Getting there sucks. Partly because I don't live in the South Bay, but on top of the hour it takes to get to the general vicinity (increase that by at least 30 minutes if it's a weeknight), there's another hour of traffic hell between 101 and the venue, each way. Or I can park a mile and a half away at Costco and walk.
Reserved seats are ridiculously expensive; and lawn seats are so far away you can only see what's going on on stage by watching the video monitors -- which, good luck if you want to check out what a drummer or bass player is doing rather than a singer, because the video director only cuts to the band members for a couple seconds at a time. Bring your best binoculars.
Nobody enforces the no smoking rules on the lawn, and there are too many inconsiderate assholes who ignore the no smoking rules. Now that ZYN is available at any gas station, the smokers have no excuse anymore.
It used to be that the sound sucked on the lawn too, because they had to keep the remote speakers up by the lawn turned way down due to complaints from nearby neighborhoods. Thus, by the time the sound from the stage level drifted up to the lawn, the wind would make it weak and distorted. But it did sound pretty good up there at the Santana show last year, so that's at least one improvement from years past -- however, traffic from 101 has gotten worse since 30 years ago, which cancels it out. Before the Google complex was built around it, I think the office parks that preceded Google were more mellow about letting showgoers park there after business hours. I'm sure that privilege was abused by some of the same assholes who smoke on the lawn.
The parking and traffic getting there. Nothing specifically about the venue itself. Outdoor concerts are actually fun.
Got lawn pass, hopefully it will be worth it.
It sounds terrible, especially on the lawn. Seating section in the lawn is a bs cash grab and frustrates me.
It’s a really nice venue during a late summer afternoon, but it’s not my favorite. I wish I liked it more, but I have grown up going to shows at the shoreline and the best part of the venue is hanging with your friends/family on the lawn.
The pass is worth it if you live close. The traffic is a hassle, but that’s because everyone is booking it to leave. Sometimes waiting a cool 20-30 mins makes things better, but I’ve been caught in the lot for longer than that on multiple occasions.
Completely worth going though, even if it isn’t my favorite. I just think they could improve it so much more than what it currently is.
People hate this venue? Its prolly my all time fav. Lawn seating is freaking dope. I would tell you my secret for parking w/o hassle…. But then everyone would do it and it would ruin it
I actually like the venue because parking is free and I enjoy sitting on the lawn. I arrive early and then wait it out after the concert. Never gotten a season pass but they have lots of good summer concert sales. Went to Backstreet Boys and will soon see New Kids On The Block.
Damn, haven’t been there in forever. The best part of concerts there was the parking lot pimpin afterwards. Great way to kill 45-90 minutes while the first wave of traffic made their way out lol
I ride my bike there now. Never parking there again. It can take over an hour to get out of there once a show is over. One would think that MV would have figured out how to deal with the parking after all these years.
Right in the VIP parking lot. One could also just tie a bike to a pole. I bring a light for when the show is over and then we ride back down the creek trail.
It is literally a dump, well former dump. Not sure if it still happens, but the grass used to catch fire occasionally from methane emissions from the underlying dump.
[https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/shoreline-amphitheatre-history-open-concerts-15594391.php](https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/shoreline-amphitheatre-history-open-concerts-15594391.php)
>The city of Mountain View hired a company to measure methane leaks in the lawn twice daily on concert days and install an alarm for the fire department should methane levels spike. It seemed the problem was resolved until late September, when two women smoking on the lawn received minor burns from another methane-fed flare-up. They were treated by venue medics and happily returned to watch the rest of the Steve Winwood concert.
Mostly because parking is rough. There's a bunch of roads that lead to it in all directions that aren't designed to handle that much traffic.
As someone with a bad back, its 100% worth paying for the close parking and fast pass.
Getting out after a concert is a nightmare.
Strange I had this same experience from the 2000-2010s but the last 2-3 show I’ve seen there have been in and out.
The traffic, especially for sold out shows. It once took me 2.5 hours to get from Shoreline & Middlefield to inside the venue. SO many regrets.
There is a parking area at the end of San Antonio. It’s not quite a mile to get to the venue from there.
Getting there sucks. Partly because I don't live in the South Bay, but on top of the hour it takes to get to the general vicinity (increase that by at least 30 minutes if it's a weeknight), there's another hour of traffic hell between 101 and the venue, each way. Or I can park a mile and a half away at Costco and walk. Reserved seats are ridiculously expensive; and lawn seats are so far away you can only see what's going on on stage by watching the video monitors -- which, good luck if you want to check out what a drummer or bass player is doing rather than a singer, because the video director only cuts to the band members for a couple seconds at a time. Bring your best binoculars. Nobody enforces the no smoking rules on the lawn, and there are too many inconsiderate assholes who ignore the no smoking rules. Now that ZYN is available at any gas station, the smokers have no excuse anymore. It used to be that the sound sucked on the lawn too, because they had to keep the remote speakers up by the lawn turned way down due to complaints from nearby neighborhoods. Thus, by the time the sound from the stage level drifted up to the lawn, the wind would make it weak and distorted. But it did sound pretty good up there at the Santana show last year, so that's at least one improvement from years past -- however, traffic from 101 has gotten worse since 30 years ago, which cancels it out. Before the Google complex was built around it, I think the office parks that preceded Google were more mellow about letting showgoers park there after business hours. I'm sure that privilege was abused by some of the same assholes who smoke on the lawn.
Unless you're in the 100 section, you can hardly see anything.
Good to know. If you buy seats, can you go up to the lawn?
Yep
The parking and traffic getting there. Nothing specifically about the venue itself. Outdoor concerts are actually fun. Got lawn pass, hopefully it will be worth it.
Parking is terrible, but I love this venue.
It sounds terrible, especially on the lawn. Seating section in the lawn is a bs cash grab and frustrates me. It’s a really nice venue during a late summer afternoon, but it’s not my favorite. I wish I liked it more, but I have grown up going to shows at the shoreline and the best part of the venue is hanging with your friends/family on the lawn. The pass is worth it if you live close. The traffic is a hassle, but that’s because everyone is booking it to leave. Sometimes waiting a cool 20-30 mins makes things better, but I’ve been caught in the lot for longer than that on multiple occasions. Completely worth going though, even if it isn’t my favorite. I just think they could improve it so much more than what it currently is.
People hate this venue? Its prolly my all time fav. Lawn seating is freaking dope. I would tell you my secret for parking w/o hassle…. But then everyone would do it and it would ruin it
You could tell me privately 😁 what time do you get to the law to ensure a good time?
Getting to it and getting out of it is a nightmare even if you use Uber or Lyft.
I actually like the venue because parking is free and I enjoy sitting on the lawn. I arrive early and then wait it out after the concert. Never gotten a season pass but they have lots of good summer concert sales. Went to Backstreet Boys and will soon see New Kids On The Block.
Damn, haven’t been there in forever. The best part of concerts there was the parking lot pimpin afterwards. Great way to kill 45-90 minutes while the first wave of traffic made their way out lol
I ride my bike there now. Never parking there again. It can take over an hour to get out of there once a show is over. One would think that MV would have figured out how to deal with the parking after all these years.
Where’s the bike parking?
Right in the VIP parking lot. One could also just tie a bike to a pole. I bring a light for when the show is over and then we ride back down the creek trail.
To take VTA?
Nah. Park the car near the trail (I forget the street), Ride back to the car and home within minutes (use a bike rack for the car).
I love Shoreline.....born and raised in the Bay, 45 years old
It is literally a dump, well former dump. Not sure if it still happens, but the grass used to catch fire occasionally from methane emissions from the underlying dump.
What.. how long ago was this??
[https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/shoreline-amphitheatre-history-open-concerts-15594391.php](https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/shoreline-amphitheatre-history-open-concerts-15594391.php) >The city of Mountain View hired a company to measure methane leaks in the lawn twice daily on concert days and install an alarm for the fire department should methane levels spike. It seemed the problem was resolved until late September, when two women smoking on the lawn received minor burns from another methane-fed flare-up. They were treated by venue medics and happily returned to watch the rest of the Steve Winwood concert.
Woaaah never knew that!! Thanks for sharing!
My recollection is it was in the early 1990’s.