Oh First Niagara, how I detest thee.
To start, the boulders in the parking lot are absurd. A fantastic way to break your ankle, if you're looking for a way to do it. At least parking was free and you could tailgate no problem-o. They did have staff riding around on golf carts keeping tabs on activity. Whatever. Rent a cops make us all feel safe right?
I was here for a comedy show and a few of the comedians noted how we were um, not in Pittsburgh. I HATE that this venue is considered Pittsburgh. This is Burgettstown, middle of nowhere Western, PA and we all need to stahp acting like this venue isn't a pain in the azz to get to.
We had lawn seats and apparently at 23 we are too old to sit on our bums in the grass for a few hours. Our backs were killing us by the time the show was over. The slope is too, erm, slope-y to be comfortable without a chair.
I keep saying I won't go back here if I can help it and THIS TIME I MEAN IT.
Yup, it's still a mess to get in and out of. You will wait and wait and come close to running over drunken concertgoers who never look to their left and right before  darting out into traffic.
The bathrooms flood each and every time.
Rocks populate the lot, making it treacherous to walk on sometimes.
The food is expensive as well as terribly processed and unfresh. A plastic bottle of Sprite cost me $5 this trip.
When it rains (and luckily it didn't this time), the lawn becomes a stadium-wide mudpit, especially when inebriated  fans start tearing up sod and launching it at each other.
However, I must state that the sound and spectacle are acceptable.
My ticket for Kid Rock and ZZ Top (I was there for Billy, Frank, and Dusty) was free, courtesy of a friend who works for Live Nation, and had it not been complimentary, I probably wouldn't have gone since I resent this venue's very existence, especially with the birth of newer, better, and closer ones (What other areas does FNP serve besides the Pittsburgh metro area? West Virginny? Don't they have their own outdoor sheds?) within the past few years. Fortunately, last night was my only reason for going there this season (I skipped Mayhem Festival due to the mostly drab line-up and for not being able to get a day off to go).
Unless a really massive concert tour that you can't say no to is headed to The Burgertown Pavilion, I'd skip it were I you.
P.S. Take the shuttle bus (you can buy roundtrip tickets for any event through Ticketmaster) to and from the pavilion instead of driving yourself. It costs around $20 but will alleviate much of your commuter stress. Just be on time at your pick-up points (the bus departs for Pittsburgh 15 minutes after the last song) since the bus drivers are unforgiving to stragglers.
Just incredible. You would think that this place had never hosted an event before. Like every single time they are taken by surprise by having to plan how to park and seat this many people. If you sell 16,000 tickets, have an appropriate number of parking spots.
I'm going to repeat what everyone has said before, but please believe it: great venue, just awful infrastructure. Whatever the price of the ticket, expect to pay twice that amount in pain and suffering. It's going to take the second coming of Christ playing a one night only concert to make me come here again.
The venue itself is great. The way traffic is getting in and out is awful. I know traffic from concerts aren't ever the beat, but, the traffic flaggers and coordinators can't do it. There are no lanes, just ropes. Cars coming in across lanes of traffic when cars are trying to leave. Very weird set up. The concert venue, however, has a great beer garden, a nice hill for lawn seating convenience. Easy access to wherever you need To go while inside. Great acts as well. Love watching concerts outside....rain or shine
Review Source:If it weren't for the horrible traffic, this place would be awesome. Â We left Pittsburgh two and a half hours before the show started. Â Thinking that it would give us ample time to show up here, get parked, and find our seats. Â The Parkway after the tunnels said that there was congestion for the next seven miles...that's right up to the exit you need to take to head here. Â Once on that road we thought we'd have smooth sailing...WRONG. Â About a half mile from the exit off the highway to here, it was back up a mile...a mile! Â All the lanes were open to head here, but traffic was not moving fast enough. Â I'm not sure exactly what was going on with the parking here, but man, do you guys move slow. Â By the time we parked and got in there, we missed 1 hour and 45 minutes of the show. Â We only got to catch two of the songs from the one artist. Â That's it, I was a bit miffed, but I still got to see the other main act of the night.
Parking and traffic aside, this place is pretty sweet to see a show. Â We had seats under the pavilion which was great. Â Didn't have to fight people for seating like you do on the lawn. Â Of course, even though you do have a seat, you are going to need to stand if you want to see the show. Â
Lines at the bathrooms, lines for food, lines for beverages, lines for merchandise. Â It's like going to an amusement, but without all the fun of the rides. Â I only got a beverage here, and when you do the pricing it actually turns out about fair with prices at bars.
The sound here is loud, but at least you can hear what they are singing. Â And they got screens everywhere in case you can't see that little speck on the stage that is the performer. Â Once the magic of the night was over, we decided to stick around our seats to let it clear out a bit, but that is not allowed, they want to kick you out as soon as possible. Â I know they need to clean up, but forcing me out of my seat I paid for is uncalled for. Â And you are just pushing me out into that Frogger like area you call a parking lot.
The parking lot is horrible too, we waited for it to clear out a bit before we started to head back home. Â And traffic was a little better this time. Â Unfortunately for me, I probably won't venture near here again for a good amount of time because of all the stress. Â If you really want to see an act, wait for them to pick something closer to the city, distance is obviously a horrible obstacle when attending a show here.
We visit First Niagara Pavilion every year for the Dave Matthews band concert. This place has amazing tailgating Set up and the parking is included in the ticket price which is nice.
The venue itself is great, although beer prices are outrageous. The beer prices are so high at this venue that I tend to not buy any during the show. However, the venue itself is great and We look forward to coming here every summer for this event.
The only thing I would change about this venue you are the beer and food prices and the fact that getting out of the parking lot is a nightmare.
First of all it's an outdoor concert venue that is HUGE. You can't exactly put that in the middle of the city. Second, if you don't want to drive that far.. Don't go or don't complain about it. Third, you are going to a concert venue with 20,000 other people you are going to wait in traffic especially if you're going late. For the guy commenting about port-a-potties don't know if you've ever been in one before but they are not the most hygienic restrooms regardless of where you are, you should be happy they provide somewhere to go to the bathroom in the parking lot. If you want a nice place to relax cough up the 20-40 extra dollars to sit in VIP and to go to the VIP bar. I will admit the food/beverages are over priced but they are comparable to any other arenas prices. Overall I think the pavilion is a great place to go to concerts and have a good time!
Review Source:I still hate this place, but read on my music friends. Â
I tried to resist.
For years I said I'd never go see them in concert.
But I knew it was coming.
And my Cousin finally got me to break down and go see them with her.
And I discovered something. Â Shhh! Â (Whispers) Â I like the Dave Mattews Band! Â
There, I said it. Â Oh sure, I find Dave's voice a little annoying but there's always been a few songs I liked. Â And to tell you the truth, I never cared much for jam bands. Â Phish, Grateful Dead, Radiohead, etc--no thanks. Â But man can the Dave Matthews Band itself play! Â See, Dave's smart in surrounding himself with some of the finest live musicians I've heard in awhile! Â They helped carry the show. Â
Anyway, I don't have to tell you the huge fanbase DMB has. Â I've often thought of them as like Deadheads only with jobs and trust funds. Â Still there are people who follow DMB wherever they go. Â Believe me, when we arrived the DMB Caravan was in full force out in the lot, even though a large number of fans didn't show up until later. Â Fortunately we had pavillion tickets. Â I just don't do the lawn anymore. Â Personally I don't know how DMB does it--they tour incessantly and they put out more albums than anyone.
But if anything, this was a show for the hardcore DMB fans. Â For casual fans and newcomers like me, not so much. Â The band reached into its catalogue and quite frankly didn't play a lot of songs I knew. Â Despite not really being a fan, I always liked "Stay", "Crash Into Me", "Everyday", "What Would You Say"--none of these were to be found. Â Of course they concluded with "Ants Marching" and if anything put me over the edge, it was this 9 minute jam. Â C'mon everybody...."People in every direction....."
Good concert, but I still hate First Niagara Pavillion. Â Read my previous review.
i'm a fan of this venue for concerts. but i will warn you that every possible thing you want to buy there is extremely over priced. they also have some strange rules about what you can bring in... for instance, purses have to be no larger than a piece of paper and chairs can only be 9 inches. i've also learned if you want to buy beer, it's cheaper to buy it from the guys walking around selling it than the actual booths.
but as a concert venue, it's nice... lots of space, good view from every seat.
there's plenty of parking as well, and room for tailgating. also, if you don't want to drive home at night, there's a campsite about a mile and a half down the road - $20 a person and they offer a shuttle service for $20 roundtrip, $10 one way.
Went last night to DMB and stayed in Pittsburgh. I am from cleveland so we were downtown burgh. Left at 430 for 7pm show. It is 40 minutes. Traffic was busy and tailgating was robust. Â Leaving 10 minutes early made all the difference. Could hear the concert encores in the parking lot so didnt miss anything. Â Little to no cell service there and no wi fi. Acoustics were great.
Review Source:Having attended the Jimmy Buffett concert last night, I felt the need to "vent" about the horrid conditions and operation at this pretty pitiful concert venue. It's billed as Pittsburgh's First Niagara, but it's FAR from Pittsburgh...nearer to small Andy Griffith/Mayberry burgh called Burgettstown.  There is one road in/out of the dump and the local Hanover Township police department (see: "Barney Fife") is ill equipped to handle the traffic.  Yesterday, the highway to the venue was jammed...leading some patrons to linger in traffic nearly three hours to move 1.3 miles.  We idled two hours to travel that distance.  Once you get to the entrance way, you will find the back-up isn't helped by some hapless kids collecting the parking fee and seemingly baffled by making change for a twenty.  You feel happy to make it past this bumbling kid only to find another forty-five minute drive within the garbage strewn, large rock obstacle course of the expansive gravel pit parking area.  instead of directing cars in efficient methodology branching into the parallel lots, the forlorn and dizzy kids direct a single file of traffic to the furthestmost parking on the grounds....in effect, you are punished for arriving early.  Latecomers, you see, then get the lots closest to the entryways to the venue.  In the parking lots, there are a few disgusting, lop-sided Porta-Johns reeking of flies and vermin.  Patrons rush into the woods and shrubbery  to relieve themselves only to hear the wailing siren of the ace Hanover Township Keystone Cops.  Instead of acquiring some skills at traffic flow, which any eighth grader could show them, these coconuts are monitoring the "pee-pee patrol" most often nabbing lissome young ladies.  Nice work if you can get it..  After walking through the mini boulder, broken glass lot, entry to the venue makes TSA security look efficient.  Your party stands in line to be fondled, prodded, and groped by some sketchy characters, only to get to the front to be told women must stand in another line.  No sign indicates this....so retreat and get back in the line. Once inside, it's the usual overpriced, fly specked putrid swill...people actually buy this muck.  The one consolation...Buffett was great.  Having seen concerts at venues across the country and Canada, I must affirm that this place is the worst.  One would think the general manager/site supervisor would initiate changes to make the dump a little more efficient.  It's been like this for decades...I'm sure it'll be that way forever.  Were I the general manager/site supervisor, I think I'd just close my garage door and sit in the car with the motor running.  I would not be able to live with my own inept, moronic, pathetic inability to foster a functional operation mode.  A sad place.
Review Source:Id say this is a pretty good venue but it really depends of your frame of mind. I am one who loves to tailgate before concerts and the concert goers usually create a great atmosphere for that. Also, it saves you from having to buy expensive food and $13 beer inside. Arrive early, avoid the traffic, and bring a small grill and a cooler of beer.
As for the seating, id recommend spending a few extra bucks to sit in the actual seats instead of the lawn. Sure you can rent chairs on the lawn but it is much more worth it to avoid all the wild crowds out there. Sometimes, they will even upgrade your seats for free. This happened to me one time.
Location is basically in the middle of nowhere but right off the highway. But if youre going to a country music concert, the middle of nowhere location seems to add to the experience.
With over 23,000 people trying to leave after the show, of course the parking lots will get a lil crowded. Something I always do is to fire up that grill I was tailgating with before the show and wait out the traffic lines. Not too bad for when youre hungry again after a 5 hour show.
Overall, First Niagara Pavilion is not the most glamorous venue. But Im not looking for high class amenities. Im looking for a decent place to watch my favorite music acts and cheer loudly with thousands of other fans. This place offers that unique experience.
My husband and I went here to see Journey and Foreigner. Â We bought lawn seat tickets but since they weren't sold out, I ran into a woman who worked there who just gave us pretty decent seat tickets, whoo hoo! Â That was a huge plus since the lawn was so far, we could actually see. Â This place is typical when it comes to AWFUL parking and traffic.. it seems to be unavoidable. Â It was also very far from the city and took a long time to get there on from Pittsburgh. Â The sound quality and lighting was decent. Â When it comes to huge venues.. I've been to wo
rse and I've been to better. Â It's OK for what it is, but I'd recommend going EARLY because it took us a very long time to get inside 1.5 hours before showtime.
This place is SO FAR from the city! Â So far! Â And thee worst is when you go to a concert you know is going to be PACKED like 3 hours early and the highway is STILL backed up at least a couple miles. Â What's worse, the Pgh Airport being a hundred miles away or this place? Â Toss up!
I think MAY be inclined to give them another star if it was closer to the city, and I'd most definitely go out there more (pending my funds!). Â I only go out there now for someone I REALLY want to see (hello STP, yep, don't make fun!). Â
I've seen a butt load of Warped Tours here, which is an interesting concept when the whole place is built around a massive "hill." Â Also, X Fest (RIP) was always a great time. Â A music festival amongst the hills makes for a lot of sweaty hiking.
I love that they've bargain priced the lawn at around $20 for certain shows and that you can also buy 3 and 4 pack of shows for the summer. Â Although I may not be a fan of most of the shows they package, I'm sure it makes someone happy (Brett Michaels homecoming tour....again?!). Â
I also don't think the beer is TOO outrageous for a concert venue. Â I got a 22oz Yuengling for $6. Â I'm not sure if they raise the price depending on the show (which I can imagine they'd do), but I know that's what it was for Blink 182 (maybe they knew it wouldn't exactly be that kinda crowd). Â I think the hard part is getting to the bathrooms after you've drank a couple $6 beers! Â They're pretty large, but still....it's a HUGE place, you could stand to put a couple more facilities in. Â
I remember back in the day when you could bring in your own lawn chair and blanket and could sit happily on the lawn. Â Then the bonfires started happening in the lawn and those days stopped for a while. Â Bonfire meaning some drunks probably thought it would be "fun" to set their blankets and chairs on fire. Â Gee thanks guys! Â Then they introduced renting a chair, but you still weren't allowed to bring in blankets. Â Um, no thanks! Â Finally, they allowed you to bring in your own blankets again. Â Apparently the 90's rock crowd grew up....
Well, whenever a concert gets announced, the first thing my family wonders is, Where is it? Â When the answer is First Niagra, we all groan. Â Because of course we are going to want to see our favorite performers because who knows when the next time they will be performing. Â This place is just a mess.
To start out with, it is in the middle of no where. Â To get to here you will find yourself sitting in all the worst traffic you will ever expirence. Â The place itself has the worst parking traffic I have ever been in. Â
It is just a mess getting out to here, but once the concert starts one will find him or herself enjoying the show. Â That is until they remember they have to drive home and battle the traffic once again.
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