I know this is no secret. Many have been lobbying for old Commonwealth to be replaced for some time. But…I think more people need to be lobbying.
For what is was, Commonwealth was a great venue for it’s time. First off, it’s huge. When it comes to the economics of it, it makes sense for bands to stop there. They will get bang for their buck. However, many things about it are an absolute nightmare.
If the venue is at capacity or close to (as it was this past weekend for Metallica) there is no room to breath. That concourse is a disaster. Why is there only one concourse? The MASSIVE upper and lower decks can only converge to one single concourse.
If you were looking to hit the head and grab a beer, it’s going to take a minimum 30 minutes. MINIMUM!! Again, this is no fault of any worker or Edmontonian. It’s just…so many people. Heaven forbid you try and get merch. Folks were forced to miss both opening acts to spend $60 on a t-shirt.
Again, this is no fault of anyone. Stadiums are an expensive enterprise. Commonwealth works as a venue to have major shows at. However, it lacks the modern convenience that many come to expect with a ticket that costs a couple hundred bucks. Concerts and sporting events are about more than the event itself. They have become more and more about the experience.
You have to make it convenient. In a world full of big screen tv’s and streaming, it’s become tougher to convince people to leave their home. The juice needs to be worth the squeeze. A $100 dollar uber ride followed by standing in line for hours just isn’t it.