Stadium vs. Arena Preference/Thoughts

[Ladle Ghoulash 26,759]

The sound systems at stadiums usually suck and there are usually quite a few seats with horrible views (also generally harder to control things like lighting). I love the idea of large outdoor venues, but in reality, I think the experience isn’t quite as good as an arena show 

[Alxjcgn 411]

1 minute ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

The sound systems at stadiums usually suck and there are usually quite a few seats with horrible views (also generally harder to control things like lighting). I love the idea of large outdoor venues, but in reality, I think the experience isn’t quite as good as an arena show 

Anytime I've been at a stadium I have spent the entire concert feeling like that photo of squidward squinting to see something haha, and yea the sound isn't as good or I'm never close enough. Outdoor venues are fun for certain types of shows! 

[BloodyM 1,271]

I'd love it if Gaga did an intimate tour in theatres and made it exclusive for fans only. I thought she would do something like that for ASIB, would have been sick!

[Idefix1999 104]

Arenas can allow a big production while still allow to have a bit of intimicy. In huge stadiums you end up looking at the screens for a lot of the time because the small people on the stage could be anyone...

And yes, stadiums would allow bigger crowds with less shows, but do you remember the opening of the Chromatica Ball in Paris or London compared to the dates, where it was dark? The light show is a big component of concerts these days and especially in Europe you would miss half of it because it gets dark so late. I saw P!nk last year and she started at 8 pm and when we left it still was sunset. The lights were recognizable for maybe the last 30 min.

[Ayesha Erotica 1,737]

Arena because it is more personal and stadiums are kinda distant and have Fifa Football feeling. If people are in the outer edge of stadiums, they often watch on the large screens because the center is so small - and I think in this case one could watch it as well from a cinema in 4k

Spoiler

As a kid I watched the series "Doug" and in one of the episodes they spoke about a concert and how he could see the corners of the stage with a long-distance-viewing-glass That gave me an aversion towards anything too big of an arena. I still rememba dat

Of course, smaller theaters are best and most personal but they are unrealistic because big stars don't perform there unless you are a Swiss millionaire and can book that

HOWEVER, in the early days of fame and stardomship, they performed in theaters and they weren't big compared to today's standards . Remember how ESC 1989 was in Lausanne in Palais de Beaulieu with less than 2000 seats

True that due to globalization, spread of English and rising world population that competes for tickets, prices will rise and stadiums will become more often the default choice and it will become untypical for the Gagas, Beyoncés and Rihannas of the 2040s to perform in arenas and there will be nostalgia for arenas

[Alxjcgn 411]

1 minute ago, BloodyM said:

I'd love it if Gaga did an intimate tour in theatres and made it exclusive for fans only. I thought she would do something like that for ASIB, would have been sick!

That would be amazing! I feel like she could do some type of lottery or fundraiser for BTWF as a way to offer seats! 

[Idefix1999 104]

2 minutes ago, BloodyM said:

I'd love it if Gaga did an intimate tour in theatres and made it exclusive for fans only. I thought she would do something like that for ASIB, would have been sick!

Like the theatre tour Madonna did for Madame X? 

I have always pictured a Harlequin Ball Tour which could have worked this way

[Alxjcgn 411]

Just now, Idefix1999 said:

Arenas can allow a big production while still allow to have a bit of intimicy. In huge stadiums you end up looking at the screens for a lot of the time because the small people on the stage could be anyone...

And yes, stadiums would allow bigger crowds with less shows, but do you remember the opening of the Chromatica Ball in Paris or London compared to the dates, where it was dark? The light show is a big component of concerts these days and especially in Europe you would miss half of it because it gets dark so late. I saw P!nk last year and she started at 8 pm and when we left it still was sunset. The lights were recognizable for maybe the last 30 min.

The opening of the MAYHEM ball, and so many other lighting details are way better because of the arena setup! 

[Ayesha Erotica 1,737]

7 minutes ago, Alxjcgn said:

Anytime I've been at a stadium I have spent the entire concert feeling like that photo of squidward squinting to see something haha, and yea the sound isn't as good or I'm never close enough. Outdoor venues are fun for certain types of shows! 

for reference:

best seats are first lane:

[Alxjcgn 411]

2 minutes ago, Ayesha Erotica said:

for reference:

best seats are first lane:

This does a scary good job of illustrating the experience I had seeing Green Day in a stadium haha 

[Psyduck 1,592]

Stadium mainly due to her health.

 

 

I wish she'd do Stadium+Arena in big cities instead of 4-5 arenas

Stadium for the GP, casuals

Arena for the fans

[BloodyM 1,271]

19 minutes ago, Idefix1999 said:

Like the theatre tour Madonna did for Madame X? 

I have always pictured a Harlequin Ball Tour which could have worked this way

yes!! that's what I thought she's do!!! 

[BloodyM 1,271]

21 minutes ago, Alxjcgn said:

That would be amazing! I feel like she could do some type of lottery or fundraiser for BTWF as a way to offer seats! 

that would be amazing! maybe in the future, even is she did this for Mayhem, acoustic version!!

[Taumaturg0 641]

Stadiums are the best choice in the long run, you can fit a higher number of attendants, ticket prices have a better range and fitting the same ammount of people (or more) with less dates is more sustianable for performers vocally and physically. Also, less dates in one place means you can tour more countries

[Taumaturg0 641]

54 minutes ago, Franch Toast said:

The main downside I see to stadiums is that fewer seats equals higher demand for tickets, thus driving up the prices. 

stadiums generally have a higher capacity than arenas though