Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom — Attraction in Lake View Township

While the venue is beautiful, this venue is awful, not for the stage or pricing but for the staff. Ive been to a couple of events here, and every time the staff has ruined the event with their actions and tones. Starting with security, Ive experienced such rude encounters. I once tried to bring my camera into the venue, as I had seen others do this at a previous concert, when I got to security they yelled at me and told me to put it away, I tried to tell them I couldn't go put it in a car because I took the train and while explaining that they kept cutting me off just saying "go put it in your car". While trying to explain, I saw them let in 2 people with an almost identical camera. I brought that up and they kept arguing with me and finally said I could go pay to check it at a storage place across the street. I had to wait in line again to get inside, and when I made it back to security, they continued to berate me questioning me like I was trying to sneak something in (because I argued over my camera?) They ID'd me and questioned me threatening to not let me in. Finally I got In but the security process was so stressful it ruined the event for me and made it hard to enjoy. Recently, I had friends attend a concert and bring in there cameras without issue and they said there was no scanners or pat downs or anything (seems dangerous!). So what is it; Over extreme, concert ruining, security or no Saftey precautions? Choose one! I also recently attended another concert at this venue and the security was rude again, not super rude but they did confiscate my friends fresh pack of cigarettes. I somewhat understand confiscating this, however there should have been better posted signage and acknowledgements of this! We tried to ask if they could just throw away the lighter and keep the pack (because what's a cigarette without a lighter?) and they were incredibly rude once more. I have respect for them doing their jobs but actually where is the logic in that and no need to be off-putting. Furthermore, I've had friends complain about homophobic interactions with security and rough/overly-toutchy/unnecessary pat-downs. These security officers need to be better trained or just get new ones. As for the staff inside they are more kind and understanding, no complaints. Another issue thats more a recent development is they haven't been opening the doors when the ticket says "doors open"! This has been causing an absurd line spanning multiple blocks to get in, and in the cold, it sucks! The doors opening late seems to be bothering lots of people, as i've been seeing so much discourse about it online. Id understand if it happened one time but now i've seen 3 shows back to back! Overall, i'm not one to leave reviews, but i've reached the point now where i'm so upset, it would take allot for me to want to come back here. Even if it was to see one of my favorite artists, the risk of security ruining the experience isn't worth it. I outwardly tell people to avoid this place. I encourage performers to look at other venues; I've been to a lot of concerts, shows, and events across Chicago and every venue has been exponentially better than my multiple experiences at the Argon Ballroom.

Moreover, here's someone else's review from reddit, thats not on here but has a good point about Saftey concerns that I STRONGLY agree with:

"The security people are literally screaming at you the whole time. I have been to two other shows at this venue, and while it's falling apart, it never really felt this bad before. Also, does anybody else know how to get OUT of the building after a show without waiting in that long line? It wasn't just one thing, but I felt unsafe in there. The exits are blocked or have people blocking them, it's impossible to move, like--what would they do if there was...

Saw BLACK CROWES♥️concert at ARAGON Fri. 4/19/24 with my Son, his idea & treat♥️😘1 of his Mom's favorite 90's bands, STILL A FAVORITE BAND! ARAGON is great & clean, so cool being a much smaller👍A BEAUTIFUL BALLROOM arena than any huge stadiums or theaters (yup been in local Riv..they finally got AC about 1 yr ago!😊) but also ARAGON was big enough! TOTALLY AWESOME we were able to move a bit even closer as it shows in videos than anywhere else in arena, but w/my Son getting ticket ahead! Yes, it's standing only first come first serve in line re: where YOU choose, but totally worth it being very comfortable not totally crammed! Just a month after we were at this BLACK CROWES concert, just having a bit of time to read several reviews YES DRINKS R TOO💲 EXPENSIVE there...it is what it is. My Son said that it's LIVE NATION that charges higher💲prices at events as he has been to many concerts throughout several different states which LIVE NATION is the event co. LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC. merged with TICKETMASTER 2009 WIKI is the LARGEST entertainment company internationally in the world.

Interesting, cuz I frequent area I already knew & I've personally seen in past EXTREMELY long lines for ARAGON concerts through the NW side alley across from USPS 4850 N Broadway St. 60640🛑HEADS UP, IF U PARK THERE GUARANTEED UR🚘CAR💲WILL GET TOWED! I recently 5/2024 saw 8 TOW🛻TRUCKS WITHIN 30 min. max. during a concert that cleared out that whole🚘 lot! Several reviews from 6+ months ago have the pics of long lines in NW side alley & complaints. SURPRISINGLY, cuz I asked super nice security guy🙂 about long lines seeing in past, he said that it's no longer ppl in West side alley but they r on Lawrence Ave. & N. Broadway St. We were lucky NOT being in a long line, go figure.

LEAVING & ENTERING ARAGON reading reviews yes it is true that it is slow & crammed, more so when leaving. My Son chatting with someone next to us leaving (only time feeling a bit warm & crammed too many ppl) a man was wondering how far away the 1 & only stairs are where we entered in route leaving is?... My Son's quoted reply was "HOPEFULLY IT'S CLOSE CUZ IF THERE WAS A FIRE🔥IN HERE, WE ALL WOULD BE DEAD UNABLE TO GET OUT FAST ENOUGH😥!!!" HMMM, BYLINE BANK💲PUT SOME OF THE MONEY THAT U MAKE ON INTEREST INTO A 2ND OUTSIDE PUBLIC EXIT, BUT APPARENTLY ARAGON PASSES CITY OF CHICAGO BUILDING INSPECTIONS MAYBE DUE TO A "GRANDFATHER CLAUSE" built 1926. STILL💩BS. Sorry to have changed my opinion review of the "ARAGON BUILDING STRUCTURE" because repeating it was a great concert & venue BUT for sure when at a future concert or event at ARAGON I'm gonna make sure that several ppl in my immediate family knows ahead where I'll be, go figure!

Otherwise I had a great experience...

Quite possibly the most miserable place on earth

Let’s start with the acoustics, or more accurately, the aural purgatory that is the Aragon Ballroom. You know that beautiful, crisp guitar solo you love on the record? At Aragon, it’s been lovingly transformed into a muddy echo chamber of pain, drowned in reverb and bounced off every one of the venue’s weirdly ornate, acoustically hostile walls. It’s as if the sound guy walked in, saw the castle motif, and decided to mic the show like it was taking place in an abandoned medieval well. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys hearing two different versions of the same song layered on top of each other with a half-second delay, congratulations—this is your personal Hell.

Security at Aragon? Think TSA, but without the charm. The team appears to be a mix of retired cops, disgraced mall security, and bouncers who failed the empathy portion of their psych evaluations. They’re aggressive, power-tripping, and seem genuinely offended by your existence. Want to bring a sealed water bottle in? Not unless you pry it from their cold, authoritarian grip. I once saw a guy get pulled aside and interrogated for having a granola bar. A granola bar, folks. If these guys had access to a holding cell, I’m confident they’d be using it.

And then, there’s the entrance. Or should I say, the fortified bottleneck of chaos. Getting into Aragon feels like participating in an unorganized fire drill inside a haunted castle with none of the whimsy and all of the panic. The lines are unclear, unstaffed, and completely arbitrary. One entrance might be for GA, the other for VIP, or maybe for time travelers—no one knows. The signage is nonexistent, the staff doesn’t communicate, and you’re left to huddle with fellow confused concertgoers like survivors of a shipwreck trying to figure out who gets on the lifeboat.

With many friends and family in the music industry, I will continue to do all that is necessary to prevent quality talent from playing here. If you are a minority, please be careful and mindful of this diabolical place.

In conclusion: skip it. Unless you’re a masochist with a love for subpar acoustics, confrontational authority figures, and logistical nightmares. Otherwise, see your favorite band literally...