KEMBA Live! — Attraction in Columbus

Hundreds of people were in line hours before the venue opened, which is a very common thing at these big concerts. There were no restroom facilities available without walking a few blocks and imposing on restaurants in the vicinity. There is nothing on the website (unless I missed it) about purses or bags, but once you get to the ticket takers, you will likely be sent back to your vehicle (and out of your place in line) to put your purse away. No outside food is allowed in, but the had exactly ONE food option. Pizza. That's it. No snacks. Nothing. So, if (like many) you cannot eat pizza, you don't have any choice to eat anything at all. The tickets gave the faulty impression that the show was supposed to start around 7. Gates opened at 6:30. The opening act came out at 8:15. There was a full 20 minutes of absolutely nothing. Then the main act started at 9pm. We had traveled 2 1/2 hours to the concert and would not have done so if there were any indication that this is how the concert had been planned. (Which it was. There was no unexpected delay. I confirmed this with the staff) The venue supposedly maxes out at around 5,600. It was a sold out show. Sold out of room to walk anywhere. Sold out of time to wait in line for all the things. And sold out of any personal space because you couldn't find any clear aisle or sidewalk or anything with how many people were packed in. The band was fantastic. the sound techs were great. The staff were all really polite, friendly and helpful. oh, and good luck breathing when one in 5 people around you is smoking cigarettes or weed. That is expected, I get it. But thought I'd throw that out there for those who bring kids or asthmatics to a concert there. Because you are not allowed to stomp on smoker's right to destroy your lungs while they choose to...

Decent venue. I liked that they have an indoor and outdoor space, and there isn’t a bad seat at all outside. However, be mindful that they tend to treat general admission as VIP, and VIP as general admission. I went to the PVRIS show last night on 8/8/21, and they welcomed general admission into an indoor check in with air conditioning, access to water, as well as a full bar. VIP though? We waited in the outdoor line much longer than general admission, only to be put into another outdoor line after being checked in, with NO access to water or air conditioning after being out in the heat at that point for about an hour and a half AFTER the time that they asked US to arrive. Once we got into the outside venue, we got to watch general admission as they were seated in a nice area with ice cold refreshments, all the while, were told by all of their concession employees that we could not have access to water for another hour, which would be 2 1/2 hours from their check in time. Keep in mind, they kept passing us with stacks of water bottles and weren’t willing to let us buy any at all, and were rude each time we asked. They finally brought water out to us when a good portion of us in VIP LEFT the meet and greet line and started going into general admission to try to find water, since we were all about to go into heat exhaustion at that point. After seeing general admission being treated like gold from the get go, I will probably never spend a dime on VIP at this venue again. It was the band that made it worth it. Like, who throws VIP into blazing heat without access to water, won’t let us into general admission to BUY water, and at the same time, won’t let us bring water in? Quite a few of us, including myself, had medical needs that weren’t met whatsoever until...

I’ve been to a lot of concerts and venues in my life, but has been by far the worst concert experience I’ve ever had in my life, congrats on that. The previous holder for that title was burgettstown pa. It was so over sold for Lord Huron that there was literally no where to stand and see the show. For some reason you’re not allowed to stand on the aisle way to watch, and the areas where there was actually room to watch were completely obscured view by large 15 foot walls. You couldn’t see from certain areas at all. It looked like there was oversold by close to 1000 people and people were dropping like flies last night. It looked like the medics were working overtime. The Columbus fire marshal should probably be monitoring a little closer because it did not look safe, or up to code.

Also, super weird set up. You had to wait in a colossal line that was merged with the bathroom line to attain access to the inside the building for merch. It was oddest merch set up I’ve seen in my life and not convenient at all.

Additionally, aside from Mikes late night slice in the entrance there was no food concessions except all the way in the back behind a huge mass of people to get through.

Also, it’s 2025, why do I have to sit on a bench in the venue and wonder why it’s a huge freaking smoke pit. It’s disgusting, like for why Kemba. Make people go out to smoke their cigs. I work in healthcare and have watched smokers suffocate to death later in life. I shouldn’t have to pay a ton of money to subject myself to second hand smoke.

Seriously, save your money and go see whomever elsewhere. You’ll be pissing your money away for an awful experience, and it wasn’t cheap. Do better Kemba, do better. Would not recommend, and never...