This is the first time i've gone to the Pavilion and I wasn't impressed. It's easy to get to and we went to GateA for parking general parking. There's 3 lanes and no signs so we get up to the guy and he's like you're in the wrong lane, you need to go out and come back around and get in back of the line, this lane is for employees only. So we drove ahead some and when we got to the start of the line i guess the head guy was there adn he just told us to sit tight, the gates were about to open anyway so that was cool but how about some signs if you're going to have reserved lanes ?! Concord is one of the hottest places in the bay area. 104 was the temp when we went there. There were lots of vendors around for food, drink and other cool treats and even some picnic areas, and being 'upstaris' in the concession/vendor area is the coolest place you'll find. Once you go down into 'the pit' where the seats are, it's way way hotter. There's a sun shield shading a good portion of the seating but when that places is full i think it just traps the overheated body -heat. It's dug down into the ground/hill so there is no breeze through there at all unlike the breeze you get up in the lawn seats. So sitting there was extremly uncomfortable due to the way the theater is designed to trap and hold heat. So i doubt we'll return the the Sleep Train Pavilion in the summer months again. Then after the show it took 90 minutes to get out of the parking lot ! Traffic direction was an epic failure. Cars were going every which direction but no one was getting out to the exit roads, it was just twisting disorganized lines everywhere. A total and complete traffic management failur. To avoid the wait don't do the VIP parking and don't get there early, you want to be among the last to park for a rear parking space. So overall i was happy with the show which has little to do with the venue and was also happy with the vendors but everything else was an epic failure.
Pros: Great show and good concessions
Cons: Bad theater design traps heat and 90 minute exit due to traffic mismanagement
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