Franklin Music Hall — Attraction in Philadelphia

I'm writing this in case it's helpful for anyone who requires ADA seating, because they've got the worst accommodations I've experienced in the city. Plan ahead and get there early, because nobody's trying to help you here.

I've spent the year dealing with an injury. To keep it short, I literally couldn't stand for months, now can stand, but not long at all. Thankfully, my problem is temporary, and securing a chair at venues and bar shows has been no problem until last night.

I picked up last minute tickets for the TV on the Radio show, and emailed the venue to request seating. I knew it was only about a week's notice, but in that time, in 2025, there was no response to that email. No answered phone calls when I called the Box Office during operating hours. I looked back at their FAQ on the website, and they say, for ADA accomodations to ask a "Venue Representative" when you arrive. Vague.

The ( granted, friendly and helpful ) woman at the box office told me to ask Event Services once I was inside. I thought that meant a counter or something, but it's actually anyone working in a yellow shirt. I needed to find a yellow shirt and flag them. I'm grateful for the mobility I do have, because anyone more compromised than myself now had a scavenger hunt ahead of them.

The first yellow shirt I find points me to a general direction. I find a small corral of about 9 seats that are totally full. Possibly with people who think this is just a seating area for anyone since there is no clear demarcation as to what this section is, but I'm not about to question people. I find another yellow shirt and ask if there's another seating area. He says there is upstairs, but he doesn't know where, because he's never been upstairs. Dumbfounded, I make my way upstairs where a man doesn't tell me where second floor ADA is, but that it's totally full.

The irony here is that there's a good amount of seating in the venue. If you have any stair climbing ability in you but require seating, seems like your best bet is to get there early and head upstairs. If you can't climb stairs, however, seems like you're stuck duking it out for one of the nine whole raggedy bar chairs from 1987 in the ADA playpen. I won't even get into the location and height of that seating, but it leaves much to be desired. Still, I would have been grateful to have sat there, because after pushing myself to stand for 2+ hours, my body is seriously paying for it today. It really took me out of the performance and I was pretty soured by the whole night. I don't even know what would have happened if I was still using crutches.

I've lived in the area my whole life, I still call this place the Electric Factory. It's been interesting navigating ADA requests in venues I've been standing in forever, but Franklin Music Hall, hands down, has the worst accommodations I've experienced in the city thus far. Maybe I'm naive, but I saw no reason for a venue and promoter of this size not to be able to help someone. There's no reason to make people feel like an afterthought, we're all here to have the same good time.

Eh, I edited this from two stars to one, because I'm still thinking about how badly my body felt after i stood for that show, and they notoriously oversell a venue with...

I had my first experience at the Electric Factory last night and it was not on purpose! I had purchased tickets to see a show at The Mann, and due to "scheduling conflicts" it was relocated to the Electric Factory. I thought the location seemed unsafe (I am not a city girl, so some may disagree, but I felt unsafe). Due to the venue change, they delayed the start of the show by nearly an hour...a notification would have been appreciated because we got there "on time" and had to wait in the blazing sun with no access to restrooms. Staff was helpful, though not in a friendly way. Also, I eat gluten free an upon reviewing the facilities website, it was clear that I should bring my own food. No where on the Food/Beverage page did is say that outside food was not allowed in. They made me dispose of my SEALED water and my fairly expensive gluten free pretzels. When I explained my intolerance, the woman checking my bag laughed and said "no outside food." Not to mention, they charged my $3 for a lousy bottle of water while my sealed bottle was sitting on the payment outside-what a waste. I get needing to make money, but really- what was I going to sneak in to your venue in my sealed water and sealed bag of pretzels. That aside, because though it is frustrating, I understand it is policy- the bathrooms were filthy, complete with urine stains (not drops like someone just left them there) on the toilet seat. Obviously it had been a while since anyone took the time to clean the joint. The lighting was poor and the sound for the opening act was awful. My final issue, security was a joke.. they may have taken my snacks, but they never saw my mace and pocket knife, so I can only imagine was else made it's way into the venue. So, in sum- unless it is a once in a lifetime performance to see, I will NOT be returning...

I was so excited to go here for my birthday.. Spent about $386 to go see August Burns Red at this place.. VIP tickets. Never ended up seeing the show, lost tons of money.. This was a few months ago. We got to the venue, and I was never emailed that a vaccine card was required to get in. I checked the venue website too. All the information that was sent to me literally only said to wear a mask, so I thought that was perfectly acceptable. We met with the band outside and only had masks on to do the meet and greet, but we were not allowed inside. Because that makes sense? 😂 Security and staff told us that they had a rapid test site reserved to be open for people that didn't have their vaccine cards. We get to this test site after driving 15 minutes (it's Philly), and they were closed. We met up with a few other people who had VIP tickets as well. We all worked together, tried to call the number on the door for, no lie, 2 hours. We gave up knocking and calling and tried looking for other rapid testing sites. We couldn't get into any of them. By this time, the main band was probably playing, but we went back to the venue because we weren't getting anywhere. We talked to someone who said it was the ticket site with the problem, that I'd have to ask them for a refund. So I contacted the ticket site, but they said it was the venues fault for not having the rapid test site open.

Did Franklin Music Hall do anything about it? Nope. Did they care? Not at all. The staff lied to sum it up, probably just to get us out of their hair. Don't tell people who drive 2+ hours that something is RESERVED TO BE OPEN when it clearly is not, then make them lose out on $300+ parking. 🤦‍♀️ All in all, I never got a refund. I'm not going back. Hopefully this doesn't happen to...