Mondavi Center — Attraction in Davis

First, I'm so appreciative of the variety/styles of performances offered here...from Itzhak Perlman to Arlo Guthrie to Vijay Iyer. The folks who volunteer (door, seating, etc) are slways so friendly & helpful. The 2 of 5 stars missing? 1. Too often, the sound quality is poor...& there's been so many years to address that. I'm not alone on this issue. Check out Sofia in Sacramento...outstanding sound...they got it right! 2. $9 to park? After the cost of tickets & fees (unless you're a member, I think) & really no other option except bike or walk, parking should be included...like the wonderful Harris Center in Folsom. Thanks for the opportunity to see quality talent in Davis, tho Mondavi will draw less of that talent if they don't address the sound quality. Time to catch up with Sofia & Harris...not to mention other venues coming in the future. Heck, there have been times I've driven to the bay area for a better concert experience when that option is available. I was a member early on, but will not support Mondavi in that way without improvements....

The Mondavi Center looks impressive from the outside, but the experience is underwhelming and disconnected from the real needs of students and the community. Despite being a major performing arts venue on campus, it often feels like an exclusive, over-polished space that serves the university’s image more than its people.

Events are expensive, access is limited, and student engagement feels like an afterthought. It’s another example of UC Davis investing in prestige projects instead of prioritizing actual student experience, academic quality, or well-being. While the rest of the campus struggles with overcrowded gyms, aging classrooms, and mental health issues, the Mondavi Center stands as a monument to misplaced priorities.

It’s a perfect metaphor for UC Davis as a whole: outwardly refined, inwardly hollow. If the university spent half as much on student support and safety as it does on performance halls and branding, it might live up to its reputation. Until then, the Mondavi Center is just another symbol of a university more interested in optics...

Okay, so here's the thing. I love the Mondavi Center. The venue is amazing for all of the different types of shows, but there's just one thing that really really frustrates me: the start times. I've been to about 4-5 shows at the Mondavi now, and ALL OF THEM have started EXACTLY when it says they start, like right to the minute. This has been extremely problematic for me because many times I will get there on time, but the ticket line will be long enough that I have to wait a couple of minutes. Then when I get inside, even though it's 7:01, and the show started at 7:00, they won't let me in. This is so utterly annoying because so many other places start a couple minutes after the selected start time so that people can still come in. If the Mondavi Center did this one thing, I would rate it 5 stars, but because it doesn't, I'm rating it 3 stars. It's a really big dapper to your show experience when, even though you arrive on time, they still...