Westville Music Bowl — Local services in New Haven

Its a small cute venue, but the people who run it only care about the lineup and keeping the audience off their phones. There are pretty significant problems that they are ignoring. It kind of ruined the experience. (No contact info, traffic, cell phone nazis, no noise control, blinding parking lights).

The traffic is so bad it makes people late for the show. They really need to fix it, there's no need for that level of chaos, and it makes it hard to hear the show.

The fact that you can't call or email the venue sucks. I was 5 days post operation and on crutches. They put us in regular chairs on the main level, and put us all the way on the edge, farthest from center. I asked if we could sit closer to center since we paid for expensive center view seats in our presale tickets, they said you should have bought ADA accessible seating earlier, now you get what's leftover. We bought these tickets 6 months before my surgery was known. I had used their contact form on their website since they don't have a box office phone number or direct email 2 weeks before, 1 week before, 2 days before, and 1 day before, no response. I spent 45 min on the ticket vendors online chat asking for help to no avail. So, they did it, but I shouldn't have had to Karen them for it. It caused us a lot of stress and tension leading up to the show, and there's no need for that. We weren't excited leading up to show day, we were worried about it.

The staff were cell phone nazis. I was really unstable on my crutches, and had timers set to take my meds, and while my partner was wandering around to buy us dinner, I was told no less than every 30 sec to put my phone away. They made him get out of line for food, walk back to me, ask me what I wanted, and get back in line. He had to wait an extra 45 min in line because he couldn't text me what I wanted, and this was 90 min before the show started. Absolutely ridiculous.

At show time, about 25% of people were there for the show opener because the parking traffic was such a problem. I could hear about half of his jokes. There were a few other comics before the headliner and the stadium was a constant buzz of people arriving up until 5 min into the headliner. The noise of people arriving, asking questions, being told to shut off phones, then trying to find their seats with their phones off was so loud I couldn't hear the comedians. The staff telling people to turn off their phones superloudly right next to us was honestly the worst. Two of the comedians mentioned the lack of people and the constant motion during their sets. It probably felt like they were bombing, but they weren't, there just weren't enough people there or paying attention. People were trying to get settled, or couldn't hear them.

During the headliner a parking lot light came on and blinded the shit out of a bunch of us in section 204's ADA seats because it was so tall it peaked over the stadium wall. They should put up a little wall to block it.

It's sad because it could have easily been a really nice date, but the staff don't want to do anything about the traffic problem, or being quiet once the show starts, or help people who have an issue. The venue is small, the talent lineup has gotten pretty good, and outside and the food vendors were decent. If they put a quarter of the effort they put into watching people for phone usage into the other problems, it would be a really...

was at the Goose show last night (June 30th) at the Westville Bowl and it was just TERRIFIC!!! The Band was fabulous; tight, creative, and everything that you could ask the local boys to + more; just amazing. First and most importantly; Mother Nature was kind to us all attending. After two miserable rainy days, and a less than promising forecast for Sunday night, she in her infinite wisdom gave us all a wonderful evening of beautiful weather to enjoy Goose's great show. Thank you Great Mother. Westfield Bowl is just an amazing place to see a concert. People (attendees) are very respectful of each other both in the parking lots and in the theater. Really made the show a great experience. The sound is very good anywhere you sit and it was most enjoyable watching the crowd in the infield dancing and having a great time while us older folks enjoyed the amazing music that the local boys (Goose) provided from our seats. A truly memorable show and Goose members are to be praised for providing the local audience a truly fabulous show. I know they are on the road for the next few months but I can't wait to see them again when they return home to Conn in the fall at either the Westville or College Street in New Haven. P.S. I would also love to see them at the Palace in Waterbury or the Warner in Torrington. Both great older theaters with fabulous acoustics for a great band like Goose. Thank you...

Westville Music Bowl in New Haven, CT, is a charming and intimate venue that offers a fantastic concert experience. Nestled within the city, this little stadium has a vibe that’s both cozy and vibrant—perfect for a night out enjoying live music. We had the pleasure of catching two incredible shows here: Blues Traveler & Big Head Todd one night, followed by Vertical Horizon, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Gin Blossoms the next. Each performance was stellar, with the venue’s acoustics and atmosphere amplifying the experience.

Originally known as the Yale Bowl's Tennis Center, the venue was repurposed and rebranded into the Westville Music Bowl, transforming the former tennis courts into a dynamic outdoor concert space. Its relatively recent history as a music venue has quickly made it a favorite spot for both artists and concert-goers, blending its historical roots with a new wave of cultural significance in New Haven.

The seating layout is excellent, providing good views no matter where you sit, and the overall setup makes for an enjoyable, stress-free concert experience. The staff were friendly and helpful, enhancing the positive vibes that permeated the entire venue.

For anyone looking to catch a live show in New Haven, Westville Music Bowl should definitely be on your list. It’s a gem of a venue that offers both quality performances and a great atmosphere—highly...