MJN Convention Center - Mid Hudson Civic Center — Attraction in City of Poughkeepsie

BEWARE PARENTS! Worst experience I’ve ever had in our community unacceptable behavior by owner/president of the building Danielle Anderson who was UNBELIEVABLY RUDE to myself & the party I was with which included 2 other moms and 4 kids (all African American girls) doing 2-4 open skate for a birthday party because that’s where the little girl wanted to go We thought this was a safe place in our community to come but boy were we wrong! When I first arrived I was looking for the rest of the party and didn’t see anyone so I told the young girl at the ticket booth that I was here for a party. She looked through her “booking book” and told me “I’m sorry there are no parties booked today at all but I’m sure they will be here” so I said “okay I’ll wait” and Within minutes everyone else showed up. The mom of the bday girl paid for all of our skates the manager Bob and young girl carried 2 tables for us (right in front of president Danielle Anderson) to an area off to the side of the ice The kids got their skates on and went to the ice, everyone was happy, UNTIL 20 mins after we had everything all set up Danielle Anderson came over and told us that we had to move because there was another “larger” party coming in This was a LIE When I first arrived the young lady told me “there are no parties booked today” It was $5 to skate and $5 to rent skates the bday girls mom had spoken to the young girl on the phone who said they would be happy to have the party goers and it didn’t need to be booked as a party the young girl also said “the pizza here sux it’s only $5 more per kid if u book that just includes the pizza so you don’t need to book as a party” she explained it was $15 a child to book a party but that the extra $5 after $5 to skate and $5 to rent skates per kid was only for the pizza $5 more for each kid would have been EASILY PAID but the girl said the pizza sucked so the bday girls mom decided we would eat somewhere else after the 2 hours of skating due to the young girls suggestions. The young girl and the manager Bob who clearly enjoyed the kids presence were more than helpful with everything from buying the tickets, getting skates for our girls (Bob even happily helped tie the laces for one of our girls) So we were all SHOCKED when Danielle Anderson came over telling us to move very rudely! A 3rd woman with blonde hair was also with Danielle and told her “No their fine there are no other parties booked until tomorrow” this is the second person confirmimg that there was NO PARTIES BOOKED but us having a table and being minority’s who didn’t “book” a party did NOT SIT WELL WITH Danielle Anderson she wanted to use her power of presidency to FORCE 4 little African American girls and 2 African Americans moms plus myself to MOVE to the Bleachers with all our stuff we begged to pay the extra $5 a child and keep our spot and our table but she STUCK WITH HER LIE that there was another party booked at 3 it was now 3:30 and not one person looking for a party In site because there was NO PARTY BOOKED AT ALL! I asked the manager Bob if another party payed for that spot and he said “no they are no parties booked today I’m sorry I don’t know what’s going on but she’s the boss” the kids were skating for only 20 mins when Danielle Anderson came over to us parents telling us to “move your stuff to bleachers” it was a late start already, open skate is 2-4 and we didn’t get the girls on the ice until 2:50 leaving only 1 hour to skate so when she insisted in keeping the lie about another party being booked we said if we have to move and can’t pay an extra $5 each kid to keep the table we will leave and asked for a refund she did refund us but the kids bday party was ruined and the kids sadly had to take their skates BACK OFF it was heartbreaking! I feel heart broken and disappointed these kids have to experience this kind of hatred especially in my home community I will be calling and emailing the better business...

If the show/act/event you want to see is going to be at the MJN convention center, then it is very likely it will show somewhere else in the tristate area within a few days. Do yourself a favor and make the drive to a different venue. ANY other venue, I'll gladly host you in my backyard and we will have a better time that anything at this place.

If you have seen prior reviews, you will notice that the venue takes a "it's not our fault" approach and takes zero responsibility for issues. Perhaps some promoters do make it harder (although other venues don't seem to have the same issues with those same promoters) So let's focus on what the venue can control.

Seating---If you have a bleacher seat, I'm so sorry. The seats are broken, our legs went numb from trying to balance the broken plastic seats without collapsing to the floor. If anyone walks up the aisle, it rocks everyone within 20 rows. The seats are so close you can hear the conversations not just from the people behind you, but from the people 10 rows behind you. If you have a floor seat...pray you aren't by the curtains, the angle is so extreme you won't be able to see anything.

Restrooms. There are four women's stalls. Four. For a show like "Dancing with the Stars" where the crowd is majority female...how long do you think that line is? That has to be against code. And when I say four...I mean three, with the other stall having a broken lock that a restroom attendant opens and closes for the person using it. One would assume it would be cheaper to fix the stall than pay someone to have that job, but what do I know?

Lighting. Not the lights the tour brought. The dim, depressing lighting in the venue.

Parking. Approaching the convention center, one needs to make a decision to be in the left or right lane. As it was our first time at the venue, we chose left. It was the wrong choice. After waiting through a long line of cars, we approached the attendant who told us the parking garage was for reserved parking only, which we didn't have. I totally understand that it was full, but perhaps a sign at the first of the block would prevent that poor woman from having to turn away car after car? Getting back to the city garage after being turned away was no easy task.

Staff. There were several guys in security shirts at the venue, which is appreciated. However, there are no ushers. Got a question where your seat is? Good luck. Need someone to intervene because the people behind you are shouting during the entire first act? Well, hope you took a conflict resolution class because you are on your own. Maybe the lady holding the bathroom door could have helped out, but...she was busy.

So again, drive elsewhere, you will have a much...

I went to see Kevin Hart on my birthday last night. I must say that I enjoyed Kevin Hart thoroughly, however I did NOT enjoy the Civic Center. First, the lines to get drinks and food were 20-30 minutes long, which is probably why the show started an hour and some change after 7pm, when it was supposed to start. The seats were very cramped and everytime we needed to let someone out, we ALL needed to empty out into the isle. Speaking of the isle, this was a "no cell phone event" causing the staff to have to pace up and down the isles, obstructing our line of vision toward Kevin Hart. I saw more of the staff, than I saw of Kevin Hart. Imagine if you were watching a movie and someone kept pacing between you and the screen. Only difference is that, we didn't pay movie prices for this show. We paid more than $100 per ticket and the show took place on my birthday. This is my birthday celebration and instead of seeing Kevin Hart in all his glory, I'm watching two heavy set individuals who were blocking me from seeing the show. And I can say that with full confidence because I am heavy set as well and I wouldn't even want me walking up and down the isle blocking people's view. I have to say, this made my experience very sour. I would not watch another comedic event at the Civic Center. I have only ever seen a boxing match there, before and I had an amazing experience, but I paid less to get in. This was my birthday gift from my mom and my uncle and this was not the best experience. I came to see Kevin Hart. I didn't come to see the staff blocking me from seeing him. Before someone says that I am just being bitter, I would have you know that many people around me were voicing the same complaints that I am making, but they just didn't speak these concerns to the staff and neither did I. In hindsight, I wish that I had, but the entire time they were making threats that they would kick us out if we had our phones out, which lead me to believe that they would kick me out if I actually voiced my...