Ting Pavilion — Attraction in Charlottesville

This was my first time visiting this venue. First, the staff at Ting Pavilion were the worst I have ever encountered. As my friend and I knew this was an all GA show, we wanted to get as close as possible to the stage when the show started. We attempted to walk to the front when one staff member told my friend we needed a wristband to go to the front. She asked how to receive one, and the staff member said they were all given away and that we had to sit in the back. We were extremely confused by this policy, as all GA seating means guests can stand where they want. It seems to me the venue was trying to instill a pit with wristbands where it didn’t belong. Why did the venue feel the need to gatekeep who stands where to enjoy the show? I understand safety is important, but this show wasn’t sold out and there was ample room in the pit, especially for only two more people.

The conversation between my friend and the staff member continued for a few more moments until the staff member placed his hand on my friend’s lower back and forcefully pushed her away. This extremely uncalled for incident obviously upset my friend as she was just trying to understand the venue’s policies.

She decided to report this incident to guest services. She was speaking to what seemed to be upper management judging by his working pass. He asked who laid his hands on her, but the two of us didn’t know since none of the staff members were wearing name tags. He acknowledged that we were both upset and that this wasn’t the experience he wants guests to have. In an attempt to remedy the issue, he gave the two of us a floor wristband on the condition that we “be on our best behavior”, or some off-putting and unnecessary comment along those lines. Although the wristbands were a kind gesture, it doesn’t make up for the fact that the staff pushed my friend away when she was simply trying to ask a question. In fact, it truly was the bare minimum.

What’s more, about ten minutes after the show ended, my friend and I went to use the restroom. As we were walking towards it, we hear us getting aggressively yelled at from behind. The staff member told us that we had to exit the venue. We told him we needed to use the restroom and he rudely told us to “make it quick.” I understand egress is important and staff wants to go home, but staff were still cleaning up the venue and merch was still being sold. We weren’t the last two people in the venue. As we were washing our hands, he opened the door and screamed “Ladies! Hurry it up!” Again, extremely unnecessary as we took all of five minutes, if that.

Moreover, the layout of this venue was extremely poor and not optimized to take advantage of the space. The VIP tables were in the middle of the pavilion, and rows of chairs were in front of and behind the VIP tables. For guests that didn’t have a wristband, they had the option to stand in front of the chairs a few feet behind the VIP tables. Although the sight line was fine when standing, I can’t imagine it was optimal for those seating in the seats behind the standing guests. My friend and I briefly stood here and it felt awkward knowing there was people seated behind us. What’s more, there was also rows of chairs in the “pit”. No one was seating in these seats during the show and they were ultimately a waste of space when more people could’ve been standing here if they were removed.

Overall, I have never felt more unwelcomed than I did when I visited Ting Pavilion - in fact, we genuinely felt like burdens for asking questions and needing to use the restroom. Overall, the staff was incredibly rude and had an attitude towards us. Never, in any circumstance, should a staff member lay hands on a guest. Ultimately, staff members are working in the hospitality industry, and hospitality is definitely not prioritized at this venue, if at all. The staff desperately needs to receive safety and customer service training. In the future, I will choose to spend my money at a different venue after...

My friend fell and broke her ankle this summer. She has a hard time walking and the "handicapped" parking that we could find was located several blocks from the pavilion and we were parked on the top of the deck. While inside the pavilion, she fell and re-injured her ankle and twisted the other one. Went to ask for assistance from the medical personnel. No help. I was basically carrying her to a location that our ride could pick us up. The staff at the gate asked if she was ok as we walked out. I informed them of what happened. We got her on the other side of the gate and found a place for her to sit while we waited for our ride. I had to use the restroom and went to go back into the pavilion and the same staff that had just talked to us about what happened said there was no re entry and I could walk a few blocks down the road to use the bathroom at the rec center. Ok? You just saw me walk out with an injured person that was hurt in your pavilion and you wanted me to leave her there alone and then I walk alone at night a few blocks to the rec center that may or may not be open now because it is 11 pm.. I did not get out of eye shot of your staff. She watched me help my friend sit down and could hear everything that was being said between my friend and I, that is how close we were from the gate. The concert was over and all I wanted to do was go back in to use one of the nasty port a potties that was right there. The staff is rude. $10 for a 16 oz beer. Not enough bathrooms. Bad acoustics. Handicapped and general parking way too far from the pavilion. This is my first and...

I only gave 1 star because I had too so I could write this review otherwise it would be - -0 stars. I am very disappointed in the lack of respect this place had for the thousands of people that were there to see Chris Stapleton! After, having the opening act on they made a brief announcement that we needed to find shelter because we had "a line of storms about to hit us in about 10-15 minutes and they should only last about 20 minutes" the only shelter that they could provide was under the tent so that is were we stood packed in like sardines all while thunder, horrible lightening and wind gust is going on, this lasted until 9:30 (1 hour and 50 minutes after the intial announcement) that is when we had enough and decided to leave. Not once did anyone come back and tell us if he was going to play or not, not once did anyone say hey we may reschedule because we value our patrons lives and don't want you standing on concrete next to metal poles and chairs while it's lightening, nope not a word from anyone. I valued my life as well as my guest life that I decided to eat the amount I paid for the tickets and leave. Myabe they should have done the same! I will never visit this...