Visited this venue for the first time 6/23/13 for the Big Time Rush show. Â 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. Â 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. Â They have three entrances and parking was the smoothest I've ever seen at an venue/event of this size. Â 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. Â I left work in San Leandro around 5:15 and was parked and in line shortly before 6. Â Astounding. Â Exiting was even smoother. Â Helps that the various exit lanes spill out onto a multi-laned (I want to say four) road. Â
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". Â Though they may take credit for tickets, once you're through the gates it's cash-only. Â (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.) Â I'm not sure about merchandise because I chose the excruciatingly long food line over the excruciatingly long souvenir line. Â (They need more options. Â I've seen other venues do this much better. Â 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. Â Nice! Â Crowd control during the show was smooth and not overbearing. Â (Though patting down 6 year-olds on the way in was a bit over the top. Â 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.) Â Good sound system, side screen projection. Â 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. Â But it's an outdoor venue, what are you gonna do? Â Have an employee with a BB gun picking off pigeons during a show? Â 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! Â 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!
Went to a graduation at this dump. Totally barren, hot miserable place. First, the parking is a ridiculous, a good portion of it is  dirt.. They do a horrible job at trying to control the parking we inched slowly for 30 minutes as 3 long  lines of cars have to merge into one lane. Then you have rude, bossy staff literally yelling at you telling you where to go.
Then you are treated like cattle as you go through the bag check with obnoxious loud  staff yelling at the top of their lungs to open your bag. Sorry, maybe some people are ok with being treated like this but I do not think that is ok. Why do they think it is acceptable to order people around like that.?
I will never, ever go back.
Great venue, but only giving it 3 stars because THEY DON"T ADVERTISE Â what's scheduled!!!! Â Their big electronic sign is off; Â no ads in the local paper, no radio advertising. Â How do they expect people to show up?
Having the electronic sign on Kirker Pass Road off is nuts -- it's a major commute route & thousands of people drive by every day.
been coming to see live acts at this location for a few decades now..I've seen Luther Vandross, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Isley Bros, yea boy all the old school acts. Attending Summer Jams, Â and other artists. Â Just recently attended the Stone Soul Concert. Â The venue is nice, perfect location for an outdoor event. Â Every seat is a good seat. Â You can bring in small coolers with food and un-opened drinks. Â There is always a party on the lawn. Â Parking can be a lil crazy, but it's all good. Â will continue to visit here. Â Can't wait for the next show.....
Review Source:I attended the Stone Soul Concert on 5/26/13. I waited in line for exactly 1 hour and 22 minutes to pass the bag check person and get my ticket scanned! It was ridiculous!!! The line extended down through the parking lot. This venue hosts this event every year for the last 16 years! You would think they would have figured out a way to get guest in faster! The line also needs to be controlled by event staff. Guest are continuing to cut the line and it only gets worst as the years go by! 80% of the concert goers are 40 years old and older, so I really don't see the need for such a detailed bag check ( and to top it off, my bag I was carrying was checked, but my bag on wheels wasn't). That's what slows down the line, coupled with the fact that they are always short handed with employees. Why? So many people are looking for work! I feel as though this venue just doesn't care. How dare you take are money and make us stand in a line for a ridiculous amount of time! I have had it! As much as I look forward to this concert every year, I WILL NOT BE BACK! Shame on you Sleep Train Pavillion.....Go take some customer service lessons from other venues. Also you might want to think about paving your disabled parking area. Really? Gravel. YOU NEED HELP! KBLX you should have some concerns about this problem too.
Review Source:I attended a concert at this venue on Sunday May 26th, my friends and I were sitting in section 205 and had the unfortunate experience of being crapped on by birds for most of the day. I posted my concerns on Sleep Train's Facebook page and received a standard we regret blah, blah, blah. I asked if there were customer service remedies for this type of  issue, they responded yes but I would have had to address the issue on site the day of the show. I explained that I was not aware of this policy and felt that a remedy was in order. I guess they are not interested in customer service after a few exchanged Facebook posts. My comments were deleted after I responded that I would not return to their venue for any future shows and would also let my experience be known on Yelp. Their Disabled parking area is in a non-paved gravel area, the area that has Disabled signs is in their premier parking area at a whopping cost of $40 to park in. I'm almost certain that non-paved, non-lined and non-handicap marked gravel areas are not ADA compliant and I am asking the ADA to look into this issue. You may be able to delete my Facebook posts and comments but you cannot delete the facts. Shame on you Sleep Train!
Review Source:Hats off to management for some cool, unexpected things:
- FREE upgrade from the lawn to seats for a non-sellout concert. Â The ushers actually exchanged our tickets for the upgrade.
- FREE parking at a relatively close lot.
- $30 bottles of wine. Â Concert drinks seem so much classier with wine!
- $14 margaritas in a souvenir shaker (and great bartenders).
I've been here twice. And let me tell you that the song "you look better with the lights off" DEFINITELY applies to this place. I've been here once for a friend's graduation and the most recent was for the Mary J. Blige concert. And my experience during the concert (it was dark) was wayyyyyy better... or perhaps it was my beer goggles???? Hmmmmmm...
Anyway, during the day, this place gets HOT, not to mention the fact that you have to hike UP the hill to get to the actual venue (which is no fun if you're in heels- the parking lot is gravel). Then the bird poop on the seats makes you feel like you need to disinfect your whole body before you get back into your car.... So can you believe my excitement when I found out we got lawn seats for the Mary J. Blige concert?! What can I say? I'm a cheap date. Plus, I didn't want to risk sitting in those yucky seats...
Sitting on the lawn actually isn't that bad, the crowd was friendly. Not to mention the fact that you get to look up at the stars while listening to good music :) They rent lawn seats for $5. And it's not too far from the actual stage. If you want, you can turn the concert into a picnic (Yes, you can bring food). I'm not sure about alcohol (cuz we brought a flask). They do have a few shacks that sell beer and food though. Bathrooms were conveniently located and were relatively clean, my only complaint is that some door locks weren't working properly.
A few tips:
- If you're going to sit in the seats day or night, try to bring baby wipes so you can clean your seats before sitting down.
- If you're sitting at the lawn, make sure to bring a blanket (preferably waterproof because the grass is a bit damp)
- Try to get there early so you can get a good spot.
- Parking's a b#%$&, which is another reason to get there early, its less of a walk up the hill too, unless you get VIP parking, and even then, you still need to hike a bit.
- If you're going at night, make sure to bring a jacket or blanket so you can snuggle up!
There is never a fee for parking and it is a breeze to get in and out of. Â The concerts are always fun, the lawn seats are great with plenty of space. Â The lines for the restrooms go quickly. Â The food service also is pretty quick. Â They have a decent amount of vendors and beer. Â 107.7 the bone does a lot of events there and we make it a point of going each year. Â The bone bash was killer! Â I hope they have more artists here so I dont have to trek to san jose or Oaktown.
Review Source:There is good and bad about the Sleep Train Pavilion.
The good: The parking actually worked really well for us. We were worried about getting in on time (spent too long waiting for dinner at a restaurant and actually had to get our food packaged to-go so as not to miss the show) and so we paid for the VIP parking and ended up very close to the entrance with very little time waiting to park. My husband hadn't finished scarfing his food and expected to have to throw it out as we went through the line, but they let him keep it (made him throw out his drink though). The bathrooms at the top of the hill were large and clean, I never encountered a line. The cover over the seating area is very nice to keep sun off you on the hotter evenings and all seats have pretty decent views (although I can't speak as to the lawn seats).
The not so good: The bathrooms are pretty far away. I had to climb the neverending staircase to get to them each time. My husband said there were bathrooms closer, but darned if I could find them with the lights out and no directional signage. On that same neverending staircase they would check my ticket at the top and then again at the bottom. What? Why, there is no where else I could have come from. Did I fly into the middle of the staircase? No. In general I found security a tad bit overzealous. Good thing I wasn't doing anything wrong. It got pretty annoying after a while to feel like I was trying to get away with something when all I was doing was hiking forever to pee and go back to my seat.
This venue is fine. Not the best, not the worst. I will continue to go if there is someone I really want to see, but I won't be particularly excited about it.
EASY TO NAVIGATE!
Thumbs up to the management here! Â They were organized, and for about every 40 feet or so there were "somebody" to navigate you to your destination! Â This is impressive as I have been here several times - and time and time again, I have gotten the same consistent service with no chaos!
It starts of with the parking staff (excellent) - they pin point you where to park! Â Then they navigate you to the ticketing - then they navigate you where your seats are. Â The restrooms are clearly mark so you couldn't miss it. Â Who ever designed or redesigned Sleeptrain really thought a lot about when a person is walking and what is the first thing they see ahead! Â
The staff here are super friendly even with all the foot traffic that travels through here. Â This helps everyone remain calm and follow direction clearly and execute them with ease! Â I have to say before yesterday for my niece graduation - the last time I was here was for my nephew's graduation a year ago also and probably the next year for the next one graduating - not unless someone really cool comes here then I would take BART and their shuttle from San Francisco!
Thank you Sleep Train Pavilion for your consistent good customer service and for providing us excellent safety!
PS - wanted to share with you that if you need to bring sodas or bottled water - make sure they are not opened!
Wow, I had a good experience at this place. Â I wanted to let everyone know that it is easy to take public transportation here! Â I took Bart from Berkeley to the Concord Station and then caught the shuttle which goes directly from the Bart to the main entrance of the Pavillion! Â I read that the shuttle was free, but the driver charged me $5 to get there. Â The driver was also new and was literally using his cellphone to map directions to the pavillion which made me nervous. Â I was sitting just above him so I could see. Â And, I had to pay him cash and that was no where otherwise written so be warned. Â But we did get dropped at the front gate. Â And after the show, the shuttle is waiting at the front gate to take you back to Bart. Â The trip back is free.
We had lawn seats which were also great. Â I brought a low lawn chair with me, but they have rental chairs available for $5 which are worth it. Â The sound was good and the large screens made the stage visible no matter where you sit.
The bathroom lines were long, I didn't order food, and getting out was fairly easy. Â I would recommend this place especially if you want to avoid driving since they do make it easy to get there.
Excellent venue to enjoy a concert on a warm evening underneath the stars. Â Every seat is pretty much a good seat, with the exception of the lawn seating. Â I personally enjoy the lawn seats, that is where the fun is. Â Bring your lawn chair, Â pack up some food, smuggle in some alcohol (not really, well maybe), and you have yourself a party on the greens! Â Even if you are not sitting on the lawn, I would suggest bringing your own munchies. Â Unless, Â you prefer outrageously priced hot dogs, and overpriced nachos.
Be sure to check the website to verify what items are prohibited, a real bummer to make that long trip back to your car, returning all the items they will not allow you to bring in.
I love this venue so much more than Shoreline. Â The grass area is actually grass and not dirt! Â The sound system is always amazing, to where you can hear the artist's voice, and not just loud music. Â
Cons: Â you have to walk uphill to get inside, so make sure you wear comfy shoes.
Parking is free if you want to park far away, or $20 to park VIP. Â We took a cab, and got dropped off right in front. Â
The older white lady, checking our tickets in section 204, was blind as a bat. Â She sat us in the wrong seats, along with so many other people. Â It was chaos, as people had to keep asking each other to move out of their seats. Â
I wish this venue was closer to home. Â I'd probably attend way more concerts if it was.
Funny the way it is. I went into this expecting the worst and came out experiencing the best.
I have been to a few concerts here. I got to hang out back stage and make a brief appearance on-stage awhile back. I also manned one of the Home & Garden Show booths, a couple of years in a row. I used to live close enough to faintly hear the music & the gentle roar of the crowd.
Looking back, I have a pretty favorable opinion about the pavilion. Sure, it's a good hike to get to the venue itself but the magic in that is: the acoustic that a venue carved into the secluded hillside provides.
2 days ago, I found out within hours of the show that I was going to see the Dave Matthews Band here. I was at work and I no longer live close enough to go home and change. Long story short, I had to go in my business attire - heels and all. Â I'm sure half the people at the show wondered why this dumb broad showed up in heels. It wasn't by choice. It was better than not going at all!
I read some reviews, especially about how parking had recently changed and feared that it would be a big mess. We also stressed about getting there on time and fitting in dinner after work. Â
We had a great experience at the Guadalajara Grill down the street and parking was a breeze (Free!), then began hike #1 to the gate. After realizing that I may have recognized the screaming Jesus guy, I ducked my head and rushed forward to the security line. Â It only took a minute or so, we were through and on our way onto hike #2. We had general admission pit tickets. Although they weren't clearly marked, the tables to get wrist bands were half way up the hill on the right. Â Thank goodness my friend stopped & asked if we needed to get them with our tickets because we sure did. Properly banded, we made our way down to the pit. Â The area in front of the stage was open for standing and all the seats were simply first come, first serve. Â There just happened to be a couple of seats, front & center in the 3rd row.
I'm not used to seats at a concert where you can actually walk in front of the person sitting down! I'm so used to having to dry hump my way over every person on the way down to my own seat. They very much deserve an extra star for not smashing in as many seats as they possibly could have, just to grab at a few more bucks. The sound was excellent, the crowd was friendly/generally well behaved and the whole show was without a glitch.
On hot days/evenings (it was an unusually hot evening when I was there a few days ago) the cover over the pavilion that blocks out the sun, it also (unfortunately) traps the heat/humidity in. By the end of the concert poor Dave was one big sweaty mess. Â We all were.
The mass exodus also went surprisingly smooth. The little gem that stays with me was the first of the tour buses coming down the road: Dave in the front seat, waving wildly & grinning ear to ear.
Because it was last minute, I wasn't really dressed
and had to drive/park/etc..I almost backed out on the opportunity. I can gladly say that I will not lie in my grave wondering if I had spent my day well or dreaming of things that might have been...
I went for it and I'm so glad that I did.
Checked out the Budweiser Superfest here Friday night. Â Nice ampitheatre; preferred seating is covered, and the lawn area is relatively small, but nice. Â Bathrooms are big and clean. Â Bring food with you, because the prices are crazy. Â But that's to be expected. Â
Big problem: Â traffic at the end of the event. Â The lack of traffic direction by stadium officials or police made exiting the venue an absolutely horrific experience.
I'm not a particularly big fan of the large stadium venues anymore. Â Once I discovered the great local music scene we have here in the bay area, I don't go to nearly as many big shows anymore. Â Still... there are times when a big name comes through that you just can't miss.
The best shows I have seen here have all been General Admission ones, which meant that I arrived super early with friends and then when they opened the gates, there was a mad dash up the hill and down to the floor for the good spots. Being front and center to a big stage like this with an artist that knows how to work a stage of this size is pretty impressive.
The stadium also has seats and a grassy amphitheater backing it all up. In my opinion, the sound seems to get a bit muddy by the time you're back on the grass. Â It's really a preference thing for most people though, as I know some who LOVE the grass.
I do far prefer the Pavilion over Shoreline.
A group of us had an amazing time at the Sting concert last Sat. night!!
Sting was A-mazing! (I love him!) and we had great seats!
Place is big enough and looked like you can get good views from everywhere. Sound system:check. Amazing band: check. Comfortable seats: check.
Another great thing was the bathrooms! haha! yes!!
During the break, women's line was unreal but it went pretty fast b/c they had many bathrooms which made it a very comfortable concert!=)
Rihanna and Dave Mathew's Band is also gonna be there this summer...I am thinking i will too! =)
3.5 stars
It's been a while since I have been here. This use to be one of my favorite open-air venue for concerts.
Since I saw The Police three years ago at The Oakland Coliseum, I decided to watch Sting this time with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
During the first half of the concert, we were seated at section 205 , then decided to transfer to the lawn once the second half of the concert resumed. Either way you sit , the view and surround sound is great.
Upon entering the venue. make sure to have your jackets/bags ready for inspection and tickets out - that way - you get in a jiffy.
VIP parking is $40 . However, if you walk 5 minutes away - its FREE.
We didn't eat the vendor food, since we had a light dinner before hand. Beers and Wine start at $8.
The restroom line for the men's wasn't so bad, however for the women's side- you-better-have-a-good-bladder-line.
Overall, it's a good place to watch a summer concert at night with the moon behind the pavilion and Mt. Diablo in the background.
Beautiful evening for a concert! This was only my second visit in the last number of years. Saw Sugarland and they were awesome.
Driving from San Jose (and leaving at 5pm) took us 1.5 hours. Ignore directions provided by Google and other mapping devices. They make you take Treat Blvd which is a bit out of the way. If you go this way, just stay in the right lane as the signage SUCKS along the way. Seriously. They have 3 signs and they are super small and last minute. From 680, take Ygnacio Valley Road and continue on that road for about 7 miles east. You'll end up at the concert site.
The Pavilion is half the size of Shoreline. Literally. It seats about 12k and the two food and beverage areas are split on opposite sides of the venue. The food offerings aren't that great. For pizza, they provide Papa John (bleh!). Really? Can't get Round Table from down the street? Stop off at the grocery store along the way and bring your own food. I tried a cheeseburger and fries and they were pretty good.
The food seating area on the right side of the place sucks. The view is awesome on a clear evening, but they have about 4 or 5 picnic tables. The left side has a better area for "lounge seating"
I will give SUPER props to the staff that works there. I was a bonehead and somehow lost my ticket from the time I bought my food and the time I sat down to eat it. Walked across to the other side of the venue to the customer service shack, explained the situation and they gave me a voucher. Super nice people.
Like most places, alcohol pricing is beyond ridiculous. $12 for a shot?! $8 for a beer, $9 for a large bud light.
Similar to Shoreline, the lawn seating has people who can't seem to control their alcohol intake. We witnessed a classy fight break out about 15 minutes into the 1st act (FIRST act!!) and the yellow shirts (err.. staff) were quickly on top of things.
The good thing about Sleep Train or Chronicle Pavilion is that the sound is pretty good. I recommend paying a little bit more for a seat vs. lawn. Parking is in a dirt lot, $20 for premium parking, but super surprising was that we got out quickly. (unlike the hours sitting in the Shoreline lots) 680 is about 7 miles and it can seem like it's forever to get there, but this show was well worth it.
Loved this place!!!!
Went here on Saturday to see Chrisette Michelle, Common and Maxwell in concert and OMG...it was the best.
The weather was beautiful!!!
This was my first time being here and I loved every minute of it. Â It's a great place for a concert!
I was in section 201, seats MM 8 & 9 and have great seats of the stage.
I hear they also seat people on the lawn but no one was on the lawn during the concert.
They had good food too. Â I had a lemonade that was to die for and a pretzel with cheese.
We also, paid for VIP parking which allowed us to be much closer to the entrance!
This place is great for a summer concert. Even though it may soar well into the 90's in the daytime, the evening temps provide a great the perfect weather for laying out under the stars on the lawn.
I have to say I much prefer the lawn to the seats under the pavilion. You can stretch out and there has always been a mellow crowd.
I saw Judas Priest there last night and several RUSH shows so I cant speak  for any Pop or R&B crowds.
I do recommend bringing in a sealed bottle of water so you don't get stiffed with 5 buck jug, and beers are 12 bucks for a 24 oz oilcan so get your drink on in the parking lot if that's what does it for you.
The lawn is 420 prolific, with blue clouds filling the air each time I been there. But what outdoor venue isnt?
Parking and access is super easy. Coming from Berkeley its usually 25min. from the lot. I think the longest we waited to get out of the lot was 10 minutes, but everyone was cool and I haven't seen some of the muscling that I found in some other venues.
Oh, and don't bother paying for the "close-up" parking, its only about 100 yards closer.
This is the first time I've ever been to this venue.
If you're from the South Bay, it's quite a bit of a drive just for a concert. But if it's for a fantastic band like No Doubt, it is completely worth it. Going up on 680N was a pain from Fremont until Dublin during rush hour traffic but we managed to make it to Concord within an hour. Then was the maddening bumper to bumper traffic for the parking.
One of my friends had her disabled placard and so we zoomed to the very end and parked close by so she wouldn't hurt too much.
The lawn seats were almost filled but were scored a small area close to the gate and off to one side. We were lucky enough to be able to see the screens and the stage in between people while just chilling on the grass. We didn't really stand up but almost everyone else around us did. Â The grass was lush and comfortable to sit on. Don't forget to bring blankets or something to sit on.
We had teeny boppers stand in front of us, blocking our view of Paramore but then they left after getting yelled at a few times. I know it's a concert but it's also common courtesy to not block the views of people behind you, especially if everyone's sitting down and you're not.
But hey, teeny boppers will be teeny boppers. And with Paramore there, a lot teeny boppers congregated.
No Doubt was amazing at this venue! Loved the way the band sounded and we had a great time.
I've lived in the Bay Area since 1992 and this was the first time seeing a concert at the Concord Pavilion (yes, yes, "Sleep Train Pavilion").
To address some of the other yelpers:
PARKING: Yes, it's bad getting out of the parking lot after a show. Â Now that you know this, you don't have to get mad about it and can just accept it for what it is. Â It shouldn't deter you from seeing a show here. Â Look at it as an opportunity to hang out after the show and chat with your friends. Â Once we got onto the main road, it was very smooth sailing all the way into Walnut Creek. Â Getting into the lot was no problem (we showed up at 6pm for a 7:30pm show). Â I'm 6 1/2 months pregnant and I had absolutely no problem walking up the hill (man up, people. If you got tired, you need to get off the couch more often.) Oh, there was premiere parking for $40 (the price must change depending on the concert), which does get you closer and it appears you can get out of the parking lot faster.
LOCATION: It's sort of out in the middle of nowhere, but so what. Â Get to know your Bay Area people. Â It makes for a beautiful setting where with good weather you can see the stars overhead. Â Also, you can see Mt. Diablo!
LAWN: We sat on the lawn.  It's definitely a fend-for-yourself atmosphere, so I highly suggest getting there early to stake out a good spot.  Definitely bring a blanket to lay/sit down on.  We skipped the chairs and brought one of those stadium seat-backs (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rei.com%2Fmedia%2F710091_1854Lrg.jpg&s=5dd01e0dd291a3369f16ba7d4bbb8cd36019cabfe6fa2da8229ba600c5707509" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://media.rei.com/med…</a>).  The problem is, all of the lawn is on an incline, so you sort of slide out of this kind of chair.  I found just sitting was comfortable enough and I'm 6 1/2 months pregnant.  :)  Since you are getting there early, bring a book or cards to entertain you before the show starts.
WHAT YOU CAN BRING IN: This was the only place I could find with some guidelines as to what you can and cannot bring in: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Fvenue%2F229503&s=da1c0755b8f29f30aeb7bab68d6fe5422e25fd534afb18ef22ed3f43add02f74" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.ticketmaster.…</a> .  Live Nation sent an email the morning of the show with updates as to what you can bring in (it would be nice to get this email 1 day earlier in case folks are driving straight from work).  When we arrived, they had already changed one of the policies (no bottled water, but you could pour it into a plastic cup they provided).  Also, they DID allow personal digital cameras - bummer, cuz I had left mine at home thinking they would take it away.  Oh well.
BEVERAGE/FOOD: The beers were $8, not unexpected at all. I would stay away from the margaritas. Soda and water were $5. Â Whaddya going to do - welcome to going to concerts. Â We brought in our own food, which I highly suggest to save $$, save waiting in line, and save eating crappy overpriced food. Â They did have vendors wandering the lawn selling frozen lemonade, sodas, waters, kettle corn, and churros, so that was nice.
BATHROOMS: Looked like there was one main bathroom at the top of the lawn and then another as you enter the pavilion. Yes, there are long lines, so take that into account when you decide to go for your bathroom run.
DARKNESS: When it gets dark, it gets dark. Â The lawn area gets very full with very little "walkways" to get to the bathrooms/beverage/food and then back to your seat. Â Definitely take note of where your spot is before leaving cuz it can be hard to find on the way back! Â I very highly suggest taking your phone or camera with you to use the LCD screen as a small flashlight while walking so you don't step on other people's stuff (or other people). Or, bring a tiny flashlight. We had one girl who stepped right in the middle of our blanket, almost on our bags. Â Weird. Â (As I wasn't drunk one bit, I would imagine trying to walk up and down a slanted lawn in the dark while drunk would be pretty tough.)
YOUR STUFF: Don't bring anything too valuable, or keep that on your person. Â It could get trampled on.
STANDING/SITTING ON THE LAWN: We saw "No Doubt" which was a standing concert - everyone on the lawn stood for the entire concert. This was no problem. Â For the opening bands, there were groups of some folks standing while most were sitting. Â If you happen to plop yourself behind a standing group and want to sit... well... welcome to the lawn. Â :)
SIGHTLINES/SOUND: Were fine (we were right in the middle on the lawn - again, show up early). There are many big TV screens so you can see the singer close up when you want to. I thought the sound was fine. Â I enjoy concerts much more when I don't feel like my ears are bleeding during the concert and my ears aren't ringing afterwards. Â It was plenty loud without being obnoxious.
TAILGATING IN THE PARKING LOT: It says you can't do it, and it's true. My hubby brought a beer with him and he chugged it in the car before walking up the hill. Â The car in front of us was doing jello shots. Â Whatever works for you...
What else? Oh yeah, No Doubt was fantastic! Great entertainer. The set was really cool and she looked awesome.
I came here for a concert, and this is definitely a smaller venue compared to San Jose Arena.
I liked how the parking is FREE, so fans don't have to pay $20 just to park outside..lol. Â You should definitely get to the venue early (before the doors open) or the parking lot will fill up fast! Â I arrived 15 minutes before the doors open, and there were already tons of cars in the parking lot. Â After parking, you have to hike up the hill to get to the entrance. Â For those who don't enjoy walking, there is premier parking ($20) up the hill..lol.
Sleep Train Pavilion allows fans to bring in food and drinks which is great. Â All drinks have to be sealed though. Â I thought it was funny that there was a sign near the gate with a ring on it. Â All food items have to fit through the ring or its not allowed inside..lol. Â This sign should be at the end of the parking lot instead of near the gate, since its a long walk back to the car.
Once at the gate, there is security check to go through our bags. Â I saw people just walking through, so they didn't really check. Â This is not very safe if the security does not check all the bags..lol.
Inside the Sleep Train Pavilion, there are a few concession stands selling overpriced food.
I didn't like that there was only 1 women restroom location for the whole venue. Â The lines did move fast, but there should be another location. =)
After the event, leaving the venue can be a real pain. Â All the cars are parked pretty close together, and there is only 1 way to exit. Â I'd recommend people to either leave early or wait for the crowd to die down.
Summer nights at the Pavilion is like a summer ritual to me. I've seen Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire, Paul Anka, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Il Divo...and now I've got one more musician to add to the list:
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!
I vaguely remember my first NKOTB encounter when I was 6 years old, when I was the little annoying cousin who always tagged along with her older, cooler cousins. It didn't take that long that 1) my cousins weren't as cool as I saw them when I was 6, and 2) I would be a NKOTB fan for many years to come.
Fast forward 17 years later, and here I am! For dudes, some well into their 40's, they still got it! I was in utter starstruck by their stage presence. And the dancing, oh the dancing! The grotch grabbing, gritty, gyrating with the soft, smooth crooning (with the flowing hand motions) made all the women swoon as if they were back in 1991.
As far as seating, I had lawn seats, and the lawn was a smidgen damp. Thankfully, I eyed a bunch of workers who were offering free upgrades to the seats. Woo hoo! Free upgrade minus the wet butt! Weather was unpredictable to say the least -- scorching hot when waiting in line to get in and freezing windy cold when waiting for the show to start. It was a good 20 degree drop, so prepare accordingly.
A good 20 years later, those 5 boys, er men...still got...(oh oh oh oh oh)
THE RIGHT STUFF!
I don't know where the heck this place is on a map, but it felt like it was a cross-country trip to get there. Â The traffic was horrendous, and they lied when they said the lots were full. Â Then we had to hike the rest of the way across the country to get to the pavillion itself. Â Next time, I'm going to pay the $25 and get parking right there up front.
Restroom lines moved at a decent pace, there was a reasonable selection of food and drink, but why did it take 15 minutes to prepare a veggie burger?
All that aside, it was nice to sit outside and listen to a bunch of way-back bands go to town. Â That new kid in Journey? Â Dood can sing!
I have been to many concerts at the Pavilion, probably between two and three dozen. I am averaging out my experiences because sometimes the Pavilion would receive five stars and sometimes only one. Â The main thing that makes it a five star versus one star experience is the parking situation. Â Others have already touched on this. Â There will be times where the parking process is straightforward and quick. Â Other times it will be one giant, disorganized mess. Â I always get to shows really early and one time it took so long to park that we ended up having to pay $20 for premiere parking (because the regular parking, which is included in your ticket price, was full). Â We also ended up getting into the show late and the only grass seats that were available were on the side where the view is blocked by a big brick wall. Â Awesome. Â
Basically, going to the Pavilion is a gamble. Â I suggest buying actual seats (if the price is right) and getting there as early as possible just in case the parking is off that night. Â Oh, and stop and pick up sandwiches, sodas, water bottles, etc. on your way because that will save you from having to purchase overpriced concert food. Â I also agree with Marc P. that, if you can, take BART to the Concord station and utilize the inexpensive shuttle.
This has been quite the year for indulgent concert-attendance in my household. I think we've seen about three dozen at various venues in the Bay Area and the year isn't over yet. Most of the time, it's been a series of great experiences. But as with anything, I have to make a couple of exceptions. Such has become the case with Sleep Train (Concord) Pavilion.
I never thought I would hate on this place, considering decades of fond memories here. Don't know what happened, but it seems to me the majority of people selected to work here during the 2008 concert season have had better things to do than, I dunno, engage as if this is a place where people come to enjoy some live music and have a good time. Might as well have been herding us for ear-tagging, shearing or whatever else is done to large groups of sheep.
From the failure to conduct basic parking detail, to the slow ticket scanning (seriously, HOW is this even possible--wave the friggin' wand *beep* next!) at the Elvis Costello/Police and Heart/Journey concerts, we've missed acts we've paid a LiveNation ransom to see. Silly us, we didn't realize we now need up to an extra hour programmed into the pre-concert routine to avoid the delays. I can now say in all honesty that airport screeners I've encountered have been more charming and efficient.
But the general vibe of peace, love and healing provided by Carlos Santana and his band earlier this month (not to mention the fragrance of high-quality atmospheric enhancement brought in by some of the crowd in attendance) had me smiling and nearly forgiving the eff-ups and rethinking my plan to skip future concerts here--THAT was one sweet end-of-tour performance!
So we've decided next year we'll drive way the hell out here to enjoy a concert night outside one more time. But if the experience even remotely resembles the craptacular 2008 season, it will be the last for us. Because through trial-and-error, we have learned we can pay to be irritated MUCH closer to home. (*cough*Grand Ballroom at The Regency Center*cough*)
Well. I heard stories about this place. I was worried, but like everyone else you'll do anything to see your favorite band and this was my 4th stop on following my favorite band. So there is a first time for everything!
How do you go from classy, classy, classy and then THIS. I thought Concord was an upscale place, at least that's what the papers tell me. Everyone was bringing in buckets of chicken and coolers. People were eatting CONSTANTLY, while in line, in the venue and even in line for the merch. WTH? Security doesn't check for a thing, you could easily bring in a gun and no one would know the wiser. The good thing about this venue is that they want you to stay in your seats. I had first row, 2nd level and people were standing in front of me up against the barricade. Thankfully the guards came and ripped those people and their chicken out of my view.
Parking is a NIGHTMARE, It took me 30+ minutes just to get on the main street and another 20+ to get to the 680 freeway ramp. Oh hell. NIGHTMARE! I wouldn't go back. Your better off going to Mountain View!~
Sure, I have seen some great shows here over the years, including Elvis Costello and The Police just last night. Â I'm even going to go so far as to say the acoustics are pretty good and that in general the employees are pretty friendly. Â But that's where the compliments end. Â
When you compare this monolith in the middle of nowhere to some of the other great bay area outdoor venues, such as the Greek or the Mountain Winery, this place falls way short. Â
Right off the top, I am gonna say YOU SUCK SLEEP TRAIN for making me miss fully half of Elvis Costello's show. Â I mean the only REAL reason I went was for Elvis. Â The Police are fine, but I wouldn't go out of my way to see them. Â I love Elvis Costello; Mrs. Z has sexual fantasies involving Sting. Â We're both happy. Â So, if I show up at the parking area a full 30 minutes before show time and I am paying an extra $20 for so called VIP parking, then I shouldn't be inching along in my car for an hour, waiting for your paste-eating parking attendants to pull their heads out of their collective asses. Â (I did make it in time to catch Sting coming out on stage to sing a duet of Allison with Elvis, and for that I am grateful to the paste-eaters.)
The drink lines get awfully long and it's actually easier to get one of those frozen margarita abominations (in a tall souvenir cup like you're at the goddamn Ringling Brothers Circus) than it is to get a simple beer or wine. Â What is up with that? Oh yeah, I forgot, I am in the middle of Big Hair Land where fine dining is Outback Steakhouse and a great bar is TGIF.
Which reminds me. Â What the hell kind of toxic waste dump was this place built on top of? Â Nothing is growing on this barren landscape. Â I swear, this is the shit-hole locale where they faked the moon landing.
My favorite was the guy at the end selling small water bottles to all the baked, parched concert-goers for $5 each. Â I wisecracked that he should get a job with Halliburton, and he put a big grin on his face and asked if I would like a $10 bag of M&Ms to go with that water. You gotta love a price-gouging capitalist with a sense of humor.
I cam here last night to see Stevie Wonder and my review in no way reflects his performance because he is Stevie Wonder for Christ Sake!!! Â
My first impression was very bad.. it took 45 minutes to get up the hill  the parking lot (4 miles) .. I heard that there was a ambulance but I disagree, it was the two stop signs that made the mess.  That made little sense to me especially since there were street lights but they were not turned on.  So it ended up take 2 and a half hours to drive there from San Francisco.  We get there and I am horrified with what the parking situation will be like both going in and out.  Luckily they started to let people park on the dirt before you even enter the parking lot, BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE for parking at least (one star). Â
Then we realized how far we had to walk up hill, but low and behold there was  a FREE Bauer clean fuel party bus to give rides to the top (shoreline does not deserve stars for this, because it was not them).
So we get in and it is HOT, but nice since we don't get that often. Â SO I'm looking everywhere for a water fountain and even the employees don't know where they are... COME ON THAT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, it's over 100 degrees outside! Â We get decent lawn seats for being late due to traffic. Â
I was so hot that I decided to get one of the $12 beers and I got my friend one of the frozen margaritas out of a mixer thing ($13). Not long after she drank it she started to turn pale and said she did not feel well, so we went and stood for a bit. Â All of a sudden she got sick.... I'm not sure if it was the MASSIVE amount of sugar or if the margarita machine was dirty, BUT DO NOT EVER BUY ONE!!!!! Â I went back to the counter and asked for water because it made my friend sick, the woman said she could not give me a bottled water ($5) but gave me a big cup of tap water which I was fine with. (one star)
Mainly this added up to me being very disappointed in the quality of their facility. Â Also they did not have recycling bins that fit the cups which were recyclable (I'm a bit of a freak about recycling) but then again maybe they sorted it later.
In the end I realized you can bring in all the food and water you want as long as the water bottles are sealed. Â In the future, I will come prepared and ready along with leaving more than 2 hours early.
Driving out was fantastic because we were right by the front, one light and we were outta there!!! Â But all of the people that parked in the parking lot were going no where fast because there were so many cars and people walking in front of them.
It only took 50 minutes to get home and that was sweet!
Over all I typically enjoy outdoor amphitheaters but they really bummed me out with the lack of knowledge of their staff and the fact that they have little concern for their patrons health and safety when it comes to food and beverage. Â They are just trying to make quick money, but at the expense of their customers is NOT OK!
I am seeing a few other shows here this summer, hopefully it will be better next time.
"I got two tickets to Iron Maiden baby
Come with my Friday, DON'T say 'maybe'
I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby like you."
-Wheatus
Your eyes do not lie. Once again, Kristen S. played her own little game of "Where's Waldo" by seeing Iron Maiden at the Concord Pavillion last night. The only other person who looked more out of place was some girl in pink with a flower in her hair. At least Kristen S. wore her black "Tool" shirt. But seriously though....this is not a review of how Kristen S. tried to survive in a mosh pit of men/boys who ranged from half her age to twice her age at an Iron Maiden concert. This is a review of the venue itself.
Well, until about two hours before the show, Kristen S. didn't know it was an outside venue. Go figure. However, her director who lives on "that side of the hill" informed her that it is a bit warmer there than in Oakland and that there is a bit of a breeze. That was useful info. Her sweatshirt was enough. And if you happen to be in the general admission/standing area, you will get hot anyway.
Speaking of general admission, there are signs posted throughout the venue that warn patrons that "moshing may occur." Good to know. Also good to know is that the security DOES NOT regulate against crowd surfing. You may think that something like that is impossible to do. However, when I was at Tool a few years ago, security was very quick to respond to and remove crowd surfers. What was neat was that the general admission and some of the seated area was covered. This may have helped with weather if it got colder than desired at night.
The venue itself is not that large. If you have to buy seats, you should be able to see the stage pretty well. However, not sure about the acoustics back there. However, the acoustics in the pit were great. And, despite being outside, the lighting was still adequate enough for the show...until the much-needed dramatic darkness that accompanied Iron Maiden's performance of "Fear of the Dark."
My biggest gripes have to do with availability of facilities. Only one lot of bathrooms and novetly shops were to be found. Not cool. The t shirt people were totally rude. However, there were several refreshment bars and they seemed to have a very reasonable selection of booze...overpriced mind you...but that is to be expected.
Conversely, because the venue is not that large, the parking is abundant and free...unless you are lazy and get the "premiere parking" for twenty dollars. However, because we all know that most of America is overweight and prone to diabetes, it is worth saving the $20 to walk your fat ass around to the venue...and it is not that bad of a hike anyway. The parking people are very organized in getting everyone parked...exiting the parking lot is unfortunately another story....again, to be expected. However, should you wish to avoid parking all together, there is a shuttle and/or bus from the Concord BART station to the pavillion.
The venue is totally in BFE. In the hills. With cows. Way remote. This is actually pretty cool. However, it isn't until you're halfway off the freeway and on your way when you start seeing street signs that direct you to the venue. Oh well. However, it is pretty cool that it is remote and in the hills because then you can find a whole new emphasis when you sing along with one of Iron Maiden's greatest show stoppers: "Run to the hills....run for your life!"
But seriously though, Iron Maiden is not a concert; it is an experience. They put on a great show with lots of set changes, costume changes, pyrotechnics, and random robots. A must-see for sure.
Been to Concord aka Sleep Train Pavilion many, many times but it's been awhile since my last visit & now I remember why.....
Saw DURAN DURAN this past weekend.....and might I just say The Boys were FABBBBBBULOOOOOUS! Â
The venue is pretty small (when compared to Shoreline) & this is a good thing - so there are really no bad seats. Â We were Lawn People & still felt like we were right up close & personal - got the whole band-view & didn't have to select which portion of the stage we wanted to see. Â Also, lots of screens all around which was awesome so we could see expressions & close-ups
Sound system is right-on; nice & crisp & loud enough so the people reminiscing about their high school RIGHT BEHIND US were nicely drowned out - please note this was not a sold out show & there were plenty of other spots to have your little high school reunion, you loud talkers, you!
Huge lines for food & beer & prices were OUTRAGEOUS but things moved quickly & we just gotta have our Garlic Fries  :-)
So why mixed-emotions, you may ask?? Â The doofusses that ran parking ruined it for all!
Picture this.....there are 2 entrances to the parking lot but only 1 was open to leave. Â Would it have *killed* you to have both gates open?! Â Â
We waited for 45 min for the cars to thin out enough to leave & *still* had to fight our way BACK UP THE HILL to the "exit access" when we were parked at the bottom of the hill, right next to the main road / 2nd gate aka freedom
So get your parking act together & publicize your events more (HOW could Duran Duran NOT be sold out?!) & we'll revisit the 3 Stars.....otherwise, it's Shoreline baby!
6 STARS (yes, I added an extra star)
This is my favorite outdoor venue in the Bay Area, and it is SO MUCH BETTER than the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountainview. Â Why? Â Many reasons.....
~1 star for organized, convenient, FREE parking
~1 star for BART accessibility w/FREE shuttle to/from venue
~1 star for venue size....even the lawn offers a good view
~1 star for staff/employees...pleasant, efficient, and helpful
~1 star for venue layout...food, bevies, bathrooms, all in close proximity to seats (read: Â good planning)
~1 star for the ambiance...beautiful sunset views, followed by soft breezes, plenty of twinkling stars, and a great view of the lights below
I've been to two concerts here this summer and they were both great experiences: Â Rush in August and Def Leppard/Foreigner/Styx last night. Â The first time I went by car and last night I opted to go by BART. Â I would definitely recommend going by BART to avoid the freeway and street traffic or if you like to get the party started before you head to the show. Â Coming from Berkeley I had to change trains once, and it was still easier and faster than driving. Â The shuttle from the Concord BART station runs every 15 minutes (or sooner) and they have plenty of buses waiting when one departs...the same happens at the end of the show. Â The buses pick you up right where they drop you off...at the entrance...so it is truly convenient.
We don't usually get to pick at WHICH venue we see our favorite artists, but I won't hesitate to get tickets for any show at the Concord Sleep Train Pavilion. Â I know that it is going to be an enjoyable, almost effortless experience. Â Whoever planned this venue knew what they were doing, and whoever manages it does a consistently great job with event planning. Â Oh, and the employees with whom I have interacted...security, bus drivers, parking attendants, ticket takers, ushers....have all been respectful and pleasant. Â Kudos to you all!
I can't speak for the food, but I can say that I'm not a fast food eater and my mouth was STILL watering a few times from the aroma of some of the food people had in their hands as they passed by. Â I don't know how it tasted but it smelled delicious!!!! Â And I wasn't even hungry. Â They also have a variety of alcohol vendors and I saw women walking around with brightly colored frozen drinks. Â Again, I didn't have any, but they are there if you want them...and I'm told that you can use credit cards.
I like to bring my own food and water, but make sure your water bottle size doesn't exceed the venue's limit, and they ask that they be factory sealed.
On a completely unrelated note, let me just say that Phil Collen from Def Leppard had me salivating all night long...and in front of my poor date...I was so trying to be a lady and not a slutty tramp, but I wanted to trace the amazing definition of his six- pack abs and cut obliques with my tongue...sweat and all...omg! Â I still can't stop thinking about him....whew! Â He looks better at age 50 than the last time I saw him when he was 25 and I was barely 15. Â Phil!!!!!! I'm not jailbait anymore!!!!! Call me~
But seriously...Google the band and check out his bod....Lord, help me.....
No parking fee!
No hill to climb anymore!
Huge court of food, beverage, shirts, jewelry, radio stations etc.!
Not cheap!
Lots of bathrooms!
Enough pot to get a second hand high....
Huge screens all over!
Beautiful starlit sky!
Loud enough to feel the music thumping, but not enough that you  let saying "what?"
Clean & Green
I mean it! Â There were people CONSTANTLY cleaning the bathrooms.
They were constantly checking for garbage and tossing it somewhat inconspicuously throughout the show. There were recycling bins.
My friend and I went in with chairs. Why not just sit on the lawn despite both having grass allergies? We saved $14! Anyway, one chair was too high up so she had to check it.  They gave her vouchers for free concessions! Hot chocolate and Gordon Biersch Garlic fries.  Oh, and if you don't have  a chair but want to sit on the lawn, never fear. They have chair rentals... sometimes :)
This actually gets a 4.5 star rating because
1. Chair Rental wasn't open
2. There is nothing on their site about having to climb a small mountain to actually see the show. Of course, I am given to hyperbole but I was also wearing  high heels. I mean high-hit on Shaq O'Neil - heels. I am not deleting a whole star because they do have a shuttle but it stops at the base of mini-mountain. They will shuttle (golf cart) those for whom walking is a trial.
After dark, look around, lots of people sparkin' up. Â The sweet pungent odor of pot wafts around the lawn. Â I found out that this is an American concert ritual spanning all generations and races. Â That's one of the reasons I always prefer lawn seats even when I can afford the assigned seating. Plus, multiple huge screens show you what's going on, anyway. Â If you have the stamina or a Sherpa you can bring in food. Â Bring blankets for snuggles and lots of sunblock.
Went here Saturday night for Etta James, Al Green, and B.B. King. Â I won't spend too much time on the artist as I'm reviewing the venue. Â Etta's got a great sense of humor and though her voice is a bit deeper, she still sounds amazing. Â Al Green did a bunch of his hits and some gospel, and I've never seen a man his age dance around like that or sing those notes. He was a really fun sight to watch. Â B.B. King is almost 82 years old. Â He has to sit for concerts, but he still has all the talent of 60+ years. Â He's funny and he can still make Lucille sing like an angel!
After dark all sorts of people were lighting up. Â I saw a baby boomer foursome light up to my right, three teenage girls light up in front of me, two punk skaters light up above me to my right, a seventy something couple in jeans and sweatshirts light up with their kids and grandkids to my left. Â And no one got hassled. God bless America!
You'd think these artists would garner a better location, though. Â This venue seemed so small to me. Â It seems smaller than Shoreline, although it's laid out the same way. Â The employees I ran into were fairly friendly and lines moved very quickly despite a full crowd. Â
Two biggest downsides are 1) the parking situation - awful steep hills! Â I saw poor older folks struggle along, trying to get to the show on time, but the hill was a lot to manage...what about shuttles?!?!?
2) Lack of food choices - they ran out of any kind of hot dogs, the chicken tasted like it had been inside a shoe, and I was too afraid of the burgers to go near them. Â A bit more quality and diversity would be a good idea here. Â Schlepping your own food up might cause a heart attack. Â Plenty of good drinks both alcoholic and non.
All in all, I'd prefer Shoreline, but I'll go here in a pinch, if the artist isn't playing elsewhere. Â And I'll bring a Sherpa to help carry my food and drinks.