Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Attraction in Indianapolis

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This is the badge number of one of Gainbridge Fieldhouse's security "Professionals."

This evening was supposed to be a GREAT FIRST concert for my children which was nearly ruined right as soon as we set foot into the door.

As a family that has a few disabilities its rather difficult to go to events such as these in the first place. Just because you advertise handicap accessibility does not mean that you are handicap friendly.

Going through security is usually pretty easy, however tonight took a different turn when passing through metal detectors. Two out of the three security guards were quite pleasant. The issue came into effect when retrieving our belongings at the other end of the security belt. Our family keeps medications and two other personal assistance devices in a single "Lounge Fly" bag. Nine inches tall , Six inches wide, four inches thick. We do not stuff our bag beyond full as we want to ensure that we can put our phones and wallets away should the situation arise. Once through the scanner we were told that we couldn't bring in the lounge fly, as it is bigger than the clutch size bags that they allow. ALSO NOT AS BIG DEALHAVE BEEN TOLD THIS BEFORE

Been at Gainbridge for multiple music concerts and sporting events but most recently Journey/Toto and NKOTB/En Vogue/Rick Astley/Salt n Pepa. Parking was straightforward but for whatever reason somehow we were forced to park level 4 and higher which there must have been some type of unpublished prioritization unbeknownst to me. We always depart the event early because getting out of that garage could take up to an hour it is a big bottleneck any way you stack it with only one entrance/exit per floor. Poor access/exit capacity.

The food variety is far better on the main concourse such as Chic Fil A and basic ballpark food on progressively higher levels so better to buy food on lower levels unless hamburger chicken fingers or hot dogs is your choice.

The sound system of the performers clearly impacts the audio quality. From Toto slight reverberate to Journey blasting instruments unintelligible and drowning vocals to NKOTB hearing damage decibels (my ears were ringing for a couple days) just plain too loud, En Vogue lyrics sharp piercing and then the dj rap warmup band high pitch shrillness. What does this mean? You either get really loud almost earsplitting audio at Gainbridge drowning vocals or shallow bodiless vocals that echo and background instrumentals that are mushy. Arena is for loud rock not audiophile performance quality. This is not an opera palladium nor outdoor amphitheater it is a salt box, there are too many competing walls, angles. structures and even ceiling rafter sound bellows. Don't go to a stadium built for sports and expect anything like a theater quality sound. Go to say you saw the artist just as the baseline.

So have been on the floor seating and balcony. First, the balcony first row seats(above club level) are safety hazards. Proven by a tall glass protection pane at the bottom of steep stairs to prevent folks tripping down stairs and over the ledge with steps too small and close together to nearby seats. Then a short glass pane protector on the ledge otherwise just enough to keep beverages and food from falling onto seating below sutting on the ledge since no cup holders but low enough to be scary trying to walk by others or young kids that you wonder as you shuffle by if that short wall and short glass ledge is really going to be safe at mid thugh height eeeek. I didn't stand during any concerts up there except to let people by. Just not safe.

So now after the remodel they replaced lower bowl seating wuth Lexus Loft seat boxes at one end. Very bourgeois and really not well utilized along with the suites for concerts. This is Indiana, not L.A.

Now the attendants were all friendly and inviting so a positive.

Unless a music artist I just must see and only performs nearby at Gainbridge I'd go but for a more pleasant, less confined and better sound quality I'd go to an...

We went for a 21 Pilots concert last night. We came pretty early so we could get good standing spots in the pit. (1am, it started at 7:45)

Our first contact was a man who was running the metal detector. Obviously only doing that job because the rest of his life is out of control and he needs to control someone. He was completely disrespectful to my wife and I. Ive been through TSA many times and dealt with their attitudes... this guy was on a power trip. Split us up and after I waited 5 minutes for him to come back, he has the audacity to be impatient with me and say "hurry up, lets go!" As if im not waiting for him.. (2 hours gone)

We waited in line where no one told us the line was VIP only so then we were in for a shock when we were finally told at the sign-in station. (45 minutes wasted)

I asked multiple staff including people with elevated roles, and for some reason no one knew where we could stand in line for general pit admission and so we were directed to wait out the door we just came through.

After an hour of sitting there and no one showing up, I went back and asked the security manager if we would actually be able to come back in through this side of the building. After he asked around, the consensus was that we should actually go to the other side of the building. (1hr wasted)

It was very exciting to find a line of about 600 people. We walked all the way to the back of the line and waited. (20 minutes later we are told that we cannot be in this specific line without a wristband) So half of the line, including us, are told to go back around and get in a line for a wristband and then get back in the main line.

Would you believe that no one in the staff could tell us where that line would be.

It was infuriating and almost hilarious how unprepared the staff was for this concert. We took off work, planned month in advance, paid for these tickets and after all of that we are met with a staff who for 4 hours didnt even know where we...