Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium — Attraction in Canton

Just attended Bert Kreischer's Fully Loaded Comedy Festival. The comedians were terrific. It was the venue that fell so vastly short of expectations, let alone bare minimum necessities. The heat of the day was a minor inconvenience, but some basic tenets of a festival show were completely missed. It really felt as if this stadium has never hosted an event like this before. We had tickets on the ‘field.’ The chairs were about the cheapest and least comfortable that I have ever experienced. I suspect that they were simply gathered and thrown away after the show, because the effort and time to collect them would not have been financially feasible due to the low quality that they were. They were uncomfortable, and for any of Bert’s fanbase who might be on the larger side, these chairs were unfit and unsafe. Thankfully we were just uncomfortable. Next, the rows were WAY TOO CLOSE together. This caused mass interruption every time that someone arrived late, needed a restroom or refreshment. It required half of the row to exit into the dangerous center aisle (more on the latter in a moment). The 40 yards of space between the permanent stands and the last row should have been utilized to give each row more space to move. There still would have been plenty of space for crowd movement back there as well. Also, the ridiculous intermission after 3 of 7 acts wreaked havoc in that everyone tripped over one another trying to get out and back in. It was a hug disruption with the chairs so close to the row directly in front. Additionally, between Section E & F, (and likely elsewhere) there was a raised wire floor 'matting' (3-4 inches) that tripped people all night. I have not yet mentioned that my wife attended with a broken foot and a small knee scooter. We do not expect pampering, but on the field in this venue was an absolute nightmare for anyone who is not able bodied, and I would actually say that it was even bad for able-bodied individuals as well. The uneven wire cover (matting covering wired from stage to rear of field portion of venue) down our main aisle was a huge liability for normal attendees, but for anyone who had equipment or other mobility issues, it was almost impassable. It was a nightmare entering and exiting with that aisle hazard, and almost certainly a fire hazard and against permitting or local regulations. Next, the bathroom accommodations for the field were unacceptable. Six porta-potties and nothing handicap accessible on the field for thousands of seats of heavy drinking Bert Kreischer fans was inconceivable, and likely a violation of ADA rules. When we asked about accessible restrooms we were directed to the far end of the stadium, and then told to circle around up ramps to gain access to the bathrooms behind the stands. The entrance area was a long haul in itself, but to complete this gauntlet for a restroom is not only unprofessional, but needs to be investigated. It had to be a few hundred yards if not more for anyone who was handicapped on the field to have access to a proper restroom. Able bodied people could get access up a set of stairs, but this is just another example of where the event managers of this venue missed the boat altogether again. Due to the huge inconvenience of the restrooms, our group chose not to partake of any refreshments as not to have to make that restroom trip. Add to all of this that the crowd was full of tokers (pot and vapes constantly) and loud talkers, while the management did nothing to help the rest of us enjoy the show. We are no prudes, and we love everyone having a good time, but it got way out of hand. At the end of the event, we left with laughter in our hearts from the great performances, and aggravation in our minds, in that it is quite clear that the Hall of Fame is not prepared to handle events of this size...

I have to say, for concerts, this is one of the shittiest open air venues I've ever been to.

Personally, I don't drink much, so seeing a bunch of people walking around with beers in their hands but I'm not permitted to smoke something is absolutely ridiculous. If it were an enclosed area, I would totally understand, but it isn't. It's an open arena and what's the excuse? What, we're over turf? Well that's one reason as to why real grass will always be superior to turf, but also then put down a platform, which they did for the concert I was at laat night and yet still no smoking.

They permit vaping, sure, but due to my lung conditions, my asthma, vapors actually make it hard for me to breath whereas smoking Cannabis does not. My lungs don't do well in humid environments, but they do fine in dry ones. Smoke is dry, vapor is literally a kind of fog, that is entirely moist in nature. Also people have been smoking for over two thousand years, we know its long term side effects, but we don't know them for vaping and yet places like this venue have no problem encouraging the largely unknown over the known.

So if you're a smoker, not a drinker, and you are only going to see a band once in your lifetime and desire a perfectly enjoyable experience, then maybe wait til your favorite band hits another venue.

In conjunction with that security had no problem telling individuals not to smoke and also telling individuals without a wristband to get out of the standing pit area, but when 20 dudes jumped the fence from seating area to standing pit the security guards just bobbed there heads right to left looking, like cats at a mirror, but literally didn't do a damn thing about it. If you can't do the job competently and evenly, don't sign up for it. If you're going there and want to do whatever you want, go in a group apparently.

Now that you know my two cons, here are the pros: -Convenient and close parking -Highway Access Around Corner -Plenty of Restrooms -Easy Security Entry, just one metal detector, not required to...

Nice time when going to concerts. Need to have shuttle busses b able to get closer to bleachers...also, need to have sitting break areas along the way because where we got dropped off it felt like it was three miles to walk to the stadium and that just should not be like that. I am quite confident that there is a better way so that people do not have to go through all the crowds in an effort to get to their seating and it definitely should not be miles that you have to walk. It's usually very hot and I don't understand the point of not allowing people to bring their own water and if it has not been opened yet then we shld have been permitted to have our water. That is just NOT OkAY.if the water's not opened we should be allowed to take it through gates. it should not be that big of a deal. Because then you have to walk and walk and walk to try to get something to drink and the prices are outrageous~ it would seem as though that is purposefully done(buy water from HOF n this is Canton, Oh which is 1 of most poverty ridden states n we finally have something to do in this town even if it is 1 time a year). Its already costing a lot to see the concerts. This is 3rd year in a row we have gone n the rules get worse n so much stricter n EVERY1 IS WELL BEHAVED yet there are cops n security everywhere (very unnecessary). The security has nothing to do sccept harsass well intended n paying citizens. This does not need to be this way n if so, there has got to be a better way n there is a whole year to get a better...