NOW Arena — Attraction in Barrington Township

Alright, let's talk about the NOW Arena, home of the Hoffman Estates "I'm not sure if I'm in Chicago or the suburbs" experience. First, let me give credit where credit is due. The venue itself is a masterpiece of modern convenience. Getting in and out is so seamless, you'd think they hired a team of German engineers to design the parking lot. It's a symphony of logical flow, from the moment you park your car to the time you effortlessly glide into your seat. The signs are clear, the pathways are wide, and the staff are shockingly helpful. You'll find your way to your section faster than a politician finds a loophole.

But then... the plot thickens, and the flavor vanishes. It seems all the engineering genius was spent on the logistics and absolutely none on the culinary arts. The concession stand, a beacon of hope for the hungry concert-goer, is in fact a cruel mirage. We, the brave pioneers of overpriced snacks, were presented with a $7.75 pretzel that could double as a defensive weapon. It was so hard, I'm fairly certain it was fossilized. I could hear my teeth weeping.

And the popcorn? Oh, the popcorn. For a mere $8.00, we received a box that was three-quarters full of what I can only describe as Styrofoam flavored with regret. The kernels tasted like they had been popped during the dress rehearsal, possibly for a different show entirely. The pizza and fries combo, a steal at just under $14.00, was a valiant effort that fell short. The pizza was as warm as a lukewarm handshake, and the crust was so unyielding it probably has its own tax bracket. The fries? A handful. A half-handful, to be exact. It was a potato-based metaphor for their dedication to portion sizes.

In conclusion, the NOW Arena is a fantastic place to park your car and find your seat. Just remember to eat a full meal before you arrive, and bring your own dental floss. Because you're...

My son, cousin and I went to an AEW event 5/14/25. This was the first time my son and I was at the NOW Arena. The area is nice for its size. You can sit pretty much sit any where and have a good view of the ring. We had a really good experience at the arena. The only down side is, it's a cashless arena and I only had cash with me. The web site doesn't state cashless. There are some ATMs wich are a little misleading. I found out when I tried to get some popcorn and candy for my son at one of the popcorn stands. The vendor was extremely nice about not having credit/debit. He was willing to give it to us at no charge for items that would have cost about $10 total. I was very grateful for his kind gesture and gave him a $20 and said to keep the change. Near the end of the event my son was looking at the figures and asking for one. A wonderful couple was listening to me telling my son that I only had cash and the vendor only take credit/debit cards. The couple said if I pay them the cash they would use their card. The figures were about $25 each. My son picked one of the 2 figures they had left. I gave the couple $40, they said that is too much. I stated I only had 20s and to keep the rest as a thank you for their kind gesture. The couple told the vendor to give my son the 2nd figure. I tried to give the couple another $20 but they refused and said no need. Both my son and I shook the couples hands and thanked them for the very kind gesture. I usually do have a card on me, but the past few events at other places I've been to...

I went for my nephews graduation and my 4 year old is autistic and at times can be over stimulated or upset. I’m still trying to learn her triggers so I wanted to sit close to an exit and asked security where we should go but they directed me to the guest services which when I got closer they had a sensory placard on the door. Guest services explained to me that they have a sensory room it was maybe 8x8 size dim lights with some sensory items my little one was interested in exploring, they also had loanable bags with noise canceling headphones and a fidget. We have Fidget but IDK how we forgot them in the car but that noodle kept us happy through the whole program. When it came to seating they escorted us to a suite so we could have easy access to the sensory room and also provided the area just for us. This was the LEAST STRESSFUL big event I’ve had with my daughter lately. She was able to roam, she made some disruptions but having the area to ourselves no one was directly impacted, she didn’t have strangers she knew it was her family there, and security was clear to let anyone attempt to get in that it was off limits and it kept my baby calm. She is an elopement risk so having that door closed also let us let her roam in peace where I was able to just sit by the door. Anyways great experience...