MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviews 3

JO

John De Silva

Performers: Dave Mason, Doobie Brothers, Journey Date: June 10th, 2016 Review: Luckily we arrived early. Tried three entrances. First one on MLK, which was the instruction online, had only signs for graduation. We went in there, but turned around and came out (as several other apparent concert-goers did) as everything indicated it was for graduation. Went to the entrance on Orient, but that was for VIP and $35 premier parking. She directed us back to MLK. We went in and kinda followed car in front of us. Found guy in golf cart and asked him. He pointed out where to park. Not one, stinking sign for concert parking. Walk in was a little long but a the exercise was not an issue. Getting up to the grass area was however, as once again the signage was sketchy. No one could inform us where we could rent the lawn chairs, either. Once we made our way there, we learned that it is general seating, as the row and seat number on the ticket are meaningless. We had a group of about 15 a-holes and d-bags in front of us that talked and stood up throughout the concert. Then behind us a group of about 6 with 1 or 2 really drunk a-holes settled in. This detracted from the music considerably. It appeared there was no limit to how drunk you can get at this venue. Men and women could not talk & walk straight during and after the show. The beach ball was out making its rounds which is not a bother usually, but one of the d-bags in front of me tried to hit it and glanced it off the top of my head. His first reaction was to laugh and then offer his hand in apology - - several times. I told him he was out of his mind and waved off his hand. Then, the really drunk a-hole behind us fell over me trying to hit the beachball, which almost caused an all-out fight between the 4 of us sober concert-goers and 1, possibly 2 drunk a-holes. Things settled down, but he occasionally tried to stir things up but we took the best possible action - ignoring him. He was so frustrated he finally just shut up. The people with him were so embarrassed and apologized, but they too shouldve taken action with their own group members. Under observation when the lights came up at the end, there were a significant percentage of drunk people, and not younger people that the older people are always saying they have no responsibility. They act stupidly. Theyre causing the country to go downhill. The drunks at this concert were all in their 40s, 50s, and older and theyre more pathetic because they should know better. If you are still behaving the way you did as a teenager at that age you have significant problems. Unfortunately, they brought themselves and their problems to this concert. We will never see a show at this place, again. Dave Mason was good, but went on a small bragging spree about writing tunes and playing with Hendrix. Shows everyone is susceptible to insecurity complexes. Doobie Brothers was good, a few awkward endings to a couple of songs (Journey had some, too) but overall enjoyed their set. Neils guitar solos were repetitive during the Journey set, and the lead vocal could stand to have more power to his mic. The slow songs were done well, just not conducive for me in a concert setting...but the females loved it! Our $35 ticket from Groupon was a decent price for this entertainment, and the parking was free. However, all of the previously mentioned negatives rate this concert as a disappointment, and we do not intend to return to this venue after this first-time experience there.

ES

Esmelda Pena

The problem with this venue is not the sound, it is the staff. The sound was great. Went to see Panic! at the Disco and Weezer, and had an amazing time at the concert itself. Before the concert, though, was hell. Got there early, around 1:00 although the concert didnt start until 7:00, because I like to get to concerts early. It was about 92 degrees outside but it felt like 100+. Friends went to the gas station across the street to get stuff for the long wait, we didnt come as prepared as we thought we did. They came back and we sat in the line a bit. They spent $55 at the gas station getting stuff. At around 4:00, the staff got us all into lines. They told us all we couldnt bring any sort of bag into the venue, then gave us a long list of things we couldnt bring. They said there would be water and food inside the venue for us to buy, so it was okay for us to get rid of the stuff. Assuming we were going to be let into the venue soon, people discarded their things. We threw out $55 of food and drinks... We werent let in for another hour and a half. People started passing out because the staff decided to leave out the information that we wouldnt actually be entering the venue for another few hours. Then, when people did begin to pass out, it took the EMT over ten minutes to arrive. The staff had no sense of direction whatsoever, telling the crowd to get into three lines and then making up their minds and telling us not to move. They had no idea what they were doing. It was the worst management I had ever seen. Having almost passed out myself, as soon as we went into the venue the first thing we got was water. Water that was way overpriced. They charged $5.00 for a small bottle of water. This wouldnt piss me off if it wasnt for the fact they were taking advantage of such a large group of people who had already spent money just to get into the venue, overpricing basic necessities just because they wanted the money. Food was pricey, too, and it wasnt even that great. The concert itself was amazing. I got pit tickets and got to see my favorite bands up close, but the stupid things I had to go through before it almost wasnt worth it. Would never go to this venue again. Do not recommend it, either. The staff doesnt care about you. They only care about keeping their jobs and getting money. I read the reviews on this place before coming, but ignored them and went to the concert anyway. Only did so because they werent doing any other places in Florida. If whoever youre going to see has other shows in Florida, go to those instead. This place is not worth it. One star is generous. The one star is for the concert, not the venue.

ST

Stefanie Schatzman

Journey + Steve Miller Band - March 14, 2015 Section 6, Row/Box B, Seats 7, 8, & 9 I paid over $1,000 for three tickets at what I thought would be premium seats. They were the first "permanent" seats for seating above the floor area directly in front of the band. We were the front row between the walkway and the railing. We should have had basically the best seats in the place. However, MidFlorida set up plastic temporary seats along the railing. (I have been to the St. Pete Forum/Amalie several times and have never experienced this situation.) I dont know if these temporary seats were only available to VIPs or people with political connections. (Im saying political because Pam Bondi or her look-alike was quietly sitting to the left of us in one of the temporary seats.) However, during the Steve Miller Band, 5 - 7 twenty-thirty something-year-olds came and stood in front of us. They were taller than us. Waving their hands, groping each other, lap dances, etc. and it progressed as the night went on. During Journey, which is what I wanted to see and paid the small fortune, they would turn to face us, hands waving in the air, and take selfies......One climbed and stood on the rail. Our seats and those in back of us, where at the same level....the rows did not gradually incline and so we were forced to watch the bands on either of the two jumbo screens on either side of the wall. The father beside me kept glancing over at us as he had two teenage girls and he knew that we were frustrated with these ill-mannered boars. Instead of the family getting to watch Journey (and they had paid the small fortune, too), they were watching the lap dancing, the groping, the no-space between the self-absorbed punks so they also had to watch the show on the jumbo screens. The father finally said something to the usher that was down on the floor beneath the railing and he spoke with the turds....however, that was good for a few minutes and now it was close to the end of the show. I give MidFlorida Amphitheatre a Zero! I hated it. They ruined the whole experience. After the show, from Amazon, I bought the "Dont Stop Believing Everymans JOURNEY DVD for roughly $30 and that was a much more enjoyable experience and definitely a better value. I will never, ever go to another event at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre. A total waste of money!

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