I could only give this venue 3 stars.  Too bad because I LOVE going to outdoor concerts.  I actually PREFER lawn seats because it makes the experience so much more personal and casual.  The sound system for lawn seats at Verizon, along with the huge screens, makes this a 5-star operation.  However . . . I couldn't go there because the beer prices are so unbelievably high (higher than Panther's stadium).  $11 and $13, depending if it's local or imported.  Yes, the can quantity is also huge, but unless you are a really big beer drinker, the beer is gonna get to be room temp before you can finish it.  Especially in warm months (which coincidentally  ;-)  is the only time outdoor concerts are offered.)  Note to VWA, offer regular sized beers and charge less.  You will likely make a bigger profit overall!!  ALSO, this is a designated-smoking-area venue.  BUT IT IS NOT ENFORCED.  At a recent concert, people all around us were smoking, with a CMPD officer standing 30 feet away.  Perhaps that wasn't what he was there for, or perhaps one actually has to notify him that it's a problem.  Nevertheless, someone ought to be monitoring it if it is a venue rule!
Review Source:Just saw Zac Brown band on Oct 11, 2013. Â We had 3rd row center seats, about 10 feet from the front of the stage. Â One would think the sound would be great. Â NOT SO !!!!! Â We know most of the songs they sang, and even knowing the songs you could not understand the words. Â It sounded like listening to a very bad and very loud radio. Â We go to a lot of concerts; Alan Jackson at the Hollywood bowl, Rod Stewart in Devore, CA., and many more, here and abroad. Â The sound has always been great. Â Not in Charlotte!!!!!!! Â Don't know if it is the fault of the venue or the band. Â I just know we won't be seeing anyone else at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte.
Review Source:I wasn't sure if I was at Charlotte Motor Speedway or not. Â Holy freakin traffic nightmares. Â The show ended at 11:00, didn't get home until 2:30...and I live 40 minutes away.
As far as venues go, the setup at Verizon is actually pretty nice. Â Major kudos to the sound technicians too. Â Way above average! Â The downside to the venue is the cramped seating and concession prices.
If you're hungry or thirsty for some cold ones, get it done in the parking lot. Â Git er Done!! Â Sorry, couldn't help myself.
Overall, the experience is great until you have to leave. Â The traffic leaving can turn a great night into one that made you wish you stayed home.
Saw two shows this past week at this venue. Â I had a great time on both occasions. Â The sound was terrific, the big screens make it possible to see the action, even from the lawn, where I sat for the Train concert. Â Parking on arrival is fairly easy.
The food is good, although a little pricey for what is offered. Â
I would have given 5 stars, except getting out of the parking lot is a nightmare after shows as there is no one directing and it's basically a free for all!
I still like this venue best for outdoor concerts and will definitely be back.
Just caught another show here recently. This place is huge! Whether you go with reserved seating or the lawn, you'll have a good view. Plenty of big screens if you are in the way back. This venue has lots of free parking too. Don't worry, they make up for that with the prices on food and drinks. Wow! $13 for a tallboy beer. They know they've got you. It won't stop me from seeing more shows here.
Review Source:...there's just something about this venue...
I must admit, I am a bit partial to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (VMA). Â I have had many memorable experiences here. Â I have seen so many amazing shows, and have had so many unbelievable summer nights with friends at VWA, that I simply can't give this place a bad review.
VWA is easily accessible from both interstates 485 and 85. Â There is plenty of parking, which is usually FREE!! Â However be warned, though entering the facility and finding a parking space is usually a quick and efficient process, departing after a show can often be hectic.
Beer and alcohol are expensive. Â There's simply no other way to put it. Â Bud, and Bud light tallboy cans are in excess of $10. Â Unless you're a millionaire, don't even think about getting food. Â Its just as expensive and the quality is below par on all other accounts as well. Â
As far as the actual music venue itself...there is plenty of lawn seating available to most shows. Â The view from the lawn seating is usually straight enough for most shows. Â Of course, the closer you can sit the better.
VWA is the perfect outdoor venue for any show. Â In the words of the great Trey Anastasio, "There's just something about this venue...."
It's a great venue to see a live performance but the prices inside are getting out of control. I understand that ticket sales are down, and performers are making more if not all of the profits from ticket sales but $13 for a beer is just too much. I cant help but thing they would sell a lot more alcohol and tickets if it didn't cost you so much in additional fees/service charges as well as eating and drinking inside.
Review Source:This is like a 3.5 rounded up to a 4. I came, I heard good music, I left satisfied. I can't help but frown at a couple of factors though.
I've been here several times, most recently for the 106.5 The End Weenie Roast. Ahh, grass seats to an all-day concert in the rain, who could ask for anything more? Oldy McOldpants that we are, my friend and I wussed out and bought $10 upgrades to a seat under cover. Best decision of the day.
The setup itself I think is great. There is not a bad seat in the house, and you can hear the music clearly all the way in the parking lot. And I was not aware until this visit that there were VIP tables with full service- maybe I just wasn't paying attention. I don't know how much they cost but to save the cost of waiting in the concessions line, I might consider it.
Alright, concessions. Here's where I think they fall short, and by fall short, I mean inching very close to highway robbery. Obviously it's going to be expensive- my friend informed me that venues like this make most of their profits from concessions. My real problem is with the price comparisons from one item to another. I got a chicken tender basket with fries and a beer: $15. But a beer by itself is $13. And the beer is in a can and you didn't even have to cook it. Even funnier is that a glass of wine is $8, but nachos are $8.50. Save money, get drunk! (I should point out that they do allow you to bring in your own food and water, as long as you follow their rules about containers, but you can't bring in beer and no one wants to see Flogging Molly sober.)
Is it worth it to see a show here? Yes. Just eat before you come and be prepared for a little pinch in your wallet if you get hungry.
I went to a concert here last month and I thought this venue was great! Â I love that it's enclosed by so many trees. Â I sat in the front and the seats were comfortable and spacious. Â The sound was perfect.
I did not experience the outrageous traffic other reviewers experienced. Â Quite the contrary really. Â I was in and out in no time and I did not pay for VIP. Â
The food and beverages were overpriced but that's to be expected. Â Thankfully the artist I went to see set up fill up stations with filtered water so I was able to fill up my water bottle for free. Â Yay! Â :)
Hey guess what cowboy? This is a huge concert venue, why are you reading reviews? Â You know that even at their best they are always middle of the road, and you don't have an option.
Pro: Â They get major acts to perform on a regular basis, the staff is generally not a bunch of jerks, and while Pavilion Rd. is a testament to poor city planning traffic is not #SMDHV horrible, just #SMH horrible. Â Parking is "free," so that's what goes into all those ticketmaster fees, thanks corporate America!
Con: Â $11.00 is not an appropriate price for a deuce-deuce of Coors Light. Â Food is not horrible unless you get a "fresh" hot pretzel, welcome to crown-ville - population: cracked tooth. Â Tickets are not cheap, and by not cheap I generally mean expensive for seats middle of the road for lawn. Â As with any public place, lavatorial facilities are quick to be disgusting. Â For me, the University area is the middle of friggin nowhere, and it is not too convenient to get to and fro.
But like I said, you don't have a choice. Â So there is really no debating it. Bring beers, keep an ice cold cooler by your car and "pre-game." Â That's the only suggestion I have for ya.
I've been here a ton of times to see a whole variety of shows.
Number one - traffic is OUTRAGEOUS!!! I dont know if its because of the crappy 2 lane road the ampitheatre is located on or the management of the traffic, but either way it sucks. Â Leaving isn't any better either.
They do have a good amount of parking - and it isn't a far walk from even the farthest parking lot.
Prices for beer are a little redic. Â Some of the highest I've ever seen ever. Â
They do have a good variety of shows out of this place, great place for people watching (you definitely get a bunch of different characters)
Overall just meh.
I'm a a concert freak. Â From Tom Petty to Hatebreed, Godsmack to Rusted Root, Ludacris to Dave Matthews Band... I have probably been there. Maybe twice. Â Yes, the beer and food is at the upper limit of pricing and yes, it can be a pain to get out at the end of the night but really, it's a great venue. Â I typically always get lawn seats and still have a great view (and make new friends in the process!), the grounds are always clean, there is a fair amount of accommodations, lots of beer and food stands, I feel very safe and it is very accessible. Tip: Upgrade to VIP parking. Easy to get in and out of the venue and it is very accessible to exit the venue to get to your car.
Review Source:This is a city of four lane streets and the road into this place was two lanes! Â It was a nightmare getting to the show and we missed the opening show! Â If you work a regular job, you may want to leave early and get to this place really, really early. Â Like others have said, concessions are insanely priced. Â The facility was nice and clean, however the lawn seats were way too expensive. Â You barely see the band. Â I know pricing is not the facilities fault...I guess I'm spoiled by my hometown venue where there wasn't a bad seat...or patch of lawn...in the house.
Review Source:I've been to dozens of concerts here. Mostly Widespread Panic, and one great, wonderful No Doubt show.
It's an okay venue. Tailgating is allowed, which is always fun. Staff is fine and bathrooms are clean enough. Searches can be thorough or a joke - you can never tell. I've snuck in plenty of minibottles and had a bottle or two confiscated.
It's just that there is nothing particularly interesting about it. If you've been to Walnut Creek in Raleigh or N'Telos in Norfolk, you know exactly how it's laid out and how much the drinks cost (way, way too much). You know that you can smoke on the lawn but that you need to watch yourself in the seats. You know that you need to bring cash because the vendors don't accept them and the lines for the ATM are long and the charges super-high.
These venues are only good if you're seeing a good show. Otherwise, there is little to differentiate or recommend any particular pavilion. They're all professional and all boring. Â I'll come here again, but not because I like the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.
It is the in suburbs.
I don't know if I really need to say anything else. A concert in the 'burbs? You are rockin' it out right next two a two story, faus brick, vinyl siding house.
It hasn't been updated...ever. The place is crumbling. It has this really cheesy theme of trying to look like an old fashioned downtown (or at least that is what I think they were trying to accomplish)
Everything if overpriced. Obviously.
Parking is a NIGHTMARE. It took us almost 2 hours to get out after the Radiohead show.
HOWEVER, we did go with mini liqour bottles in our purses and they completely turned a blind eye. I almost feel like security felt bad for us. Only go if you LOVE the band.
Think big for Verizon Amphitheatre. It's a big venue with big drinks and occasionally big lines for the bathroom. Big acts usually come here. It can also be big pain in the ass to leave this venue after the show. But I digress, it's a solid place to catch your favorite big band or act.
I've been here for two shows, both of which I had lawn seats. While I agree with Kevin G. (as in don't expect to actually see much from the lawn), I enjoyed both concerts. I will note, however, that both shows had the big screens lit with the band and/or singers so that was a definite plus. There is free parking at the farther of the two lots (at least during the two shows I went to), so if you don't mind walking an extra 200 yards, you'll be better off. There are a handful of bathrooms that can indeed have long lines, but if you're first walking in and have to go, keep walking past the surely long-lined first bathroom to the next one (near all the drinks and eats). Lines will be shorter, much shorter, promise.
There are rental chairs available for lawn seats - those so called mini lawn chairs that hover about six inches above the grass. My word of advice, bring a blanket, holmes. Snacks and all types of libations are pricey - be prepared for $5/$6 beers and large bottles of water for $4.50. They also have those GIANT frozen drinks, too. A friend of mine mentioned that she thought this area has a noise ordinance that prevents any concerts from playing past 11 pm - and that may indeed be the case. Good to know for those who are attempting to skirt some traffic. Enjoy the show!
So I took in the Jack Johnson concert last night in this venue......fabulous concert! Â
I've lived here on and off over the last 20 years and never been to this place, though I've seen a lot of music in smaller venues. Â I like smaller places....but I like Verizon for other reasons.
First it was the "tailgating" which was fun albeit hot so always consider the weather when thinking about doing it. Â You can get there hours and hours before the show. Â We were there 2 hours before and just enough time to eat, drink, and be merry. Â Though they don't restrict folks getting in there, so anyone could drive up which would be kinda fun if you wanted to go to a concert but couldn't make it because you could drive up just below the VIP area and party and eat, but not go in and still hear the music???? Hmmmmmmmm, but that is another yelp review for another day.
We headed in to see the pre-show and found a nice grass front and center in the lawn seats. Â FYI....early bird gets the worm.
There are plenty of bathrooms and beer stands........but the pricing and offerings are a bit over the top. Â I mean I get a 24 oz beer....more time to drink less time involved in going back and forth to get another drink.....but I when I drink out of those, I feel like should start rapping and put big rims on my car...something that listening to Jack Johnson laid back tunes....sorry...bad joke. Â Pricing is a bit insane too....$11 to $13 per beer. Â Ouch. Â If you want to catch a buzz...do it in your car...trust me. Â Food offerings are good, but nothing really healthy and pricing wasn't as crazy as the alcohol.
The concert was great...the weather was just about perfect and leaving wasn't a nightmare...traffic went very smoothly and the parking lot folks and police got folks out VERY fast. Â All and all a good experience for a good venue.
I've seen a few shows at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in my time in Charlotte. Â I've even been to a show where I won tickets and someone else drove a bus there. Â The one thing that they have going for them is plentiful parking. Â Lots all over the place.
What makes it bad is that there aren't too many ways in and out - just one long road (it does go in two directions, however). Â That means the lines are really long when it's time to go home. Â Your best bet is to sit back and relax. Â Luckily most concerts have methods for relaxing, if you're into that.
The venue itself is decent, if perhaps a bit aged. Â Lawn seats are generally a decent way to go if you don't mind crowds. Â The fixed seats can be had for a bargain if you wait for a deal. Â Either way will get you a surprise when you check out and see a parking fee and a ticket fee slapped on the price.
Once you're there, however, look for an El Cheapo ticket for something like $10 for the next show, with no fees. Â That's the real bargain. Â You just have to like the show.
Also be sure and watch out for hefty concessions. Â It's worse than athletic events, so bring your wallet. Â And ATM card. Â Pre-approval for a house loan probably wouldn't hurt.
I come here a couple times every summer to catch 80's  hair metal bands that are past their prime. I always get lawn seats, which are super cheap for most shows, and then me and my friends pregame in the parking lot. It is usually a good time but I attribute that to good company and being able to tease the hell out of my hair. I really don't care for the venue at all. Half the time the screens on the lawn aren't on so you can't really see shit. The e-mails live nation sends out stating what is prohibited in the venue are usually wrong. For one show this year they sent out an email saying no blankets, towels or lawn chairs. Then when we got there everyone had blankets and chairs. Lame. The thing that pisses me off the most about this place though is that they charge $11 for a 24oz beer. A $3 increase from what they were charging last year. It's cool though, I've become a master at sneaking in mini bottles.
Review Source:This was called Blockbuster Pavillion for years. Â I've only been here three times. Â Once in college for Foreigner. Â They couldn't sell enough tix so they gave them away near the dorms. Â Next time was almost ten yrs later for Van Halen. Â Kind of cool-Whoopie Goldberg introduced the band. Â And then lawn seats for Aerosmith. Â Great place to catch a show if you can get seat seats. Â Don't even bother with the lawn. Â Hardly any grass and you have further to walk to the bathrooms and beverage centers.
Review Source:I have to admit - I'm a huge fan of this ampitheater mainly in comparison to the ones in the DC area. It was really easy to get to, easy to park and easy to get in and get seated.
Back in July, I went to see Dave Matthews and had a GREAT time, mostly because of the venue. They were pretty lenient - you're allowed to bring in food items as long as they are in one ziplock bag. I did that instead of getting screwed by the vendors.
All in all, I was just grateful not to have to wait 3 hours to get to the ampitheater and then another 4 hours to get out (Nissan Pavilion, I'm looking at you).
Loved it!
I've seen plenty of concerts here over the years, & while I've always been happy with the show, I've never been overly impressed with the amphitheater.
There are plenty of parking lots here, so the tailgating is plentiful. And you've already paid your $6 parking fee (with each ticket)...ripoff...so it doesn't matter how many people you cram into your car to try & split the parking fees.
As for the inside of the place, I've sat in both the real seats & the lawn, & the lawn is definitely the way to go. Not only are the seats cheaper, it's just easier to seat everyone close together & not have to worry about where you're going to sit. The views & sounds from the lawn are fine, but if you want an up close & personal view of your favorite band, then splurge & get the pricier tickets. Also, if sitting in the lawn area, remember to bring some towels to lay in the grass along with lawn chairs. But make sure your lawn chairs don't sit too high (9" I believe) or you'll have to take them back to your car. You can rent chairs there though for a $5 fee.
The concessions will rip into your wallet, with beer at $9 a pop. Yep, $9...But that really isn't my biggest complaint about Verizon. When purchasing your ticket, you'll think you're getting a good price for a lawn seat, around $30 a piece. But once they charge you a $6 parking fee, & $5.50 processing fee per ticket, you won't be too happy. I've never understood why you charge a fee for someone to buy a ticket, but LiveNation must actually see this as good business.
Verizon gets most of the big acts touring the country so you'll always get your big names in concert here for Charlotte. I'd suggest the lawn for all shows & as long as you don't mind spending a large chunk of change when all things are considered, then you'll enjoy yourself. The place won't overly impress you, but also won't disappoint you.
I have been to Verizon more times than I can count, for all different kinds of shows, in all different kinds of weather. And I can say that, aside from the musical acts stinking it up occasionally, I have never had a bad time and have always left with another unusual story to tell.
Over the years, the parking lot system has been greatly improved, to the point where you really don't wait that long to get out after the show. You used to wait for hours it seemed.
The best shows I have seen here have been Aerosmith, Steve Miller, James Taylor and, most recently, Journey.
I have always sat on the lawn, and at each one of the shows listed above, a random old couple has handed me a joint. Every time, never fails. I am not a smoker, and I don't think I necessarily look like an obvious pot smoker. For some reason though, a random old hippie couple hands me something to smoke. Never fails.
Of course, like every other major entertainment venue, beer prices are out of this world! That's why we arrive early and tailgate like crazy, so we don't have to buy more than one or two beers inside, if any at all.
It used to be fairly easy to sneak in an airplane bottle or two, but they have cracked down considerably on that and check people over very thoroughly.
The sound and acoustics are pretty good, and its easy to hear and see even from way back on the lawn.
The employees have always been fair and helpful in my experiences.
I went to see Rush here, yeah I know its kind of cheesy, but I am a drummer and Neal Pearte is a god. Â We had lawn seats and the sound was amazing throughout the show. Â I would actually prefer the lawn over the seats, because you are able to stand up and boogie or lay down and streach out when it gets late. Â I am going to see the Allman Brothers and Phil Lesh here in about a month and I am really looking forward to visiting Verizon again.
Review Source:I went to this music venue to see "Dave Matthews Band" last year and I had an awesome time. Â The crowd there was massive and everyone seated around my section was very friendly. Â Then again, that is usually how the crowd is at every Dave concert, so there may be a difference in other crowds for other concerts.
The venue has seats at the front for those who chose the more expensive close proximity ticket purchase. Â There is also a lawn section for those fans who prefer bringing a blanket in to the show that extends from the middle of the theater to very back.
This amphitheater is very similar to the Hifi Buys amphitheater in Georgia, except it seemed to be much cleaner. Â Well, as much as it hurts my pride as a born and raised Atlanta guy, Charlotte is arguably a much cleaner city in general.
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