Concert help specifically Birmingham Utilita

[Pickingmyselfup]

If I was to attend a concert at this venue that started at 7.30pm, would it be over by 10.30pm?

I would need to catch my last train by 11.09pm so would pre book a taxi, will I make it on time if I leave at 10.30?

I was looking at staying over but by the time I've factored in the more expensive train cost and the hotel it doubles the price and I end up paying close to £300 which seems insane but if we don't stay overnight we still end up paying £200 and it's a lot more rushed.

When did everything become so expensive?? Mind you I haven't been to a concert in years so I've no idea how much people normally pay.

I don’t think we can advise on the length of the event unless you say what it is! The Arenais right in the city centre - which station does your train leave from? New Street? It’s a 25/30 minute walk or 10 minutes in the car I’d say.

Oh it's Nickelback.

Train leaves from New Street which I believe is a 10 minute drive. We would want to get a taxi at that time of night.

New st isn’t a 25-30 min walk from the Utilitas, it’s 20 at most and you’d probably walk it quicker than drive it at that time of night. The route from the venue to new st will be really busy ie loads of people around so no need to feel unsafe. If it’s an option for you I’d walk it x

You'd be in more danger standing outside some parts of Utilita waiting for a taxi, than you would walking through the very busy, lit up route to New St Station.
No one can advise you on the time the concert will end.

It totally depends on the artist/event as to what time it will end. I could walk it in about 15-20 minutes, but one year when I was there it had snowed and the streets were teacherous. It is also very busy traffic wise at the end of an event. You'd need to be sure where to find your taxi amongst everyone elses and general traffic.

@Hotmess1 i was adding in time for the fact they weren’t familiar with the route - I’d probably march it in 15 minutes but know exactly where I’m going!

The only thing I can suggest is leave before the end so you don't miss your train.

When is the show? Will there be train strikes.

If I was you I'd book a hotel and not have the stress and make a night off it, maybe a hotel further away from venue, cause that pushes the hotel price when they know a gig is on.

Normally yes. Don't mess around with a taxi though, just power walk back to the station and you should be fine. What area are you getting back to? Are there any later trains to an area near you as a back up and then get a taxi from there? When I've been our last train is at 11.15pm but there is a later one to a station a 15 min drive from ours which I've been willing to use just in case.

There are no other train stations nearby with a direct train from Birmingham so that's not an option either. The other stations within a half an hour drive are smaller.

I think it's either an option to stay over and suck up the price or don't go. I don't want to be rushing around, worrying about missing our last train.

I need to look at finances because we also want to go on a family holiday next year so I would need the full amount for me and if I want someone to go with me then I would need to cover some of their costs because I know anybody who might consider coming will struggle to even pay for themselves.

I looked at that but I would need to pay for the cost of transport to a further out hotel and back again, I wouldn't save enough for it to be worth the hassle.

There is a tram in Birmingham, it goes from the outside library (right by the Arena) to the station, it takes about 5 minutes but it really isn't far to walk from the Utilita to New Street, it would take you longer in a taxi because of the traffic.

I think 10.30 would be either unlikely or cutting it fine. 7.30 is doors open/support act, usually the band comes on at 8.30.

are they doing many dates before Birmingham? If you can hold off for a bit, you could find out from shows they do before Birmingham what time it finishes.

agree with others though, traffic at kicking out time is AWFUL.