The Great Saltair

12408 West Saltair Drive, Magna, UT 84044, USA

Address:	12408 West Saltair Drive, Magna, UT 84044, USA
Phone:	+1 801-250-6205
Site:	thesaltair.com
Rating:	3.7

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 5

Cory McClellan

I went to see Empire of the Sun at the Great Saltair last Saturday, and can say that it will be my last time seeing a show here. I realize that much of my experience was caused by the crowd attending the concert with me, but I do believe the venue has a responsibility to control these issues. Specific issues: - I did not feel safe. There were several fights that broke out next to me during the concert and I saw someone flash a knife. Security to get into the venue is a joke with the staff simply asking the guys to "turn your pockets inside out". It would have been super simple to take in a gun or knife on the inside of your waistband, and honestly I am surprised that I didnt see people seriously hurt. The crowd was so packed that they were falling and tripping over each other. Imagine if there had been a fire like the recent warehouse fire... we all would have died. The floor needs to be better segmented and the crowd spread out to help mitigate these issues. I about had my foot broke from people enthusiastically jumping up and down to the music and landing on me because it was so packed. Seriously, this place is the next Oakland Ghost Ship - There were drugs everywhere. The people to my left were talking about how they had dropped acid before the show and the people to my right were asking everyone for a lighter every 5 minutes to take drags off their joint. Once again, this is due to lax security at the entrance and failure of staff to stop drug use when it is seen happening. Mid show, the folks in front of me ate some mushrooms out of a baggie and then threw it and a water bottle into the crowd in front of them. -Parking was a joke. With no alternative parking (because the venue is in the middle of nowhere), the cost of parking should be priced into event tickets. In addition, the staffing guiding the cars to parking had them park so close that everyone was banging their car doors against the car next to them trying to get in and out of their vehicles. - The sound was bad. The bass was far too over-amplified resulting in the vocals being completely drowned out. I know this is a matter of style, but it was the same for both the bands that played and resulted in a disappointing experience. Overall this place is the worst I can imagine to attend a concert, and I seriously think the fire and police departments need to get involved before something tragic happens here.

Troy Van Houten

As stated in other posts, the concert performers were excellent, but the venue was absolutely horrible and the worst I have ever seen in the 30+ years I have been going to concerts around the nation. The parking was a disaster, so beware, and get there early to avoid the off-property parking 1 mile away with shuttle service. This venue is under staffed with little security. The entry access lines were a nightmare with pushing, shoving, and yelling. It was nearly a riot and a stampede. None of the staff had any training on crowd control and it appeared they thought yelling louder would help. I felt bad for the young teens who were getting crushed near the front of the stage while security watching it happen.. Theres one drinking fountain in the whole place, or you can stand in a huge line at the under staffed food bar with jacked up prices for even just water. There are no exterior restrooms, so if youre in line waiting for doors to open for hours on end, then youre out of luck. Im glad I escorted by teenage daughter to this concert and venue. It was dangerous and outright mis-managed. Who ever owns this venue is just awaiting an impending lawsuit of some sort with all of the fire code occupancy violations and/or injuries. Knowing what I know now, I would forgo this venue and travel farther to see the same bands at a different locations. Is there hope? Yes, this venue could be much, much better better if there was organization around parking, better security, and management.

Tanner Parsons

Went to Das Energi this past weekend which I figured would be a great time - good lineup and all in all forecasted to be a decent crowd. Everything as far as perfomers were awesome, I went to the bathroom halfway through to have a staff member pull me aside as I was leaving and told me to wait in a corner without giving an explanation. I proceeded to ask why I was forced to wait and more or less be detained by him. He proceeded to ask for my wristband which I had no knowledge about needing a wrist band for entry. I TRIED to explained my story that my ticket was purchased and only used for at home print out only and then was thrown away after scanned, he very rudely had no intention in hearing my story and proceeded to kick me out and go to security without any regard to checking for my verification. Thankfully the security outside was understanding and showed him my email verification and ID and was allowed. But this was only after being told to wait for no reason, getting told I didnt belong in the show and being extreamly rudely harassed by this particular staff member about not having a ticket and then after showing him the ticket proceeded to still justify why he had to treat me rudely. All in all I will avoid going to the Saltair from here on out for events because that was outright rude to any patron. They will not have my buisness anymore.

Jeremy Jensen

I wasnt very pleased with my experience going to a concert here. You show up and SURPRISE $5 to park. Nowhere else to park because its the middle of nowhere. Next up, if you plan on seeing a show here, be sure to have physical tickets in advance! I made the mistake of will-call, and regardless of me getting to the show 40 minutes early I still waited in a 45 minute line for the one booth they have for will-call pickup. There was a second line for people buying tickets in cash, and there was no wait there. I dont know if it was the buildings bad acoustics, or if it was the audio engineer.. But the sound was very flat to the music. The only redeeming factors was that (most) the staff was very friendly, and its pretty spacious in that building. Ill avoid Saltair in the future for many reasons, but its still not as bad as In The Venue (a place I avoid at all costs). Last of all, if you can.. Leave the show early, because the parking lot is complete insanity post show. One tiny exit, and several hundred cars fighting to get out.. nope.

Maggie K

I came to this venue for a concert a while ago, and I was thoroughly disappointed. The doors were scheduled to open at 6, and we didnt even see security until 7. Doors finally opened at 7:30, and so the the three opening bands had to cut their sets to 4 songs each so the headliner could have a full set. Also, it was very crowded, and I got separated from my friend and ended up getting shoved into the pit with no warning. I got out and a security guard helped me to the front of the crowd, right on the barricade. I was right under the balcony where all the alcohol is served, and ended up having beer steadily dripped onto my shoulder. (I ended up grounded for 2 months because Im a minor and my parents wouldnt believe that I wasnt drinking.) The acoustics were pretty solid, and the bands were good, but the issue with the doors opening so late and then getting soaked in alcohol has really really bothered me. Im going to another show at Saltair in May so I just hope that theyve gotten better since the last time I was here.