Sleep Train Pavilion

Visited this venue for the first time 6/23/13 for the Big Time Rush show.  I've been following them a couple years now (as well as 1D and the Wanted) so I'm comparing it to various other venues I've attended in that time.

First off this place is SO easy to get to I was stunned.  Basically you get to 680 from whatever direction, exit on Ygnacio Valley Road, it turns into Kirker Pass at some point and the venue is on the right about a block later.  They have three entrances and parking was the smoothest I've ever seen at an venue/event of this size.  Usually this sort of place is some complicated series of twists and turns in the middle of nowhere with traffic inching along for a good amount of time on a (if you're lucky) two-laned road.   I left work in San Leandro around 5:15 and was parked and in line shortly before 6.  Astounding.   Exiting was even smoother.  Helps that the various exit lanes spill out onto a multi-laned (I want to say four) road.  

This was AFTER I spent 20 minutes looking for my car even after I'd gone to the trouble to look where I parked before I went in.  (And I could only afford two drinks so it wasn't that, haha.  I was depressingly sober by the THIRD opening act [seriously?!?!]  BTR didn't hit the stage until 9:00!)  I looked up and said "Self, you are parked in section E."  Turns out each section is several double-spaced  aisles long and stretch out forever.  I was not the only person wandering around blankly scratching my head.  And like a previous reviewer mentioned the parking lot is half paved with lines, half dirt free-for-all.  So the "minus one star" is for the parking lot.  They need to make it easier to navigate (at some point they made the current line formation perpendicular to a prior one but didn't bother covering the old one up so it's just painted lines willy-nilly all over.)  If I do get to attend another show there I'll be sure to take a cell picture of all the cars and signage and any landmarks around me to reference when I leave, haha.  It's kind of surprising because everything else there is so well-laid out signage-wise and crowd flow related.

The "Accepts Credit Cards" should be amended to "yes and no".  Though they may take credit for tickets, once you're through the gates it's cash-only.  (I could afford more than two drinks but that and the $8 sausage tapped me out of cash, which I'm not used to carrying.)  I'm not sure about merchandise because I chose the excruciatingly long food line over the excruciatingly long souvenir line.  (They need more options.  I've seen other venues do this much better.  They're only hurting themselves.)

So you've got your $8 sausage and your $12 miniature vodka tonic and you make your way to your seat and there are literally people like every 5 feet to help you find where you're sitting.  Nice!  Crowd control during the show was smooth and not overbearing.  (Though patting down 6 year-olds on the way in was a bit over the top.  I guess they unclenched a little upon finding most people attending a Nickelodeon boy band concert don't usually bring their assault rifles to them.)  Good sound system, side screen projection.  I didn't have the problem with bird doo doo on my seat because I think I was close enough the blasting sound scared them away.  But it's an outdoor venue, what are you gonna do?  Have an employee with a BB gun picking off pigeons during a show?  You have to be realistic with your griping.

Overall great experience and am looking forward to seeing more shows here if I get the chance.

This review is based on my attendance from the Big Time Rush concert 6/23/13 with the kiddos and BF.

I remember this venue from awhile ago and I remember comparing it to Shoreline Amp in Mountain View because of the lawn seating.

Parking is free if you don't park in premier.($40). and really we all need exercise America! Walk the short distance to the box office.

Sleep Train has a small lawn but closer seats to the stage with standing room. This was our first "kids" concert and it was great!  We had a 7 and 9 year old attend. They fist pumped so much they compared it to our insanity workout. =)

*I couldn't tell you how great it is to come and watch a show without smoking all around you. I was excited because they had funnel cakes!!

This place sells beer, mix drinks and margaritas.

We sat in section 209. Seats were comfortable as you can get and the weather was a bit chilly until the big acts came out and all the little kids jumped around making the venue a bit warmer.

Bathroom lines were long! even for a kids event? They even had the girls using the mens bathroom. Stalls and urinals were on different sides.
We didn't eat here because I can only imagine how medicore the overly price food would be.

Other exp... we WILL go again!

had a great experience at the hillsong concert! it was quite a warm day but as the sun set it got a little chilly so i definitely recommend bringing a jacket. they check your bags at the front but let you take in water/drink bottles that are not opened.