No bad seats for hockey - sit close for concerts.
Written: Dec 04 '00 (Updated Mar 10 '01)
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Pros: Great view. Excellent access to public transit.
Cons: Food boring, bland and expensive.
The Bottom Line: At least you won't be distracted from your enjoyment of the show by a sparkling, spectacular stadium.
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| livewire_'s Full Review: General Motors Place |
As stadiums go, GM Place (affectionately referred to as "The Garage" by local sports commentators) is effective, but unremarkable. I've seen stadiums with more and better souvenir shops, better food, better seats and certainly better teams. But one thing it offers that cannot be denied is a great view of your team. After all, what are you there for?
I have seen the Grizzlies from close behind the home team's bench, and I have seen the Canucks from about a dozen different places. Every time I go I am impressed by the quality of the view. I can't say enough about the fact that from any seat in the house (I have even watched a period from the top row of seats) you can easily follow the action without straining your eyes to see what's happening or who it happened to.
I do recommend sitting in the lower level for two reasons: One, closer is better; a universal sports arena truth. Two, less beer. For some reason, people who drop more money on their ticket buy less beer and get less drunk. Go figure. While you're watching the Canucks, don't forget at some point in the game to look for the "best seats in the house", a pair of luxurious recliners reserved for a randomly selected pair of drinkers watching the previous game at a local pub.
Another great advantage of GM Place is its proximity to Skytrain, the city's monorail. You can park at Scott Road Station in Surrey for a buck, take Skytrain for a couple of bucks and avoid the headache and expense of stadium parking. Even with a family of four, you'll still save money. Time, too. The traffic out of the city on a game night is painfully thick.
Ticket prices are still well within reasonable limits. As pro sports go, they are above the average in cost but they give it all back in the finished product.
UPDATE March 10, 2001 - Concerts
I went to GM Place to see the Barenaked Ladies March 7th, 2001. If you want to know how it was, check my review of BNL concerts. I sat in the balcony, and for a concert, this was absolutely unacceptable. I have better than normal vision, and from this distance I could not see the expressions on the band members' faces, something I remember from their Christmas show in Seattle. Whatever you do, do not sit in the balcony for a live show. For the few extra dollars you have to shell out to get closer, just do it. If the show is worth going to at all, it's worth spending a little extra on good seats.
The sound system is fantastic. Ed Robertson -- amazing beat box that he is -- made it feel like a gigantic dance club for a few minutes. It very much suits bands who are very skillful with their instruments and deserve a clean amplified sound.
Recommended:
Yes
Parking Availability: What A Nightmare
Seat Location: Lower Level
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Epinions.com ID:
livewire_
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Member: Live Wire
Location: Vancouver
Reviews written: 80
Trusted by: 17 members
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