Do you actually enjoy a gig in a huge venue?

[WhatstheStory01]

I would love to see Oasis next year and thought about joining the queue for tickets this morning.

Cardiff’s Principality Stadium would be nearest for me but I have been to gigs there and at Wembley and it is so vast it affects my enjoyment of the music. I know there are screens but you can hardly see them depending on where you sit. I’ve never managed to get anywhere near the front by the stage where you might be able to actually see anything either.

Anyway I was wondering if anyone feels the same and if it puts you off.

I like an outdoor gig and went to a couple over the summer. Only thing is that it is weather reliant. I went to one where it poured down with rain and you were not allowed an umbrella. Fantastic on a warm summer evening though.

Yes obviously. I also go to very small gigs, which I enjoy. My point was more that if you want to see a band you have to go to where they are playing and sometimes it is bigger than I prefer!

Yes, I love the feeling of being at a giant venue and all of those people around you. But it's much better in standing so you get the big noise and movement

I hate any outdoor gigs. Best ones I've been to are smaller indoor ones.

I actively avoid stadium or arena gigs unless it's for a band or an artist who are known for the 'theatre' of their performance. Interestingly it's some of the younger female performers who are great for this - I saw Pink years ago at Wembley which was fantastic and more recently we saw Olivia Rodrigo at the O2. General band set ups just don't do it in the same way - The Offspring at Wembley, for example, just wasnt the same as at the Hammersmith Apollo (or a festival). It has to be something quite special to get me to go through the arseache of it all whereas DH will just see bands he likes no matter where they're playing. I think venue has a big impact on enjoyment.

No. Too crowded, not a great view and loads of phones in the air 🤣

I much prefer an intimate crowd.

I've only ever been to two gigs in huge stadiums, one was at Wembley Stadium (pre the revamp) and the other was at the O2 when it was still called the Millennium Dome. Both times it was a great experience, but these days the sheer volume of people and the price of the tickets would put me off.

Very jealous. Saw them in Amsterdam with my late DP on the same tour and both of us thought that the Rome gig looked amazing.

I've recently seen Simple Minds in the Hydro in Glasgow which was good but they felt so far away. Also saw Mike and the Mechanics at the Glasshouse in Newcastle. We were a few rows from the front and it was amazing. Going back there to see Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis) in October.

I liked stadium gigs when I was younger. Eagles at Wembley were great and Genesis in the Amsterdam Arena but I think I do prefer smaller venues now.

No, I can't stand arena gigs. Seeing a band up close in an old theatre is heaven to me.

Those small bands and venues are really struggling at the moment and need support. A lot of bands are only making money on merchandise.

Yes, love them, but I'm prepared to go early to be near the front, that said, I wasn't that near for Stevie Nicks in Hyde Park and I had an amazing time.

I utterly love being in a big crowd at a gig, weird, because I hate people!

I've enjoyed some arena gigs as much as smaller ones. You know it won't be the same so you go with different expections, but they can be brilliant as long as they're well organised.

That said, I saw the Stone Roses at Heaton Park and it wasn't well organised. The queues at the bars were hours long, and you can't take your own drinks, not even water. Also it was not a chilled crowd, lots of agressive men and my friend got groped.

Depends on the artist. If I am standing then I find it matters less but for a ban who pretty much just play their songs I would prefer a smaller venue. Something like Taylor Swift a big venue works ok.

I utterly love being in a big crowd at a gig, weird, because I hate people!

Isn't that a bit of a contradiction?

DH hates people, and hates crowds even more.