Credit Union 1 Arena — Attraction in West Chicago Township

I am giving this venue 3 stars.. We were here for a robotics competition, and the venue seemed unorganized. The competition was very well structured, though. Let me explain.. There are, apparently, 2 areas to park in. One is a parking garage that is under construction, so half of it can't be parked in and a parking lot. On day one, they waited for people to pull into the drive up to the parking lot to tell them that they couldn't park there. There was NO place to turn around. So cars were stopping traffic while waiting for a car to leave that area so they could go in and repeat the same process. On day two, the parking lot was now available to park in.. Both places cost $10. On day one, if you left the parking garage, you would have to pay AGAIN if you left and came back. On day two you could come and go as you please. Then food at the venue.. Oh my.. These kids had 45 minutes to eat lunch. There were 50 ROBOTICS TEAMS!! THOUSANDS of people..right. So there is 1 concession area that has 1 cashier.. The venue told everyone that they couldn't bring food into the venue!! So these poor teens are having to sit OUTSIDE IN THE COLD WINDY WEATHER to eat!!! I am sorry, but know your audience and understand what your concession stand is able to handle within 45 minutes because it is NOWHERE NEAR a couple thousand people. And it is rediculous to tell the people paying your $10/car parking fees and venue fees to sit their kids outside in the cold weather to eat. Keep in mind there was a long line of people waiting for concession from before the kids were let out for lunch until well after they started again. As a parent, we tend to buy concessions just to support venues our kids are at. As for the pizza, burger, and fries w/ a cheese cup. They were all delicious. I didn't appreciate being told I couldn't have a little cheese cup to put my ketchup in as I didn't want ketchup on my pizza, though. I feel like that is just a thing that should be by the ketchup anyway. If you go to any fast-food place, they have little ketchup cups. I would love to give this venue 5 stars. They just need to figure out how to work with the type of group that booked their facility. I could understand no outside food being brought into a concert or a basketball game or something, but a robotics competition is a completely different animal. I hope this review will help the venue come up with a better POA when getting ready for different...

BEWARE!! BEWARE!!! BEWARE!! BEWARE!! BEWARE!! This place SUCKS!! I had a horrible experience! I will never spend my money on any events being held here. I went to the New Year’s Eve Comedy Jam with Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Bruce Bruce & Arnez J. The show was supposed to start at 8:00 p.m. At around 7:50 p.m., we were literally around the corner on Halsted for 35 minutes & on Harrison for another 40 minutes! There was NO TRAFFIC CONTROL & NO WHERE TO PARK! How can you have an event as huge as this & not hire anyone to direct the traffic or direct people on where to go! By the time we arrived at the main parking lot, the lot was closed. There was one person who told us the lot was full with NO DIRECTION ON WHERE THE OTHER PARKING LOTS WERE! THEY JUST TOLD US TO KEEP MOVING! We drove around looking for parking for at least 30 minutes! My husband & I ended up parking on a residential street (400 S. Van Buren) next to fire hydrant, hoping not to get ticketed. All of the surrounded parking lots were full! We didn't actually sit in our seat until 9:20 p.m.! In addition, we know 3 other couples who arrived around 7:45 p.m. & the doors to the Pavilion were locked. They did not let anyone in until 8:15 p.m. The line was around the corner. People were waiting in line in the cold to get in for at least 30 minutes. That is just ridiculous! The tickets weren’t cheap & to pay that type of money to be treated like this is pathetic. Then the volume or speakers next to us were blown! You can barely hear the comedians. I’ve never experienced this type of disrespect at any other venue in Chicago. I’ve always had good experiences at The Arie Crown, Chicago Theatre, Soldier Field and United Center. Also, in the balcony, there are NO RAILINGS!! Please install for...

I've been coming here mainly for our universities commencement ceremony for the past few years. Always clean... this year they had metal detectors... last year this wasn't available. I understand the need for security these days.

I was there yesterday for our ceremony with our students. I work for the university and we travel over an hour ; I asked a question regarding the entrance that our team was using to come on & out while getting our students ready to graduate. An overzealous young man who worked with security had the nerve to say that I couldn't come in & out. I looked at him with a puzzled look on my face and asked what do you mean? I'm working for the university that is running this ceremony today. I have to come in & out. He then said, I understand you're upset. I asked, where or what led you to believe that I am upset? Obviously a canned response that he couldn't of been sure when to use this statement?

Needless to say, I did come in & out. I talked to his superior Tony who informed me that since I'm staff this doesn't apply to us. When I did go in & exited the bldg he told all the staff that she can come in & out as much as she wants. I tried not to laugh as I looked in the employee's face. I smiled & walked out after a little time passed, I didn't see that young man anymore. He tried to make my experience there a bad one. I turned that around real QUICK! Other than that episode, the rest of the staff and the auditorium were on point.

Ill be back again and next time for a concert. Beautiful...