Gas South Arena — Attraction in Duluth

I had the unpleasant experience of encountering such blatant, insulting racism from 2 Gas South Arena employees today (9/29/2024) after the 2:30pm Disney On Ice show. It was even moreso disheartening since my 6 year old child witnessed it, and was able to comprehend what exactly was happening. Our seats were Floor Section 1, Row A.

This is also an annual birthday tradition for us since 2019 (minus the Covid 2020 year where the shows were canceled). We always get floor seats; 2019 was Floor Section 3, 2020 was going to be front row floor as well, 2021 was Floor section 1, 2022 was Floor Section 3 Row A, and 2023 was Floor Section 1 Row B (tables with included meals).

Apparently, there is some unpublished rule that “coloreds” are NOT allowed to exit from the exit between Floor sections 3 and 5. This woman and the person behind her physically blocked my child and I, along with another black man and his family, from exiting today, and said “No one is allowed out this way, walk to the top!” Strange, because I saw approximately 20 people (of the white skin color) walk through without a problem, no badges, no passes, nothing displayed, no wristbands, etc. Furthermore, I saw the people in the seats next to me walk out through this exit while she stood there and did not stop them. Since there were long lines trying to exit up all the stairs both ways I looked, I had ample opportunity to observe this floor exit. Sure enough, I saw her and the employee behind her make eye contact, then glance over at me, then back at the approaching white family of 4… and she let them pass through and walk out of that exit expeditiously getting out of there way, and didn’t say a single word to them!

When I reflect upon the previous years of bring my child here to see Disney On Ice, I have always had a negative experience from the few employees that work right at that assigned area. They would come chastise me, telling me my child couldn’t stand up or dance, or that I could not record, which is why I make sure to secure tickets for Section 1. She looks like the same exact employee from 2021, 2022, and 2023 telling me we couldn’t exit on the floor, and there was no bathroom access for floor seats.

Nonetheless, there is clearly some sort of privilege that is extended to whites only to exit from the floor - whites who clearly walked from worse seats and opposite side from 103 (like 119, 120, as both myself and the other black family clearly witnessed). I could see if the employee was polite or gave some fake generic excuse of “oh, they’re family members of the owners or get special privileges,” but no sort of words were spoken. This woman and the man/woman behind her just aggressively blocked the exit with menacing looks on their faces. I considered requesting having them call security over, but realized this is some unwritten code of conduct and company policy since I have experienced this racist behavior for the past several years. Now my child says she never wants to go back! Thank you for ruining her Disney On Ice yearly tradition!

$500 each year for floor row A or B tickets, valet parking, that $42 bubble blower wand, food and beverages… to encounter racism from 2 (really it was 3, but I didn’t sweat the first woman during halftime) Gas South Arena employees. Is this a higher up teaching? Or their own evilness and preferential supremacy treatment they enact themselves? Disney On Ice in metro Atlanta (Duluth, GA)is usually late April each year, but for some reason it was moved to late September this year. I have already seen the dates for 2025, and late April will be in another city which my daughter was previously hesitant to go see it at a different arena/town she’s never heard of, and now she’s scared to go to Disney On Ice ever again because of “that mean woman let the white people go but not me because I don’t have...

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, my husband, our son, myself, and our two friends attended the 7 PM show of Trans Siberian Orchestra at Gas South Arena. This year was one of many TSO concerts we have attended over the past ten years.

At 63 years old, I have come to realize that when things go wrong, as they often do, people are always quick to point out bad experiences and the things that go wrong. People rarely ever comment on anything positive that happens. The purpose of this review is to address what went "right" Sunday night.

As my family and our friends were being escorted to our sixth row seats on the floor, my right knee buckled, causing me to take a bad, hard fall. As I got my wits about me, I realized I was literally surrounded by arena employees and volunteers, each checking on my wellbeing and offering to help. A very strong gentleman assisted my husband in getting me back on my feet. As I made my way to my seat and settled in, it seemed as if people randomly appeared at my side just to check on me, to see if I was OK, and to see if I needed anything. One lady who stood out appeared at my side and sat down and noticed my finger was bleeding. She left as quickly as she came, and then reappeared with a Bandaid. She applied it to my finger, while asking me if I was sure I was OK. I'm sure I probably noticed her name, but I honestly can't remember it. I just remember her badge said "Manager" under her name. I tried so hard to make a mental not of people's names, but I just couldn't remember them. I also had a few medics stop by to check on me and to see if I needed anything. I told them I was OK....of so I thought. It wasn't until the soreness, swelling, and pain began to set in on Monday that I realized I wasn't fine after all.

I was evaluated by my orthopedic doctor on Monday, and despite being very sore, I have no broken bones. Time is what it's going to take for complete healing, which could take a few months.

Long after the pain and swelling is gone, what I will remember most is the kindness and professionalism of your employees/volunteers/medics/etc. Each and every one of them is an asset to your organization, and the help they provided me will never be forgotten

I can't close this review without mentioning our entire reason for being at Gas South Arena, and that was to see Trans Siberian Orchestra. As usual, they were absolutely amazing and did not disappoint. We can't was to return to Gas South Arena next year for #13 in a row!

Thank you to the employees, volunteers, and medics who were working the floor Sunday evening. Your kindness is to be...

first, the only positive part of this review: i don't know his name unfortunately, but there was one staff member that circled around the barricade occasionally that would squirt some water into our mouths on day 1 (7/30). that was very nice of him and i wish he'd been there the whole time because he was one of the few sympathetic staff i met.

but other than that, i would give 0 stars if i could. every time i've come to this venue its sucked but this time takes the cake. i've been to a LOT of concerts over the years and this was by far the most disorganized and chaotic i've ever been to. i attended for ateez and it was insanely hot outside those two days- VIP+GA standing was made to stand out in the heat for hours bc they only had 2 people giving out wristbands, then they told us both days to come back early because they would let us in early due to the best, then DIDNT do that. there were only water stations for sale outside, and they packed up and left around 3:00. when VIP was let in, they took our water at security (expected) but then none of the concessions inside were open for us to purchase more water. staff also caused a stampede on day 1, because they said that they would honor an orderly fan-made line, disbanded the line into a mob, but then told us to get back into a line- so of course everyone rushed and shoved, and a lot of people got hurt. that was just the start of the day from hell.

SO many people passed out especially on tuesday 7/30, and staff response was always slow. the earliest i saw was around 11;30 in the VIP wristband line and other fans handled the situation with more urgency and care than staff. multiple people passed out during the show and it took forever for them to even call a medic. staff would ignore us when we were trying to shout at them for a medic. it took ateez getting security's attention a few times for things to happen and that is SAD. someone in the area to my left was seizing or passed out or something for THREE entire songs before they finally called someone from medical for them. fans had made an opening and a whole ring of lights with their phones to draw attention and they were ignored.

day 2 GA numbered wristbands were not followed/honored. so why even bother having us come early and stand out in the heat for such a long time? a staff member also boasted about how "40 of you guys dropped on the GA floor yesterday"... that's not a good thing!!! no other stop on this tour had that many people passing out, and it's because of gas souths poor planning. i will never be coming back here for...