Whats the deal with Chi-town???

jimminy · Post by **jimminy** » March 20, 2003 5:38 pm

Just wondering if JB is not as popular out in the midwest? I just moved out here from Boston and the shows out there were impossible to score tickets for. Out here, the show still hasn't sold out. Good news for me!

RumFan · Post by **RumFan** » March 20, 2003 5:56 pm

I think Jimmy's just as popular in Chicago as Boston, if not more so. Two of the main reasons the Thursday night show isn't sold out yet is I think people are holding out for the Saturday show there and the Saturday show at Alpine Valley, which isn't that far away. After those are sold out, and it'll probably take a matter of minutes for that to happen, I'm sure Thursday will go extremely fast.

Hoosier PH · Post by **Hoosier PH** » March 20, 2003 7:41 pm

Also the Chicago Tweeter seats 35,000 and Boston Tweeter seats 20,000 I think. As soon as Saturday is sold old, Thursday will sell out in a short time.

jbphan1 · Post by **jbphan1** » March 23, 2003 5:49 pm

What they said!!!! Don't move to Detroit!! He sold out in 1 1/2 minutes. Everyones bummed and scalpers are getting $100 for lawn seats (to start) Chicago is SO BIG and there are 3 shows for the people in that area. (Alpine) But he still sells out all of those shows

Key Lime Lee · Post by **Key Lime Lee** » March 23, 2003 6:29 pm

jbphan1 wrote:What they said!!!! Don't move to Detroit!! He sold out in 1 1/2 minutes. Everyones bummed and scalpers are getting $100 for lawn seats (to start) Chicago is SO BIG and there are 3 shows for the people in that area. (Alpine) But he still sells out all of those shows

one and a half minutes? Holy speeddial batman...

KeyLimin · Post by **KeyLimin** » March 23, 2003 7:30 pm

Yes, Lee, they were gone in about 1 1/2- 2 minutes.

In the past we usually have had at least a whole 6 or 7 minutes before they sold out.

jimminy.......although I have gone to the Chicago concerts and had a fabulous time, for multiple reasons many fans from the Chicago area prefer going to Alpine or elsewhere (if they can get tickets).

Assuming that Buffett isn't popular in the Midwest would be very inaccurate.

jimminy · Post by **jimminy** » March 24, 2003 1:32 pm

I'm surprised people don't snag as many tickets as they can for the first show just to make sure! Better to not get shut out altogether. However, I've heard that the Tweeter Center it a crappy place to see a show and you're much better off at Alpine Valley. This true?

ZeroDuval · Post by **ZeroDuval** » March 24, 2003 1:52 pm

I've been on both sides of the crappy/not crappy view of the Chi Tweeter Center.

Know they put major $$$$ into the sound system, but it still sounds poor from one show to the next and the parking lot tail-gateing rules seem to change year o year show to show.

But it is still JB and happy for that!

RumFan · Post by **RumFan** » March 24, 2003 1:57 pm

I definitely prefer Alpine over Chicago. The sound is better and the overall "experience" at Alpine can't be beat. Definitely well worth the drive...

jbphan1 · Post by **jbphan1** » March 24, 2003 8:06 pm

My friend and I will NEVER go back to Alpine. We ended up trading up to 4th row and the experience was a total disaster!!! Security was mostly 16 year olds who were slowly letting people in, frisking everyone because it was so cold that year. People were jammed up at the gate, packed like sardines with a cop on a horse crowding us closer together. My friend passed out just as soon as we got through the gates and I thought I was freak out cause of claustraphobia.
It didn't stop once we got in. Trying to make it down to the 4th row was another experience I don't ever want to go through. What a mass of chaos!!
Give me New World, even though the sound sucks in the 200 section, they know how to handle a crowd!!

todd_mon · Post by **todd_mon** » March 24, 2003 8:46 pm

I've been to both, Chicago many times, and I really prefer Chicago to Alpine Valley.

The view is miserable in many areas of Alpine, and the sound is even worse in some parts. It's also way too crowded (even for a concert) at Alpine. However, the tailgating is great there so if you want a great pre-concert experience Alpine is the place to go.

On the other side, Chicago has it's short-comings as well, but not as bad as Alpine. Overall, the sound has always been much better at Chicago. With the exception of the very top of the lawn, the view is also much better at Chicago. Tailgating rules in Chicago are usually "No tailgating", but I never had a problem hanging out and having drinks before the show. A great alternative to tailgating at the show is to find a bar, I know an excellent one in the city, and buy their package deal for the concert (ticket, bus ride to/from, drinks and pizza on the bus).

Just my opinion, and I'm done rambling. See anyone at the Vegas show next month?

Pirate slightly over 50 · March 25, 2003 9:00 am

todd mon What's the name of the bar. Sounds like a good deal.

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » March 25, 2003 1:04 pm

Alpine's been bery bery good to me.

Never been to the World Music Theatre (now Tweeter) - it's too far of a drive from up here by the IL-WI border, especially when all I've heard since it's been built is how bad the sound is. Almost went last year, and thinking of checking it out this year though - it's Jimmy after all!

Too bad they leveled Poplar Creek - had many a good time there!

All I can say is not to let one bad experience keep you away from Alpine. I've seen lots of shows there over the years, and usually have a great time. I've lived through a nightmare or two, and learned from my mistakes. Tailgating is great, but no matter how much fun you're having, don't wait too long to make the trek in, whether you've got pavilion or lawn seats.

I hope to meet some BNers this year![/b]

jimminy · Post by **jimminy** » April 3, 2003 5:28 pm

Any hotels near Alpine?

freddyfishstick · Post by **freddyfishstick** » April 3, 2003 5:54 pm

Tiki Bar wrote:Alpine's been bery bery good to me.

Never been to the World Music Theatre (now Tweeter) - it's too far of a drive from up here by the IL-WI border, especially when all I've heard since it's been built is how bad the sound is. Almost went last year, and thinking of checking it out this year though - it's Jimmy after all!

Too bad they leveled Poplar Creek - had many a good time there!

All I can say is not to let one bad experience keep you away from Alpine. I've seen lots of shows there over the years, and usually have a great time. I've lived through a nightmare or two, and learned from my mistakes. Tailgating is great, but no matter how much fun you're having, don't wait too long to make the trek in, whether you've got pavilion or lawn seats.

I hope to meet some BNers this year![/b]

Sniff, sniff, yes Tiki, I saw my first show at Poplar creek. Wow, some good times at that place! some I remember and some I don't LOL!

Elrod · Post by **Elrod** » April 3, 2003 8:16 pm

Been to Alpine and Chicago both.

Getting into the venue at Alpine last year convinced me to choose Chicago this year. What a nightmare!

nutmeg · Post by **nutmeg** » April 3, 2003 11:45 pm

I chose Chicago this year over Alpine. I agree with Elrod.

Organization at Alpine last year was non existent and the crush was so great I honestly thought that people were going to be badly injured. Their system is horrible. They would hold people back until the crowd burst through the lines and then hold them back again. People were just surging around trying to get in. LEAVE THE PARKING LOT VERY VERY EARLY! We gave it around an hour. That was NOT enough.

However, we did meet some great folks in the parking lot last year

Elrod, Angel Beech and ETP. I still can't believe we found them by walking around looking for Texas flag!

Chicago was very well organized. More places to enter. Form two lines, men and women. Get searched meet your mates and go on in. No need for pushing shoving, etc. Bathrooms were cleaner and more plentiful as well. I was at Chicago in fall of 2001. I didn't notice a great difference between the sound systems in Chicago and Alpine....

Even though we have relatives only 1/2 hour from Alpine, it will probably be a long time before I get the nerve to go there again....

Those going there this year, please post after and let us know if they have improved their crowd control.

ZeroDuval · Post by **ZeroDuval** » April 4, 2003 12:28 am

Hoosier PH wrote:Also the Chicago Tweeter seats 35,000 and Boston Tweeter seats 20,000 I think. As soon as Saturday is sold old, Thursday will sell out in a short time.

Exactly, pavillion sells out immediatly the lawn sell out after the Saturday show!

todd_mon · Post by **todd_mon** » April 7, 2003 7:54 pm

Cactus. The package deal was $75 last time I went, which was two years ago. Deal includes lawn ticket, bus ride to/from, beer & pizza on the bus, and a t-shirt.

The bus leaves from the bar in the Loop so if you live in the 'burbs it's probably not too convenient since it's usually midnight when the bus gets back to the Loop.

This deal sells out quickly, maybe a week, two weeks top so keep that in mind if you're interested.

Todd

ejr · Post by **ejr** » April 7, 2003 11:53 pm

My first Buffett concert was Alpine, and we were lucky enough to have second row seats (one section off the center). Tickets bought through the regular lottery. It was wonderful.

My next time at Alpine was horrific-the lack of control over the crowd trying to enter was frightening-I got separated from my group, and by the time I got to our seats I was so shaken by the "mob mentality" of the crowd, it took a few songs to recover.

I would have to think twice before going back.

Tinley has its faults, no doubt, but I hvae never been scared for my safety there!

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Whats the deal with Chi-town???

Whats the deal with Chi-town???

My take on both venues...

The name of the bar is...