Hersheypark Stadium — Attraction in Derry Township

Hersheypark Stadium Do better!! Where do I even begin?!? I have said to myself several times in the past that I would not longer go to a concert there because of the disorganization of your venue but I continue to torture myself and come back (that part is on me). But the JR and Post Malone show definitely epitomized the overall CHAOS of a Hersheypark Stadium concert. One can expect traffic outside/leading into the venue, this has not been a priority of Hersheypark to date and I am doubtful it ever will be. To be seen. One can expect a long walk in all types of weather from the parking lot to the stadium with absolutely no clear signs about which lane you need to be in for parking, which lots are open for stadium parking, etc. One can expect to walk to the stadium and pass a COMPLETELY empty lot (general parking, not premium or ADA) roped off for no reason at all. One can even expect this is 95 degree temps and the POURING DOWN RAIN. What I (and numerous others based on what I’m reading only 12 hours after the event) did not expect was absolute chaos and disorganization at the stadium itself (beyond the normal chaos you encounter). There were actually lines forming from the stage side of the stadium that wrapped the entire length of the stadium to “security” to get in. These lines moved at a speed as if everyone were getting wand searched at security. Standing in the pouring down rain (no umbrellas allowed, of course) with lines just to get through security at an almost complete standstill. People were passing by this line and forming other lines (closer to the actual “security” checkpoint) without any direction from staff. It took almost an hour to just get to a “security” checkpoint. Then, we just walked through security without any checks at all -- despite the machine alarming with every other person and were allowed to keep moving. I entered with a backpack! Yes, it was a medical bag but no one asked and there was nothing at all obvious about it that would have indicated this. Clearing “security” was only one more hurdle cleared as the bathrooms… lines were INSANE. Women were in men’s rooms and men were pissing in the sinks (we witnessed this). The women’s room lines were reminiscent of the security line. Long and barely moving. The same can be said for drinks, food, merchandise – no organization (or attempt of) whatsoever. Needless to say, I and numerous others (there were 100’s of people behind us still entering) were finally able to enter the stadium just after Jelly Roll started. As expected, the artists were amazing and almost worth the chaos to see them. Exiting the stadium, well… we all know this scene. Disorganized chaos, as usual. Better to pack a bag and tailgate and wait it out rather than moving a few feet every half hour. Hersheypark – we love that you are a close venue but when will you actually take steps to improve the experience? Do you not care that people enjoy the acts but hate your venue and every single thing about it? It is hard to name even one thing you do well. Please take this to heart and work on a fix to even some of...

I went to see Greenday, Rancid, The Smashing Pumpkins, & The Linda Lindas here yesterday. I have been to music venues from many states (Jersey, New York, California, and Pennsylvania) - This venue in particular is not suited at all to hold large amounts of people.

The parking situation is not bad, ONLY if you arrive 2 to 3 hours early. There is parking in a close grass field where you walk 15 minutes to Hershey Stadium. If that fills up, you will keep filling the next fields, even the ones across the street. You will have to walk 40 to 45 minutes across stones and gravel hills if you arrive 30 minutes before or closer to the show time. The closer to show-time you arrive, you WILL be gridlocked in traffic for an hour in one the one lane that gets you into Hershey Park due to poor traffic flow. Most shows at this venue end at 11 p.m., but I left at 10 p.m. just to get back to the car and drive before the parking lot became gridded in and everyone was trying to find their car in the dark & leave at the same time. A lot of people left the show early because they had the same plan. This is not fair to the artist nor the people who pay a lot of money for tickets to even have to plan to do this.

For any bags you try to bring in - The website says something different than entrance (I knew this because I checked reddit). Most bags will not make it through including fanny packs and clear festival bags and you will be asked to get rid of it. Everything necessary only went into my pockets along with just my phone.

For seating - There is a small section up near front of stage that is the pit/GA standing. The entire rest of the inner stadium is seating which consists of fold up white chairs that are crammed very tightly in rows, making it impossible to get up and leave to go to the bathroom or get food without bothering the entire row to also get up. The chairs are all at the same ground level, even the ones in farthest field, which means if there are tall people in front, your vision will be blocked from the stage. If you purchase higher level seating, you will be able to see the stage slighly better but you'll be sitting in metal bleachers and be crammed like sardines, breathing in the next person's breath.

The stage - The setup is that the stage is directly in the middle and then there are two larger screens (1 on each side of the stage) that show the singer/band. That is it. The audio is not terrible but it does not sync with what you are listening to.

The lines for food and bathroom are the worst part of the experience. There are bathrooms across the entire field apart of the stadium OR there are portapoties. There are only a few food stations out of the stadium area, part of the area where there are actual bathrooms. There are also vendors with very long lines if you want something other than stadium food.

The whole venue just does not support the influx of people that come for shows and oversells tickets for profit, without making necessary adjustments to host the amount of people. I know Creed played here last week and I can't imagine after reading other reviews, that it was...

Worst ADA Compliance I've ever experienced at a live venue. Parking handicap / disabled attendees with a PA Disabled Veteran Handicap Plate at the Giant Center to attend an event at the stadium. ADA parking is NOT first come, first serve you pivot and put those attendees at the next available parking CLOSEST to the venue. I'm sorry but dumping us at the Giant Center over a mile from the venue is unacceptable and a violation of ADA. This was NOT the closest lot but instead of helping direct those attendees to closer available options you IGNORED them. It's shameful this is the best you can do but you didn't have a problem collecting the money for events. Then your tram service was a joke. The closest tram stop to Giant Center was closed so now disabled attendees struggled further walking to next tram stop. And after the concert you refused to run the tram as attendees were blocking the roads. Utilize police and ushers to clear roads but that would have made too much sense. Instead you ended tram service instead of taking the necessary steps to control the crowds leaving the venue. We were forced to make a walk from the stadium to the other side of the Giant Center lot where your parking attendants at the booths directed us to park as licensed Disabled/ Handicapped motorists.

Moreover the walkways and sidewalks are a mess around the venue, how many have fallen over the years walking in the crowds. I almost fell coming out of the gate from the stadium as the area isn't paved from side to side and attendees were stumbling in the dirt pit beside the paved walkway.

You'd think Hersheypark Stadium was new to managing big live events, nope evidently this has been a perpetual problem for years at the stadium. They do a very good job at the Giant Center and we love going to see the Hershey Bears but the stadium is the complete opposite. They knew months in advance Stevie Nicks was performing on this date. Unless they live in a vacuum they knew many of the attendees were ages 55 and up, many of whom were disabled and / or elderly. For petes sake Stevie Nicks is 76. Do BETTER Hersheypark Stadium! As a resident of Lancaster County who frequents Hershey, I'm not proud of your venue I'm embarrassed and ashamed. I've filed my ADA Compliance Complaint with the Federal Government as something has to change. I can guarantee numerous complaints were filed. I witnessed so many struggle to reach the stadium and frankly it disturbed me. As a 100% disabled veteran with lots of Veteran friends I'll spread the word to my fellow veterans how "wonderful"...