Brixton Academy K Pop concerns - anyone done this before?

[StaplesCorner]

Does anyone have experience of Brixton O2 Academy - the arrangements for the K Pop boyband carry on there tomorrow are niggling me. DD and friend have to arrive before noon to get into a queue to get a wristband, which in turn dictates whereabouts in the venue they can stand. Then the actual concert doesn't start till 7 but they have to be back in the queue at 5pm.

Seems like a crap day out to me? So how safe is it to hang around in Brixton with 4,000+ teenage girls all day - surely that's going to mean places to eat will be overwhelmed, pickpockets bank holiday etc? Where could she go to be comfortable? She's 16 BTW.

Then next thing is, pick up, what's it like picking up there? I can see a lot of the area is red route? Any local parking knowledge would be appreciated.

Bumping for the evening crowd, maybe even someone coming back from Brixton Academy!!

Hi, I live nearish there, and this is where I normally aim for if I'm picking my OH up from the station or vice versa. There's an easy pedestrianized cut through from the high road.
goo.gl/maps/p1FBL7TiTDvTLPT4A. There's loads to do in Brixton, with the market (dozens of places to eat) and Brixton Ritzy cinema is right by the station so they could go in there if they wanted to kill time.

I used to go to concerts younger than her & queue for hours to get to the front so I'm sure she'll be fine for a few hours (although I've ever been to this venue) If she's going with a friend/friends, one of them keeps space in the queue if they need the loo, then they swap. Same for buying food/drinks.

I suspect they don't need to be there for 5, but if they want to get the best spot they'll need to be there earlier. The wristband are a good idea as they only allow so many people at the very front which means you don't get cheeky feckers coming in late & pushing to the front.

My teenage daughters one 16 have been there for concerts and they were fine.

Thank you all much appreciated. They set off 9.30am!! Thanks for parking tip @SuperDuperJezebel - and I notice the red routes and residents only parking are all suspended on Sundays?

@StaplesCorner I think so, yes!

I used to get to Brixton Academy at 10am for evening gigs at that age. And then hang around the stage door until 1am! This was about 15 years ago admittedly, but it was very safe. Lots of people would do it so there were lots of likeminded folk around. There’s a Nando’s right opposite the venue. It will be busy, but a safe place to eat.

Evening all, well it was safer outside than in, in the end. I needn't have worried about the area as (a) it seemed a lot nicer than I remembered it and (b) the queuing business, admissions etc were total chaos, people fainting, DD was dragged by the arm by a security guard as she was in his way, big crush at the front and no one helping etc. - so in fact she never left the queue apart from a quick dash to Nandos, stood for around 8 hours in the end.

Other than that she had a good time!