All around horrible venue. If youre past high school age you may well be the oldest person in the crowd. I honestly feel cheated out of my $20. Ive paid less money for better shows at the house of blues, which is a much more respectable venue. The stage is barely elevated, (very low ceiling for a concert venue) and the slope of the floor is very gentle, as its a movie theater. (Meant for people sitting down) One of the staff got on stage during the concert complaining about a missing wireless mic. As you can guess, the staff arent very professional at all. They have a snack bar, yes, a snack bar. Ive never been to a concert before where they sold candy and chips. As you can guess, there is NO ALCOHOL. Yes, a concert can be enjoyed free of alcohol, and it creates a "safer" environment, but you are not even afforded the option to enjoy a drink. Alcohol wouldnt bring in much revenue here anyway, because almost no one in the crowd is of drinking age. If the place catches on fire, you will die. They cram hundreds of people into an area smaller than the lower level of an average house. The sound is awful. Ive been to outdoor shows with better sound. Its also easily over 90 degrees in there-in December. All in all, bad experience.

A Private User

So, WHAT??? I want a beer. Is that too much to ask? I dont think so. If you say "So what" you are not yet 21. I waited until I was of age to see good shows. I didnt whine about it. So this is a great venue if you are 10 years old. But if you are over 21 this is THE WORST VENUE EVER! Didnt mind when they only had crap bands, but now they are starting to get better bands and IT SUCKS! Just went there for my second time and I live a mile from this place. They should just host Christian bands or Straight Edge. Then they can preach their CRAP to someone who will listen. So I will be boycotting this place for the rest of my life! I am going to drive to LA to see these acts in a DECENT venue where you can drink a beer. Yes, I would rather drive 300+ miles than walk to this venue to see shows. If you want to carpool, let me know but dont make the mistake of going to this venue. If everyone boycotts this place they will go under then we can see good shows in SD while drinking! Join me and BAN THIS WORTHLESS VENUE!!!!

jose ibarra

This venue has is both good and bad. The thing I like about the venue is that the guards throw water bottles in the crowd so people wont get dehydrated and even spray us with water. The thing I hate about this venue is that there are security guards in the pit area and if people mosh too hard the guards grab people by a headlock and they dont hesitate. I understand that they care about safety issues but if they are enforcing violence on people that wont help one bit. They were only like that to the first set. After that, the guards kinda chilled out. I will only go to shows here if there isnt any Anaheim, Pomona, West Hollywood, or Los Angeles shows.

A Private User

First the venue it is a converted movie cinema with the walls knocked down. It has poor ventilation and it is hot and humid within 5-10 minutes into a show and gets worse as the show goes on. The venues sound system was due for an upgrade years ago. I am a fan of punk, metal, and some hardcore. Truth be told most of the bands Soma has shows for are crappy scene bands. It is all ages and expect for the vast majority of attendees to be high school kids and younger. Dont get me wrong I have been to great shows at Soma but the environment and the below par sound quality really detract from the performances.

A Private User

Everyone who has trash talked this place is completely stupid. So what if it doesnt have alcohol?? You dont need to be wasted to enjoy music. The staff is NOT rude. YOU have to be polite to them, and theyll reciprocate. All of them are nice guys. Somas sound quality is way better than most other venues around SD. Just because it doesnt have seats doesnt give anyone the right to complain. So what if it has a snack bar? Venues arent supposed to give you a three-course meal, theyre supposed to let you listen to music. Overall, Soma is a GREAT place to listen to music and hang out with friends.

A Private User

I went to see Cage the Elephant & Manchester Orchestra June 2011 at Soma and it was my first time at this venue. I skeptical because of how small and dinky it looks on the outside but when inside it makes for a really intimate performance. I noticed the security dudes were friendly but definitely had things in control; one nice thing was they handed us water bottles to pass around when it got super hot. The sound quality was good and since it was general admission you could get as close to the bands as other sweaty bodies would let you. Would definitely see another concert here!

Davi Peterson

I bought tickets to see paloma faith and ordered two tickets. They gave me four additional ones by mistake and have charged me over $70 for the tickets I did not even request! To make things worse it is impossible to get a hold of them. when I call I only get an answering machine and the mailbox is usually full. I have sent several emails and have gotten no reply what so ever. Soma pretty much stole money from me and are not even acknowledging it. worst customer service ever.