Wind Creek Event Center — Attraction in Bethlehem

1. phone signal to access tickets once through security is awful so have your tickets loaded up prior to security (there is an in-house wifi to help, but with hundreds of people on it, it gets slow)
2. the venue hosts general admission shows for larger named musical acts, so they use foldable chairs that can be removed from the floor depending on the acts performing
3. a) since the hotel expanded, it moved into the events center's outdoor smoking area so you now have to exit the venue to smoke, which means you're leaving the secure area you were just in. So this means for re-entry you must go through security again.
4. b) you cannot bring weapons into the venue. Period. Pepper spray, pocket knives, box cutters, keys with fold-out blades, screw drivers, & SPIKED CLOTHING! You cannot wear wrist bands or chokers that have more than 1 inch spikes on them. They are solid metal and for heavy metal fans, it is a massive hazard to be in a mosh pit with people who have 4 inch steel spikes on their neck and wrists and sometimes belts. One arm swing to someone's head, while on peeked up levels of adrenaline at that, is enough to kill them and at the very least cause serious injury. This isn't Jed's Farm Festival in the mountains where anything goes. Security will host your items whatever they are and you can retrieve them after the show for free.
5. staff are trained to spot over-intoxicated people so if they make small talk seemingly out of the blue, it's because they saw you exhibit some behavior that made them question your status and they have a responsibility to ensure your's and others safety. They may have seen you stumble, screaming to the point of disrupting ppl around you, dropping items, dazed eyes, slurring speech, getting confrontational with others, dozing off, etc....
6. the events center has a separate food/beverage & liquor license, so regardless of where you acquired your snacks or drinks, if it was outside the venue and you attempt to bring it through security, you have to either finish it or throw it away before you enter.
7. keep in mind that people in the service industry deal with an infinite number of personalities every moment, security has to assume you're worst intention and bartenders have to be diligent and polite to often rude people, give them a break.
8. if security flags you as cut-off from alcohol... it is because they saw you exhibit behavior that shows your are probably beyond the legal limit of driving. That's just a barometer, you may even be sleeping at the hotel and not driving, but once they see you do something or say something that's over-the-top, they will cut you off. If you make a scene about it, you just proved them right and chances are they will let real police officers on-site at every event know and you'll be escorted out. I've seen people lose it on security and end up with public drunkenness or disorderly conduct charges with 5 minutes left in the show because security wouldn't let them buy another drink when they're falling...

I went here for the first time to see JRAD, which I was pretty excited about as it's local to me, and I'm familiar with Wind Creek because my mom and stepmom are regulars at the casino. Now, the event center is big, and I definitely would like to see more jambands and bluegrass acts play here, for sure. The whole show was GA, which was awesome. We settled on hanging out in the elevated "stage right" section on the rail, which gave us a perfect view, plenty of dancing space, and a nice group of people from near and far to enjoy the show with. I was disappointed in the beer selection. I thought a place like this would have a great selection, but nope. The only thing I wanted to drink was the Sweetwater IPA I believe. They were charging $16 for tallboy cans. I was expecting this place to have a bunch of heady craft brews on tap. Which brings us to the other reason I gave 4 stars. There were nowhere NEAR enough bartenders for the amount of people there were. It was like a dozen bartenders to thousands of thirsty people. You had to fight your way through the crowd to get to the bar... it was complete madness. Then they also had Yeungling at these little casino convenience stores they had in there which was cool... but of course they were $14 there. And to be clear, I am not complaining about beer prices at a concert here. I just expected a better selection from a show backed by a really nice casino... Now on to the other reason I gave 4 stars... I saw security get a little excessive with the roughness, to some peace loving, long grey haired, bearded hippie. I'm not sure what he did, but short of like assaulting an innocent bystander, or being a creep, I can't imagine anything that would warrant this type of behavior from security. They literally tackled this guy over a table and kept yelling for him to lay on the floor face down, as they were twisting his arm. He was most likely just trying to sneak in. But who knows. Either way... not a good look. Also, the sound isn't to great for a concert hall. They should invest more in to their PA system. One cool thing about this event though, is they were allowing re-entry, which was awesome. Overall, not the best place I've seen a show by far... but it makes for a wonderful local option. I would definitely go to more shows here. In fact I'd be thrilled to... but they need to start booking some better acts. Like Billy Strings, Bob Weir and Wolf Bros, the Disco...

I attended a show at the Wind Creek Event Center on July 29, 2023

Only I attended the show. My husband was with me to help me navigate because I have mobility issues. My husband and I both went through the security checkpoint. They checked my bag and said that my camera was fine. When we got to the entrance of the event center itself, my husband explained that he didn't have a ticket and wasn't staying for the concert and asked if it was OK to walk me to my seat because I have mobility issues. They told him that was fine and even gave him a wristband so he could come back and get me when it was over.

He had no more than left when an usher came over and said I couldn't have my camera. I explained that security said I could. She said didn't care what security said, so I called my husband to come back and take it. While I was waiting for him to come back, another guy (who said he was the head of security) came over and said my husband wouldn't be allowed in because he didn't have a ticket. I explained they gave him a wristband to come back. Keep in mind, we didn't ask for that, it was offered.

While I was talking to the usher and the "head of security", my husband made it back and the guy grabbed at him to physically try to rip off the wristband, when all he was doing was taking my camera! Again I explained that the person at the security checkpoint said I could bring the camera in, and that the usher at the door offered my husband the wristband.

We drove 4 hours to attend a show at this venue and they treated us like criminals! The only thing they had to say for themselves after I repeatedly explained the turn of events was they had "new people working" and "mistakes were made".

I called the Wind Creek customer service number to make a complaint. A very nice lady listened and took the complaint, but explained that the Event Center was a third party. I found the number for the Event Center. I called and all I wanted was an apology. Instead, the woman gave me the same excuses, and when I said it was clear she didn't really care about how a guest was treated, she started shouting at me, and then hung up on me!

I will never return to this...