Dominion Energy Center — Attraction in Richmond

There is a lot to like about this place but unfortunately two things brought down my experience. Mostly one thing.

Its right off the interstate and easy to get to if you don't live or work in Richmond. There is a lot of close parking but it isn't free and they only take cash. Its beautiful and clean. The staff were friendly and courteous, at least until the show started. More on that below.

Now for the negatives. The seating is very tight. There is very little room to work with when people want in or out of the seating. The venue itself is fairly small. The doors opened at 7 but they didn't open the concert hall until 7:30. This left a large crowd of people standing around in tight hallways making hard to get to places like the merch table, restrooms etc.

My biggest problem is the no photo and video policy. I understand the types of show this venue sometimes puts on. They probably do plays, orchestras and other types of shows where this policy makes a lot of sense. They don't want people live streaming the show or disturbing others. Same thing with a movie theater. No one wants to be disturbed by rude people on a cell phone.

However, I was there for a Dream Theater concert. Dream Theater is a rock/metal band. A lot of places have policies against certain camera lenses unless you buy some kind of media pass. Not Dominion Energy Center. It is a full ban on all photos and videos, even with your cell phone. Even at a rock/metal concert.

I was in row Q, which is the back of the first floor. I stood to gain the most from a policy like this but I understand that when I go to a concert, people like to take photos and short videos. Want a 30 second video of the guitar solo? Not at Dominion Energy Center you don't. You don't have to do anything that sticks out like blocking others or recording the whole show. You just have to have your phone out. I just wanted some pictures of a band I paid $88 (before fees) to see.

Once the show started, what was a friendly and courteous staff took a turn. They literally walk the aisles walking in front of and reaching over people to enforce this rule. I would compare them to distracting drunks who get up multiple times throughout the show and you have to let them through. Except it was the staff enforcing a no photo policy. They were rude in how they went about it. No please and thanks but rude gestures and an aggressive tone.

I could be wrong but the worst part is that they appear to discriminate based on how much you paid/your seat. My ticket was $88 and I wasn't able to take short videos and pictures at a concert. I didn't see them tell anyone in the front section with $300 tickets to stop. Full disclosure, I was told twice.

I would have liked to know about this policy before I bought my ticket. Not in the email after buying the ticket or somewhere on their website because I didn't buy my ticket on their website. I have sent an email to the venue asking if it this policy was requested by the band or was a decision made by the staff.

Its a shame that I will gladly pay more or travel further to avoid this venue over something so normal as taking pictures at a concert. Instead of enjoying it to its fullest I was left disappointed each time I wanted to capture a cool moment and thought about the staff coming back over or watching as they constantly approached others...

Hi there, I went to see Amy Grant in concert tonight with my mom and her 2 best friends. Everything was absolutely amazing without a doubt. Your entire staff is absolutely incredibly kind,sweet, thoughtful,caring, attentive and loving. Best experience I've ever had at a venue. I want to thank everyone who worked this evening !!!!!! We had balcony seats and the lady behind me kept giving me problems after problem to the point I was in tears. I left the concert after half way through. The lady and gentleman working saw me crying and immediately came to my rescue. I was so very grateful. I was already emotional because Amy Grant was apart of my childhood but on a deep level. She helped my mom and us get through a lot. And being w her best friends brought back so many memories because went to her concerts when we were toddlers. So it was supposed to be nostalgic amazing night together us girls. The lady behind me was so nasty to me multiple times. My twin sister who is disabled was supposed to go with us this evening and she couldn't make it due to her health. She has been dying to go see Amy Grant since we were kids. She couldn't come so I was already sad about that. Then the emotions I had just going to see Amy Grant and be with these special people my life. It was what we've been. Looking forward to forever! Well. ..... The lady behind me said my phone was in her view, at the very beginning of the concert, I apologized and moved my phone down to the point i could barely see. I wasn't being loud or over the top n wasn't flashing my phone around or being disrespectful or obnoxious at all. And she kept saying stuff. Amy said everyone stand up for the next 2 songs. Everyone did n it was great. N towards the end she tapped me again and said something about me, I told her my disabled twin couldn't be here and I just wanted my sister to get a video to felt like she was here. N she didn't care.........n then proceeded to tap me again and to say something about me standing up n I was in her way. At that point I was done and I was crying. I left and was so upset. Ur staff was so so very sweet and kind! The sweet lady in pink let me hug her and listened to me and was so sweet and caring and thoughtful and kind. She gave us tickets to sit below so we wouldn't have to deal with it. Plus they checked on me multiple times And when I left I had such a fun time and was so grateful I found the managers and told them about my experience. So thank you sooooooo sooooo very much!!!!!! God bless you all and I'm so blessed there are still kind people in this world! Karen.......not...

I am disabled and could not find parking anywhere. I arrived 45 minutes early, driving around multiple parking lots and parking garages, all around downtown before the show started, and another 15 after the show started. I called the phone number that was listed on my ticket to call for help, but it went to the Richmond ballets box office, which was closed. The number on their voicemail rang to the Altria theater box office, NOT Dominion Energy Center box office. I also called the phone number on the Dominion Center google listing, and it ALSO went to the altria theater box office. Why are the only phone numbers available to call going to someone who is not even at the right property?? After i had already missed the first 15 minutes of the show, I stopped in the middle of the street to try to ask the box office lady and man where I was supposed to park. They were extremely unsympathetic and told me to go several streets away to park. Again, I am disabled. I could not walk that far, and if I had, the show would have been HALF over by the time I got back to the box office. They did not have enough handicap spaces anywhere near the venue. This place is horrible and refused to provide a refund. I arrived 45 minutes early and could still not find parking near their venue. Nowhere in the purchase process of the ticket did it say that parking was not available or easy. Nowhere in the purchase process did anything specify WHERE one could find parking. My guess is they are quiet about how BAD parking is because they would never sell tickets if they were honest. But if they were honest, i would have know ahead of time that this was not a handicap friendly venue with plenty of parking, and i could have avoided purchasing the ticket or made an extra effort to arrive 1.5 hours early instead of only 45minutes, since that was not enough. This was the first time I have tried to see a Richmond Ballet Performance and also the first time I have tried to visit the Dominion Energy Center and I can assure you I will not be coming back and I will be making sure everyone I meet hears my opinion of the Dominion Energy Center and the...