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Original poster

Are stadium concerts worth the ticket price?

73 replies

BooseysMom · 05/12/2019 20:13

Can anyone tell me if i have been a twat by never seeing my fave metal band live?! A crazy question i realise! But i've never been able to afford to go and now they're not even touring any more. Also my other fave band Iron Maiden. I has the chance to see them at Knebworth with the Cult about 7 years ago but missed that and since then things have been too difficult to go. So that was really my last chance... So what i'm really asking is for anyone who has been to these massive stadium shows to let me know is it as amazing an experience as they say? Is the huge ticket price worth it? Can you even see them properly? Or did i do the right thing just being an armchair fan and watching them on tv?!
Cheers x

OP posts:
Original poster
BooseysMom · 05/12/2019 20:15

I should perhaps say my no.1 fave metal band i've never seen is AC/DC

OP posts:
Lololololola · 05/12/2019 20:19

Afraid so...been lucky enough to see many of my favourite bands at big stadium gigs and the atmosphere when there are a zillion people singing together to a song you loved forever is quite an incredible feeling. However, small gigs are also brilliant, but in a different way. I love going to gigs and have seen lots of great bands; I'm sure lots of people will equally say how overrated they are!

Original poster
BooseysMom · 05/12/2019 21:25

Well so far no one has come forward to say anytime to contrary. I've just looked up Download tickets for next June and it's still unaffordable and they have Maiden headlining and the last ever show by Kiss
Oh well.. thanks for your post

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Candlebarbara · 05/12/2019 21:30

I’m going to disagree!

I love certain bands but have been nothing but disappointed when seeing them live, especially in stadium gigs. I find the sound quality is usually poor, you are either miles away and can’t see anything, or in the middle of a huge crush at the front, again, not being able to see much. (This May be more an issue for me as I am very short..)

It’s expensive, can’t hear or see much.. I would rather listen to a proper recording of the music in the comfort of my own home...

froomeonthebroom · 05/12/2019 21:33

I love live music but can't justify the cost of stadium gigs so go to tribute acts instead. There are some brilliant ones around and it can be great fun as they play all the hits and don't take themselves too seriously. Our town holds an annual 'fakefest' which I believe tours around the country so there might be one near you.

UrsulaPandress · 05/12/2019 21:34

I hate big venues. Funnily enough I’m just watching a recording of ELO at Wembley and quietly grizzling to DH about how shit it would be to be sat at the back.

Saw The Boss at the Etihad and it was pretty shit.

Saw Beautiful South at the MEN. It was shit.

If it’s not at The Apollo (the original small one) I don’t go.

FoamingAtTheUterus · 05/12/2019 21:38

Yes.

But go rarely and pay for decent seats/ stands........we try and treat ourselves every other year.

And you missed out on iron maiden, do went to see them and the show was amazing..........didn't pay that much for his seat either.

SeaSidePebbles · 05/12/2019 21:39

I only ever saw one band in a stadium, and that was Muse. I saw them at Reading before. Both brilliant, but the Wembley one blew my mind. The sheer volume of people and the atmosphere was just...I have no words.
So yes, I’d say go for it and enjoy! I love Iron Maiden btw.

ParkheadParadise · 05/12/2019 21:40

I like stadium gigs.
One of the best was Rod Stewart at Hampden Park.

Cardy24 · 05/12/2019 21:42

I've seen AC/DC, Maiden, and KISS, all well worth the ticket price OP, Cult were okay too (sorry, not trying to rub it in).
I go to Download every year, it's not just about the headliners, it's the whole atmosphere. Have you looked into working at Download?

LifeofClimb · 05/12/2019 21:45

It depends on the band! Some music just doesn’t play well over PA systems. Some bands don’t tune the systems enough so you can hear lyrics over the instruments.
Some venues have awful acoustics.

I really love the Royal Albert Hall but I don’t really go to the huge stadiums for gigs, I personally prefer smaller venues. I’m also quite picky who I pay to see live, unless it’s a festival environment where there’s so many acts it doesn’t matter if one performance is poor.

C305 · 05/12/2019 21:48

I've seen maiden twice OP & it was 100% worth the ticket price! Definitely go if you can!

Mrsmadevans · 05/12/2019 21:49

It's the atmosphere, just electric. You can't see them properly but you can see them on the screens though.

Floralnomad · 05/12/2019 21:50

I’ve been to lots of stadium concerts and most of them have been excellent - Live Aid , Queen , Springsteen ( several times), George Michael to name a few . We have tickets for the Killers for this summer and I’ve never seen them so that will be fun . I recently saw Cher at the O2 and it was an excellent show and I’m not a fan at all .

Cardy24 · 05/12/2019 21:56

There are a few smaller rock festivals that are cheaper than Download. Okay they don't have the huge headliners but half the fun is discovering new bands anyway.
Steelhouse, Ramblin' Man, StoneDead to name a few.

CryHavoc · 05/12/2019 21:57

Yep. Totally worth it. This summer I was lucky enough to see Elton John (£120 a ticket, worth every penny. I still get goosebumps when I hear Tiny Dancer.), Rod Stewart, and Take That. There's something about a big crowd, and mass karaoke that gives me the proper feels. My husband was ambivalent about seeing Take That, but joined in with Back for Good like it was his favourite thing ever.

My new philosophy is Experiences, not stuff. So three winters ago I didn't have new boots, but I saw Black Sabbath live at the O2. I only went be polite because my h and our friends wanted to go, but it was fantastic.

CryHavoc · 05/12/2019 21:57

Meant to add - if it's a band you love. GO.

UrsulaPandress · 05/12/2019 21:57

I’d love to see The Killers but not in a stadium. How can you get decent acoustics?

MadisonAvenue · 05/12/2019 21:57

I think it depends where you're standing/seated. I'm not a fan of large venues so if I'm going to one - an arena or stadium - then I want to stand pretty near to the front. If I had seats near the back and you've got to watch on the screen then I don't see the point. Ideally I'd avoid large venues but if it's the only way to see my favourite artists then I have to get over it.

I'm seeing Green Day next June in a stadium. In recent years I've seen them play secret warm up shows ahead of Leeds and Reading at Shepherds Bush Empire and Brixton Academy and while I know they'll put on one hell of a show, because they always do, I think seeing them in the small venues has spoiled it a bit for me.

UrsulaPandress · 05/12/2019 21:58

Maybe if you are on the floor and can dance it might be ok but I’m a bit crippled so need a seat.

Original poster
BooseysMom · 06/12/2019 09:52

Wow! Where did you all pop up from?!! Grin thank you all for replying.

So, there seem to be more saying 'yes go!' and a few saying 'no, don't bother!'

Lots of Maiden fans in i see.. up the Irons!! 🤟 I had a shrine to Eddie when i was young and copied the artwork. Also had a poster from Metalhammer of them all in their Y fronts! Pure class! Wish i'd kept it..You can't get that anywhere now.

@Candlebarbara.. i tend to agree.. being on the short size myself the bands i have been to see i've never seen much of apart from once when i sat on someone's shoulders. All the bands i loved as a teen i have never seen..and I'm feeling mid life crisis has struck and i'm so torn as i realise for my main band i will never see now as they've stopped touring. But Angus Young, my fave guitarist, is still playing so feel strongly that i must see him before it's too late.

@froomeonthebroom.. yes tribute acts are a great alternative. There's a good one called AC/DC UK i want to see.

@Cardy24.. good idea about working Download. I might look into it. It will be the last ever chance to see Kiss so i have to try to get there i reckon. Thanks for the idea

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 06/12/2019 09:59

I think it probably depends on the band. I go to a decent amount of gigs, I've seen a lot of my favourites now. Only one somewhat disappointing one and it hasn't affected how much I love their music. Most have been amazing, whether stadium or venue, the atmosphere is electric.

I'm pretty short and most of the time people are friendly and you can work something out to make sure that you can see at least some things!

LetsJustGoWithTheFlow · 06/12/2019 10:03

I've seen lots of bands at stadiums and have always had a brilliant time - there is nothing like listening to great music surrounded by other fans. Wembley is my preferred place as not a lover of O2 - however saw Queen there last year and it was brilliant. I always try to get standing tickets if available.

CMOTDibbler · 06/12/2019 10:08

I've been to some gigs and been sorely disappointed, and some have been the most immersive, amazing experience.
I saw Maiden when I was 16 in Oxford and it was fabulous. I'm still not sure if we will go to Download this year, but am v tempted for ds to experience Maiden
I love enormous stadium/ festival things for so many people together, and the atmosphere. So although I don't go to as many gigs as I did when I lived in a city, we are trying to do more now

FuckoffAlexa · 06/12/2019 10:39

Depends on the artist I think. Big stage production with lots of dancers, screens, lights, pyrotechnics like Lady Gaga etc, is great in the stadiums. But the artists who are there just to play the music, as most rock bands do, need quality acoustics which is much better suited to indoor small venues.