Ameris Bank Amphitheatre — Attraction in Alpharetta

My name is Denise snd I am posting this review from my husband’s account because I do not have one . I would like to let the Ameris Bank amphitheater know about my experience while I attended the Christopher Cross/Toto/Men At Work Concert last weekend. I had a heart transplant December of 2022 and while recovering one of the songs that I enjoy listening to the most is sailing by Christopher Cross (I can’t even express how many times a day I listen to this song post transplant). I love his music. It brings back so many beautiful memories from the 1980s and fills my new heart with so much joy. I have a post transplant bucket list and going to a Christopher Cross concert to hear “Sailing” is on the top five. While visiting my sister in Alpharetta, we heard he was playing at the Ameris Bank Amphitheater. Everyone said it was my serendipity that Christopher Cross was playing at the amphitheater just miles from my sister’s home. Upon arrival, I had a little bit of a hike to get to the check-in and was not use to the hills so once I reached the gate I was out of breath. While going through the bag check, I was told I had to check in my purse, which was actually my medication bag (my pill sleeve with my anti-rejection medications for that evening to be taken at 8pm) along my emergency nitroglycerin bottle and my medical identification with many allergies noted and wallet with my photo ID and all my transplant Doctors medical cards in case of an emergency. I am scheduled to take medication four times a day at exact time but I was not able to bring my bag in. I was told to get out of line and walk around the fence to another area and check my bag in at the bag check in (Imagine leaving all of your transplant medication and important medical information in the hands of strangers and it being placed in a plastic food bag that was tied into a knot). Thankfully the two ladies checking in my bag were very kind and assured me that they would be there the entire time my bag was there and keep an eye on it. They were very understanding Unlike two of the People at check-in. I had the unfortunate experience with. 20 minutes later, I finally get to walk-through the line (without my medication purse) and attempt to see Christopher Cross. While walking in, a guard Raised his voice and said to my husband you to the left and lady in the white shirt go to your right. I look over and there is a line with many people waiting to go through the metal detector at that time. I said, please, sir I had a heart transplant. It’s very hot out here. I just checked my bag and I have nothing on me. Can I please go through with my husband who was told to go to the left and he said “No!” get in line. I was in line for several minutes and I hear Christopher Cross dinging sailing. I missed 90% of the song. I was so upset and there went my serendipity. I have to say that things need to be changed and adjustments Need to be made for people who have medical needs like myself. I am Very disappointed and I don’t know if I would ever return here. My husband and I had to get up and totally leave the concert After the first song with Toto because I had to go take my medicine that I was already An 1.5 hours late on due to the incident having to check my bag in. I was too tired at that point to walk out of the concert to the other side where the bag check-in is and then ask them to walk me back to the concert and let us back in. So...

The amphitheater is fine, my review is based upon some of the venue staff - women beware! I attended the 09/01/24 show (FiR) and had a horrible encounter with staff who seemed to have no idea what they were doing and one who was quite aggressive. I tried to get to my place in the orchestra pit and followed the signs to where tickets were checked/wristbands were given and a line had formed. I took my place at the back of the line and was yelled at by an older man on staff. He claimed I was in the wrong place. My mistake, I assumed, since this guy worked there. I apologized and tried to get some info from him on where I should actually be. I pulled my phone out to show him my tickets and he brushed my phone away and continued yelling that I needed to get into “the back of the line”. There was definitely confusion on both our parts, and as I was trying to figure out where he wanted me to go he got handsy with me and I got incredibly uncomfortable. I am a small, 5’2” woman and this man was not only towering over me, and yelling (complete with his spittle in my face), he put his hands on my back to push/steer me into some direction he would not explain to me. It would absolutely behoove this venue to instruct their workers to NOT lay hands on guests who are simply trying to get where they need to be. Particularly, creepy old men touching on women. This guy was 50-60 with bad teeth and a long white ponytail - women, if you attend this venue please steer clear of this man. The fun part was, after finding the line I ought to have been in, I waited about 10 minutes for a guy checking tickets on phones to NOT look at my phone, say, “JUST GO”, and I went right back to the back of the wristband line I had been in (which others who were NOT in any line had been joining the entire time I stood in this arbitrary line.) I missed half a set of one of the bands because of this guy, and the ineptitude of venue workers in getting paying customers into the areas they paid for. And as I bonus, I got manhandled. I met a ton of really nice venue workers as well, plenty of folks doing their jobs and being either friendly or at least cordial, but this experience has put me off ever...

Tonight was meant to be a beautiful symphonic evening for several metro Atlanta assisted living communities and their residents. The Atlanta Symphony itself was extraordinary, but the venue, Ameris Amphitheater in Alpharetta, proved unprepared to accommodate senior attendees.

Despite the corporation’s sponsorship, the corporate execution was poorly planned. Parking multiple 14-passenger buses was chaotic, even though calls to the box office were made in advance to confirm that they could unload directly at the front gate. Assured this would not be an issue, parking attendants were inflexible and unhelpful, leaving them to struggle with logistics.

The greatest obstacle was the stairs. More than 50 older adults in attendance and simply getting from the bus to the venue was exhausting and stressful for many. Once inside, the seating provided was inadequate, and it’s likely many residents remained hungry and thirsty throughout the performance. Meanwhile, the corporate manager who organized the outing appeared to enjoy her prime seat near the front, seemingly unaware of the challenges it took for residents just to be present.

The one bright spot: a number of event staff, dressed in black, stepped in to assist those who could not climb stairs. Their kindness deserves recognition especially Carla Klinger and Scott C., who went above and beyond.

While I am deeply dissatisfied with both the venue’s accommodations and the corporation’s poor planning, I remain grateful to those individual staff members whose efforts salvaged the evening for some of our seniors.

Incidentally, more than half way into the performance, another community came in late carrying walkers! There were at least 15 empty handicapped seats that could have been utilized. Bad night for senior living and Ameris Amphitheater according to...