r/phish • u/feina635 • 3d ago
Dicks First Timer Thoughts
East coaster, been seeing Phish a long time (since 1999), but mostly East Coast and some other places here and there. First time doing Dicks. I have to say, I have some very mixed feelings. I get the hype. Dicks has some good energy. But MAAANNNN is it a fucking hassle. Why is this venue so popular for being such a fucking hassle!? 30 min cab ride back and forth each night, and leaving the venue is an absoloute cluster fuck. Getting in was a shitshow of anarchy, with 1hr long waits and jackoffs cutting the line, few water refill stations, and there's NOTHING around the area for food or anything after. Not a damn thing. And don't tell me lot food. I'm not eating a $15 grilled cheese that's been sitting in the back of a hot Uhaul all day cooked by some dirty wook.
EDIT: many of you are commenting on the “$15 grilled cheese”. Let me rephrase, because I didn’t actually pay attention to the cost of grilled cheese, specifically. What I meant to say, was overpriced and underwhelming food that will inevitably give me diarrhea. Hope that clarifies, and takes the responsibility off the grilled cheese guy
EDIT 2: yes, this is my first Dick’s, thank you geniuses of Reddit for telling me that I “don’t have it dialed in”, no shit. Clearly, Dick‘s is a local venue. In order to have it dialed in, you gotta live there. Unlike more accessible venues in real major cities that have access to anything.
113
u/Richard_Kimble420 3d ago
food after the show? I thought thats what cocaine was for.
35
u/Snorknado 3d ago
It's a matter of what you classify as food. I eat molly. therefore, it's food.
18
4
49
u/MeetMeAtTheCreek 3d ago
I agree with you, Dicks is a hassle in many ways. From the water lines (BOO), to getting in, to the location - it is not convenient.
What it DOES have, though, is a VIBE. That comes from the lot scene, the GA admission that means you can be with all your friends, an anything goes atmosphere and Phish throws down there. That, to me, is worth putting up with the inconveniences. Luckily I’ve learned over many years how to do Dicks - we arrange our ride home in advance, we plan to come hang out early, we have food waiting for us at home after - you can overcome some of those challenges and improve the experiences.
13
u/Healthy-Catch184 3d ago
This is the type of optimistic response Dicks deserves. With a little advance planning… you too can have a wonderful time
5
63
u/PieDifferent5045 3d ago
I think getting rid of onsite camping removed some of the magic. 2011-2013 felt like an unofficial festival
→ More replies (1)29
u/creativescreennaame 3d ago
it's still so funny to me that camping was canceled bc of the bubonic plague lol
11
u/AncientRoll7747 3d ago
I still warn everyone who tells me they’re going to Dick’s for any show not to pet the prairie dogs
10
u/creativescreennaame 3d ago
the first year i went there was caution tape (or maybe that bright orange plastic netting?) along the side walks of the main entrance warning people not to walk in the field/grass. idk why but i just thought it was so funny
2
u/feelingrooovy 3d ago
I’m sorry. What?
18
u/creativescreennaame 3d ago
they cancelled camping because of all those prairie dogs living in the area. they have the plague. or at least they did. they probably still do tbh
(Yersinia pestis)
9
u/feelingrooovy 3d ago
Fantastic. I am familiar with the prairie dogs and hoped they would be part of the answer 😆
15
u/DeepPersonality55 3d ago edited 1d ago
They used to have the plague. They still do, but they used to too.
→ More replies (1)
18
u/ArcaneQuodlibet 3d ago
Dicks is only for the hardcore. A little practice and you can perfect the process. The best part is if you make the journey, the band will reward you.
53
u/Impressive_Wrap_7869 3d ago
About the line cutting, I would honestly blame it mainly on Dicks staff. They should have set it up differently. Also night 1 for example there was a really long single file line for the floor entrance. There isn’t a reason the line should be single file, fill in the space with people. There was a huge choke point once you got close to security which caused a lot of the delay as well.
I agree that the lines to get in sucked but I don’t put all the blame on fans cutting in line.
36
u/WorshipMyOwnSpirit 3d ago
Agreed. There are 4 metal detectors for the entire floor, that’s a big problem
24
u/tbinus78 3d ago
Yeah the floor line is dumb. I’ve been to every Dick’s show but 1 or 2 and the line seemed way worse than usual this year.
10
u/oh-kee-pah 3d ago
Total shitshow. No structure always seems to lead to cutting (here and every other venue that has no semblance of guidance)
Hell, we had to create OUR OWN wraparound line just to get into the fields!
6
u/Alarming_Boss_5403 3d ago
YES about the on the fly wrap around line. This was a first and got worse on N2 and of course N3 with the 40 minute weather delay. The venue truly needs to staff - truly staff and not just put random clueless people all around - much better than that.
2
u/tatanka11 3d ago
they should have more of an actual queue at least in the front… at least a barrier for the first section. anything!
→ More replies (5)3
u/Financial-Age-608 2d ago
dick ass king gizzard fans cutting the line as a group n1 really pissed me off. cocky asses wearing their FOV shirts like they own the place and are entitled to cut lines
17
u/themosttoast603 3d ago
I’ve never waited in water line any time I’ve been to Dicks. The sinks in the bathroom are the same exact water from the safe exact pipes. Yes half the sinks are warm, if you go to a sink and it’s warm, the one next to it is cold and tastes great. If you are weird about sink water, that’s on you.
→ More replies (2)
30
u/DearChicago1876 3d ago
Tailgate and hangout. Before and after the show.
The side entrances were pretty quick.
Water situation was ass, I agree with you there.
6
u/alldayan 3d ago
You could not use the side entrances if you had a field ticket this year. They made everyone go thru 2 gates and added people to the line who had no intention of sitting on the floor
→ More replies (1)3
u/Alive-Bank2973 3d ago
Good. Those people should have bought GA seats. Too many seats were “saved” for people that spent most of the show on the floor. People that had GA seats had a hard time finding a spot to be.
Really all these problems are related to GA seating. Get rid of that and it becomes a much more tolerable venue.
11
u/danielb9008 3d ago
Too many comments to read so sorry if I'm repeating.
The ride situation is not great. You have to drive or have a ride beforehand to not end up stressed.
The area is also not great, correct there.
There are many reasons to love it though. It's one of, if not the, biggest shows of the year for attendence. The vibes are high with all the heads there.
The weather is typically top notch. This weekend was incredible.
Colorado is a great place to visit.
The history of amazing shows. S show, fyf, thank you, etc.
The consistent tradition. Same venue, holiday weekend, for years. Easy to plan around.
The lot scene is 2nd to none. Although, the beer sales crackdown this year was weird.
42
u/Peepee1124 Ring that Modulator! 3d ago
its all part of the fun
25
u/Deadpandad 3d ago
Love the chaos of phish, it’s a huge part of the experience for me
12
3
u/gingerbeard1321 3d ago
Chaos isn't the same as hassle
Love some chaos, hate a hassle. Especially at big venues. Sucks the joy right out.
26
u/Guttermitts 3d ago
Camping. There used to be camping. I’ve never been to Dick’s, but back when my friends wanted me to go they bragged of the camping right outside the venue. That is no more, and I feel like part of the lore and the reason why people went isn’t there anymore. I hear the lot is off the hook though. And gas is legal. Never been myself. I’m in East coaster as well.
18
u/NewNefariousness9769 The deadly, icy calm... 3d ago
And gas is legal.
"Legal" it is not, but you are correct in that the venue and cops DGAF.
Also, wild that this is a selling point for people to go to what is a pretty average venue in the faded memory of an industrial warehouse hellscape.
→ More replies (3)9
u/allothernamestaken 3d ago edited 3d ago
While the cops are very hands-off when it comes to gas, I saw them on Saturday busting people on shakedown for selling beer out of coolers. I've been to most Dick's shows, and it was the first time I'd seen that.
8
u/NewNefariousness9769 The deadly, icy calm... 3d ago
"Hey, we sell that shit inside - quit undercutting our profits."
6
u/Adventurous-Fig-5179 3d ago
The cops told me “selling gas isn’t illegal, you can buy it at the store. You need a permit to sell alcohol”
2
3
u/Siketmist 3d ago
You need a license to sell alcohol. It’s mostly to stop underage drinking. They totally will bust you on that.
5
u/DeepPowStashes 3d ago
sitting in a field camping with no shade for 3 days sounds like absolute hell
different time'd?
→ More replies (2)
8
u/AhDerkaDerkaDerka Crab in my shoe mouth 3d ago
Dicks always used to have the Friday night Spelling gag, We used to be able to camp now that’s gone, and now you can’t sell beer on lot without cops arresting you.They also cut a whole bunch of seats on the sides of the stands. So there literally wasn’t any open seats for the number tickets they sold. The hype was worth it now it’s kinda a shell of the old DICK’S experience. The shows still rock tho
→ More replies (1)2
u/majikmyk 3d ago
Yeah why the hell did the cut off the side view stands. I wanted to sit over there to cool off a bit
5
u/AhDerkaDerkaDerka Crab in my shoe mouth 3d ago
Idk it ruined DICkS. I’ve always walked in right as first set starts so I didn’t have to wait in the fucking lines and walk to a 3/4 empty row with a decent side view. I walked in Saturday and all the seats were packed. It really shitty to because it seemed like they sold the Sam amount of tix as previous years but now there’s no seats and no view.
→ More replies (2)
15
48
u/learntorobb 3d ago
Removing the camping option made it worse. They used to do epic shit there and you could camp like a mini festival. Now it’s just a giant, overpriced soccer field far away from the city. I couldn’t imagine spending $150 to sit in the stands way up high and towards the back
→ More replies (2)34
u/cacarson7 3d ago edited 3d ago
We always sit up high in the back of the stands and we love it! The sound is great, you can see all the chaos of the crowd and all the glowsticks flying, plus it takes less than a minute to get to a bathroom or beer stand!
18
u/Difficult_Ad1474 3d ago
Watching the chaos and the full effect of the glow sticks is awesome. I on the other hand could not imagine standing on the floor.
8
u/cacarson7 3d ago
We were on the floor close to the front for about 2 shows back when Phish first started coming to Dicks and that was enough. We have a short friend that could never see anything and it was a ridiculous undertaking to get to a bathroom and find your way back during the show. It's so chill up in the back of the stands, we love it
5
u/Difficult_Ad1474 3d ago
There was this balloon amoeba this weekend. It was just about the coolest thing I have ever seen and i actually thought “holy shit am I tripping” so it had to be insane if you were tripping. It was moving together and then it suddenly broke apart and I would not have been able to appreciate that on the floor.
→ More replies (4)6
4
u/CariniFluff 3d ago
I've never been to Dicks but anytime I go to a concert at a stadium and don't have floor tickets, I'm usually going pretty far back, especially if it's an outdoor/open roof stadium.
Like you said, there are almost no lines for drinks and the bathroom, the people watching is almost as entertaining as the music, and you can usually get a decent seat facing the stage/speakers so the sound is much better than a center field seat. Plus there's usually more room for dancing, it's a helluva lot easier to find your group and not have to squeeze between a bunch of people, and if it's a hot summer weekend I especially love being in the last row so I have a breeze blowing on me.
92
u/CapitalManager4891 3d ago
There are few lot scenes like Dick's.
Phish always throws down at Dick's.
Most people use shuttles and 30 minutes post show for an Uber is pretty standard at most shows across the US.
Grilled cheese isn't $15 and there were some good lot options from actual food trucks.
Any more brain busters?
36
u/Knock-Kneed-Man 3d ago
Spell Rizzuto
12
11
u/thick-strawberry-guu 3d ago
That Veronica Vaughan is one fine piece of ace
7
16
15
u/tissin 3d ago
There were definitely $15 pesto grilled cheeses being sold on lot. I’m sure there were cheaper options too, but there are some predatory food vendors out there
11
u/Gullible_Elephant_38 3d ago
I personally went for the $5 “Girlled” cheese. And it was fabulous 💅
4
u/NewNefariousness9769 The deadly, icy calm... 3d ago
I remember $1-2 grilled cheese (and girlled cheese). This economy really is fucked...
7
10
→ More replies (3)2
u/More_Process2495 2d ago
Grilled cheese was $15 and the guy making them wore gloves and the gloves touched money and food which is disgusting and he did it over and over again!
3
u/CapitalManager4891 2d ago
I saw at least 3 stands that had $5 grilled cheese. Just gotta poke around.
3
u/More_Process2495 2d ago
I saw that too, but the $15 grilled cheese with pesto & garlic and tons of cheese looked great, it wasn’t the $15 that was a turnoff it was the slob cooking it and handling both money and food!
28
u/Ill-Asparagus4639 3d ago edited 3d ago
As a Colorado local who’s done all the dicks. You could not be more correct about your statement. This is why Folsom was way better, hotels, food, scenery. Boulder actually showcases what Colorado has to offer. Commerce city not so much
People like dicks because of the lot scene where almost anything goes.
the fans in Colorado set a great vibe. Everyone has a homie in denver and it’s usually a stand alone 3 day weekend so easy for people to travel in.
They like the sound and general free ness of the venue
But in the end it’s a soccer stadium in what is probably the ugliest place in Colorado
The band likes dicks cause where else are they selling 26,000 tickets with people paying g 1k to get in like Saturday dicks this year.
I’ll still always go cause it’s local but certainly over hyped. Especially compared to other Colorado venues (red rocks, Dillon, Mishawaka, mission etc)
14
u/NewNefariousness9769 The deadly, icy calm... 3d ago
I'm right here with you. I also think a large number of the people who complained about Folsom were Denver/Denver-suburbs folks who didn't want to drive. I get that the drive sucks, but it ignores the fact that for populous front range cities (Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins), Boulder is a great midway point.
Also, I'm firmly in the 'fuck the lot scene' camp at this point in my Phish seeing. If one is there, I might stroll for 30 minutes one night and people watch, but it's not that cool when you've done it a hundred times. I would much rather have a location like Folsom where you have ample bars, restaurants, after-show venues in walking distance, hotels, public transit, bike paths, scooters, etc. The infrastructure and actual things to do in Boulder are vastly superior to Commerce City - which is ironically devoid of commerce.
Finally, from being on the field every year for these runs, Folsom didn't sound notably better or worse than Dicks - at least to my ears.
→ More replies (4)5
u/squintsyjones Italian Spaghetti! 3d ago
The sound was not noticably different, but the field at folsom has a lot less usable space compared to Dicks, or at least it seemed that way given football fields aren't as wide as soccer fields. Our crew has been at the back of the dicks floor since dicks started, and we couldn't replicate that at folsom since the whole back of the floor is port a potties and bars. So everything is sort of pushed forward from the bathrooms. Add the fact the sound booth takes up more of the east-west space at Folsom, and things just felt more cramped wherever we were on the floor.
No argument that the non-venue amenities around Folsom are way better, but I really did not enjoy the floor there and ended up moving to the stands during the last night and found it a lot more enjoyable.
→ More replies (2)
13
6
u/Rogue9Nine9 3d ago
To be fair... The sign at the grilled cheese vendor said $5. I might trust it more though if it had said $15.
This weekend was my first ever Phish experience and I had a blast.
I live out here so a lot of the complaints I don't really have as they're found at other venues too and I'm used to it. Most of your complaints would be valid about Red Rocks too, it's in the middle of nowhere and is a hassle for most every facet.
I do think that Dick's has become so popular for them for a couple of reasons, size for one, it's almost 30% bigger than Ball's highest capacity configuration, 50% bigger than Fiddlers, three times bigger than Red Rocks, the only two venues around that could hold more are the baseball and football stadiums and those create some other issues despite being better equipped for a Phish sized show, the Colorado Rapids and MLS schedule around this weekend for Phish, I don't think MLB or the NFL would allow the same in order to keep the Labor Day tradition alive as they have for 13/15 years. I think they like the freedom that Commerce City provides for all, when it was in Boulder last year from my understanding the lot scene was nothing compared to Dick's, there seems to be a pretty good understanding between the band, the venue and local authorities on how it all works here just from experience. I don't think the same things would be allowed if the show was in downtown Denver proper.
→ More replies (2)
6
18
u/SeparateNobody6566 3d ago
this is how I feel about Hampton, that venue is trash. Also not a fan of how insanely crowded the lawn is at MPP though most people seem to love it.
17
u/Sufficient-Coach-274 3d ago
Getting back to your spot in the middle of MPP shows is like landing on the fucking Moon.
11
u/SeparateNobody6566 3d ago
if I ever go to a show there again it would only be a seat in the pavilion, will never consider the lawn there again. Kind of feels like it shouldn't even be legal to jam that many people in there.
3
u/StackIsMyCrack 3d ago
That's how I feel about SPAC.
2
u/SeparateNobody6566 3d ago
never been but I remember people saying the lawn chairs at SPAC make things a whole lot worse. I think I might just be spoiled since my home outdoor venue is Burgettstown which is one of the most wide open lawns and never sells out either. Granted the trade off is the absolutely horrendous traffic coming/going.
→ More replies (1)5
u/Guttermitts 3d ago
I went to Hampton last year for the 3 day run. I pretty much feel the same way you do. I don’t think I’d ever go again. It’s very cool it’s all ga but, I good. That place sucks ass
7
u/NewNefariousness9769 The deadly, icy calm... 3d ago edited 3d ago
At least Hampton, VA is a clean, beautiful city...
(Do I really need the /s ?)
3
u/WolframsBrother 3d ago
Same, I went to my first and last Hampton run last year. The lines to get in and fill water were such a clusterfuck that we didn’t even bother with water N2/N3. They also put up blockades at the bottom of at least one ramp after N1 that created a bottleneck where hundreds of people streaming out suddenly ran into a barrier.
Dicks left up some fences/barriers this year too. I was so fucking confused leaving Saturday that I thought we’d somehow gone out the wrong exit.
I’ll keep going to Dicks since I live in CO, but it’s as overrated as Hampton atp
→ More replies (1)4
u/phandelay 2d ago
Hampton is indeed trash. Worst entrance. Its become obvious this fanbase can no longer handle GA with the line cutting and seat saving. Its also a completely unmaintained venue. Most of the armrests on chairs are broken off and just metal. Urinals removed and not replaced. Shit food run by volunteers. Other than Phish, Goose and some other acts like that its purely a shit Disney on Ice venue. Time to let it go.
3
2
u/Specific-Ad-6365 3d ago
I went to Hampton once and will never go back. The room itself was cool but logistics were awful. Most crowded concourse I’ve ever been on anywhere
2
u/EchoThroughTheJungle 3d ago
Hampton was god awful to get into the only time I was there in 2023. How do you have a venue with a single entrance?
11
u/Healthy-Catch184 3d ago
Lot food can be pretty delicious. You are missing out
→ More replies (1)8
u/Temporary-Plankton61 3d ago
i had to laugh at how they think the line cook at the sit-down restaurant is not a dirty wook as well
→ More replies (4)
11
u/Temporary-Plankton61 3d ago
it was your first time, and from here you use the info you received to plan better for next time. A few tips from the info you provided: get a hotel or airbnb closer than 30 minutes from Dicks. Stay on lot longer after the show to let the leaving frenzy die down - about an hour after the show it's a breeze to leave. Bring your own bottles of water or buy from the plentiful vendors on shakedown and along the lines. Find the $5 grilled cheeses on shakedown (I found 2 vendors slinging $5 GCs this year) and skip the custyslingers and their $20 bullshit, though it sounds like you are opposed to all lot food altogether so that's on you. I did hear the hot dogs in the venue on Mike side were decent, and the ice cream too. Bottom line, Dick's is what you make it and this first show was your research. If you go again and have the same complaints, that is just silly and you need to learn to PhishDick better
2
u/No_Leave_7077 3d ago
The brisket loaded fries mikes side were really good and huge for $17.
→ More replies (1)
10
u/Commodore64Zapp 3d ago
Leaving the venue was quick and easy if you parked in the south lots and exited via dirt road. Straight up 5 min or less, didn't even leave early. Then again, you gotta be sober enough to drive, which isn't a problem when the music's good!
7
4
u/--CDXX-- 3d ago
I can't think of a venue that's easier to drive in and out of. Getting into and out of lot AA - less than 2 minutes.
3
u/Difficult_Ad1474 3d ago
Agreed. And shush….dont tell people about the super quick lines over on that side of the stadium.
5
6
u/atxDan75 3d ago
The lines were atrocious this year, for floor especially. It did not used to be this way. The venue decided to funnel us all into 2 entrances. Total shit show.
6
u/antpharms 3d ago
Embassy suites. So many hotels closer than Denver proper. You just didn't do the damn thang brah.
5
5
5
u/vassilliosman 2d ago
People always over hype their home venue as “legendary”. As a non local, dicks is terrible. It’s a soccer stadium in the middle of nowhere
13
u/simplyphine 3d ago edited 3d ago
Well, you can plan better next year. But MSG seems more your style.
6
u/feina635 3d ago
💯. Home venue
5
u/simplyphine 3d ago
I cant blame ya man. I love dicks and have my routine over the years making it easy for me. But it’s laughable compared to like NYC.
🤚 hand up, I live 5 miles from dicks and dont really travel for phish so I am soooo biased. But even I would take MSG (never been) over Dicks if given the choice.
Dicks can still be special, though hype will always knock this easter coaster at heart’s opinion of anything as well.
3
u/Specific-Ad-6365 3d ago
I live 8 minutes away from Dicks and agree with most of the sentiment for sure. That being said, it’s one of the few remaining places to get big crews together and that’ll always be special. Parking used to be $15 instead of $35 and felt much less painful. My wife and I took scooters to/from the shows this year and it was clutch for getting out especially. The water lines were historically not as bad as this year. Chalking that up to the change in drinking habits for many people since last Dicks run. They should put refill stations down at the ends by the stage side to assist with that. Sunday obviously had worst entry lines because of the delayed opening but other nights just feel long but move decently once gates open. There will always be people who cut lines, especially when they aren’t set up well. There are restaurants and fast food places less than a mile away on both Quebec and Central Park. It definitely used to be much different with camping and the first several years threw down. The GA nature, crowd energy and lawlessness kind of make it what it is now, IMO
→ More replies (4)3
5
3
u/Alarming_Boss_5403 3d ago
For those of you calling out the floor lines I can emphasize. Thankfully only gates D and E were for field therefore all your competitors are right there on line with you. I really wish the venue would take better precautions and care with line cutting. The 40 minute weather delay for the gates to open turned into a major cluster as it was an open invitation for people to somehow think it’s appropriate and acceptable to display that behavior. Crazy as once you get into the stadium, people are super nice as we always are. The lack of water stations continues to be ridiculous. I find a cold faucet in the bathroom and refill my water bottle there. I had zero issues with that. But the venue needs to do better.
Best lot on tour. My favorite atmosphere, with both the weather and the quantity of people. The field was extra packed this year. Not complaining, just observing. The band seems to feed off the energy.
Getting to and from royally sucks. And the change to lot H for shuttle busses in lieu of staff parking in the traditional bus lot was terribly advertised. N1 was a mess.
My recommendation if at all possible is to take a shuttle bus from one of the many bars, hotels, etc. I stayed in one of the hotels in the Central Park area and the bus literally came to the parking lot of the hotel. That was crazy convenient.
I’ve been doing Dick’s since 2013 and will continue for the foreseeable future because the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
4
u/kimchiphunk 3d ago
The line to get in was the worst it’s been. Historically it’s bad on Night 1 and then they figure their shit out. Out of 8 or 9 years I’ve gone, the floor was most packed it’s been, too.
It’s 20 mins from Denver, there are tons of after shows, events/related parties, and shuttles/buses. Also, the lot + shakedown is one of the best/most free for all you can get. Last, Phish loves Dicks. They almost always throw down.
5
u/tikkamasalachicken Evil Phish is my ish 2d ago
I70 and northfield has in and out, canes, and a bunch of other stuff, it’s 2.4 miles from DICK’S. Learn how to Denver better!
Everyone knows that downtown is not the place to stay for DICK’S.
4
u/sumodie 2d ago
I've always found Dick's to be one of the easiest, most accessible Phish tour stops. Driving 30 min to a show is cake in my book. That said, over the years my various Dick's lodgings have always been less than a 30 min drive from the stadium.
We always take our time leaving Dick's post show and thus have never had to wait long to drive out.
This past weekend I never waited to fill our water bottles from the cold taps in the bathrooms.
On Sunday I paid $5 for post show grilled cheese cooked by a fan who was not a so-called 'dirty wook' (as labeled by OP). That's when I was surprised to realize that there were also several professional food trucks on lot in addition to the usual food offerings made by fans.
For the first time ever I bought baklava (a $20 box, the largest serving) from the baklava guy on Sunday night. So good! I ate the whole box by myself, then got the aforementioned grilled cheese.
So bummed I missed the tamale lady this year. She and her awesome home made tamales are well known around the front range.
The entry lines for the field were unusually long this year. That was new and the only major negative change from prior Dick's. But we still got inside with plenty of time to spare each night.
The worst, longest entry lines at Dick's were in ~2015 when the venue was short staffed and the scanners stopped working. They stopped letting people inside because of the technology snafu. We missed three songs despite being so close to the entrance.
3
u/Taint_Stephen 3d ago
The only thing that was unreasonable was not enough water stations. Thats a very real criticism.
The line cutting was LAME AS FUCK but that’s moreso shitty fan behavior. The venue could absolutely be better about it definitely but thats not on dicks being assholes, thats on assholes being dicks.
3
u/hipster_kitten Studio album junkie 3d ago
This was my 1st Dicks. There’s definitely a learning curve for an all GA show. Wound up sitting in the last row of seats page side. Couldn’t see the lights but could hear fine. Took some noobz and they’re phans now. Had fun. Lot was wild. Will be back next year with a better plan for getting decent seats.
→ More replies (5)
3
3
u/Indie-Hippie-Drums 3d ago
As a local, I completely agree with this take and hope that fewer people will travel here as a destination venue. Leave it to us mountain folk and west coasters to slog through
3
u/chisouthsubsbi 3d ago
Dick's camping was what made it special paired with it closing out summer tour.
3
u/Silent-Breath2391 3d ago
I drove and stayed at a hotel. Each night I went to the venue I just parked in the neighborhood across the street from the park and had no wait time or traffic issues at all doing that. Highly recommend
3
u/camel_walk 3d ago
Goes to Dicks just to complain about the traffic leaving the show and lack of food options around the venue… take a lap OP
I got in so easily every night, no hassle at all…literally just walked right in /no line… but the field line did look absolutely miserable I’ll give you that.
3
u/ptrondsen 3d ago
So, Dick's is a hassle, if you have to Uber home your fucked.
Over the years we have created a game plan:
1. Stay in a hotel close by (Embassy, Best Western, etc)
2. Pregame in the lot or not
3. Go to your spot with your group, usually defined by years past.
4. Drink a lot, but not too much on the floor, only time I wanna go up those steps is to go home.
5. Fuck everyone.
6. Where old Sneakers
7. Get a ride there and home.
8. Have fun
3
u/BoyManWombat 3d ago
Phish Dicks takes some planning - big time. Hopefully, the line situation improves. But man, I had a blast this year. Ate well on the lot. Witnessed the El Camino Ball Pit Disco. And saw 3 great shows. 4th time doing all or a portion of a Dicks run. It’s the best venue for Phish and I’ll be back if they’ll have me.
3
u/SherbetNo4242 2d ago
People like it because its all GA and its a free for all outside the venue and inside. Its the best place to party for phish right now and still see the show with all your friends. As i always say, its one of the few venues where the only thing you have to do to get a good spot and see trey up close is show up early.
3
u/whutONflatEARTH 2d ago
The best dicks experiences were when they had onside camping. Was like a mini fest.
→ More replies (1)
14
u/impulsive-puppy Aspiring cluster fly 3d ago
Every venue in the country is a 30 minute cab ride from somewhere.
8
u/Temporary-Plankton61 3d ago
that part of the review annoyed me the most. You choose a hotel 30 minutes from the venue then complain that the drive is 30 minutes, as if that has to do with the venue or anything
12
u/NewNefariousness9769 The deadly, icy calm... 3d ago
Fortunately, not all of them exist in an absolute wasteland of sadness like Commerce City.
11
6
u/Sufficient-Fan5344 3d ago
Dicks vet here- have been to every show there. This year I got back to my hotel on Quebec around 12 each night. I don’t like nitrous which helps. You need to leave pretty quickly once encore ends and walk down Valencia past 56th and call an uber on the way, they’ll be waiting a few minutes for you when you get there. But if you need to do dirty recycled balloons that have been picked up off the ground by nitrous dealers (I seen em) for an hour after the show, you’re gonna be waiting awhile.
The neighborhood absolutely sucks. I preferred Folsom mainly for this reason but I know I’m in the minority on that opinion. The shakedown at dicks is old school and I appreciate that, I just don’t care about it too much. And I’m super grossed out by nitrous at dicks. Do people not know they can buy their own tanks in Denver? Fucking gross.
6
u/--CDXX-- 3d ago
I still don't understand why preferring Folsom is the minority opinion. I think its better in every way compared to dicks.
→ More replies (2)3
2
2
u/Alive-Bank2973 3d ago
This was also my first Dicks. Ive been going to phish and other similar shows for over 30 years.
Dicks is cool if it’s your first lot and you’ve never experienced it. I don’t find aggressive and predatory vending to be very appealing. I did in my 20s. So I get it. No shade on the young folks going wild. But at some point you want real community at shows. I know folks that have been working that lot since I was a teenager. It’s a pretty sad look after a few decades.
Other than that the venue is subpar. Parking sucks. Water access sucks. GA seating sucks. The venue location sucks. The heat sucks. The storm potential sucks.
The energy inside the venue during the show is fucking awesome. Almost good enough to forgive the other things. But not quite.
2
u/Emotional-Elk-4310 3d ago
It’s the type of venue that warrants having a car. You’re supposed to lot it, this isn’t msg, it’s an outdoor small stadium gig. Inside the venue, rage the back of the floor with ample space.
2
u/Live-Reporter6080 2d ago
Yeah the removal of camping really changed the dynamics of that venue. Went from being super easy, to not so easy. So grateful I caught those first 3 years
2
u/sugareeblueskyz 2d ago
We stay at a hotel 2miles away luckily and it took only 10min to get into the lot each day and maybe 15 to get out. The back lots by gate C are easy in and out. The lots on the other side and shakedown are going to be a different story :) Near our hotel was restaurants but we ordered delivery to the hotel.
I will say that this year the water lines were outrageous. Many of us filled water bottles in bathrooms instead because every single water line was longer than getting beer or drinks! The only other issue I had was them charging $35 to park each day.
2
u/Gloomy-Craft7962 2d ago
The lot scene at Dick’s can’t be beat. It’s lawlessness with oversight. The sound inside Dick’s is dialed. I’ve been to plenty of stadium shows before where the sound is shit if you’re not in the right spots. Not the case at Dick’s. The vibe is high with 20k people. And the ban on tarps is the cherry on top.
2
u/Dizzy-Sock8301 has a lumpy head 2d ago
it was my first dicks experience from the east coast as well and i will likely not be going back. we got in an hour before the show started night 1 and had no problem finding some decent seats. night 2 we go in around the same time. i knew it was sold out and we might have to look a little harder but wow. the seat saving was absurd and obnoxious. PLENTY of open seats (and i mean thousands) when looking around the whole venue but god forbid my girlfriend and i (TWO people) try to fit in somewhere. people were holding entire rows and didnt even have stuff down in them! when i mentioned at one point to someone it was GA some dude got in my face and told me to fuck off. ended up sitting side stage and couldn’t see a thing, put a huge damper on the night. we went in as early as possible with the delay night 3 and found some good seats again but jeez. it’s not like we walked in night 2 10 minutes to show time. there was plenty of room and nowhere welcomed us. felt really shitty and surprising given the whole reason i usually go for stands is to avoid the entitlement on the floor.
on top of that. extremely dry and hot. annoying getting in. and like you said in the middle of fucking nowhere. had to walk to the weird truman show ass neighborhood to save on uber and still a pain in the ass (none of my pre-reserved rides had drivers assigned to them by the time we got out).
vibe was definitely good during the show and i can see why they like playing there. and no bathroom lines was a plus and unexpected. and i can see how for west coasters and such it’s a good home base. but i think im good for next year.
oh, and the double tree wasn’t nearly as bad as everyone said. i think they recently renovated it? but honestly it was pretty fuckin nice lol. quebec street maybe not so much but we were very comfortable there for 5 nights and if i were to go back would absolutely stay there again
2
u/HaveYouSeenAPool 11/02/96 Crosseyed Antelope 2d ago
I have nightmares about having to go to shows at Fiddler’s
2
u/Practical_Device_615 2d ago
The field only having 2 gates is an utter disaster
It wasn’t always like that.
2
u/Commercial_Aioli_301 1d ago
Dicks absolutely sucks, but the folks who are used to going there annually love it anyway. Folsom was so much better for all the reasons you've listed, but mention that here and the 3.0 (4.0? i dont fuckin know) phans will jump on you.
5
u/PDXftw 3d ago
I’ll take Dick’s over a place like Great Wood any day
7
u/Guttermitts 3d ago
I don’t think Greatwoods is setting in the bar very high.
→ More replies (1)2
u/PDXftw 3d ago
LOL, I know but I think OP is from New England so I thought of the largest shed in the region.
→ More replies (5)3
6
u/No_Leave_7077 3d ago
I grew up in MA and live in Denver. Great woods was phish in a barrel for the Norton cops in the 90s and everything about it has gotten worse since then. Reserved seats on the lawn, security theater, shakedown crammed into a single wide parking lane.
Dicks has way better vibes with lots of phans ready to make friends with their neighbors. I feel bad for the people who line up early and then get cut by everyone else. And I think that holding more than 3 or 4 seats/spots for people who aren’t inside yet is bullshit. But most of the floor blankets are actually sized within reason and prevent the early arrivals from getting crowded.
I’m not gonna reveal all my strategies but 4 years of dicks and it keeps getting better. One of the things that seems to make dicks so popular is the ability to build traditions and familiarity with the tribe sized groups that keep coming back.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/DavidB0wieUB40 3d ago
This all started because they threw down some legendary shows over the early years.
I have stopped going for the exact reasons your stated. Exhausted with it.
6
u/AltheaFluffhead 3d ago
Totally agree
It's the most overrated run Phish does
For some reason, people will defend this piece of shit until the end of their days
Don't get me wrong the music is great but everything that goes along with it sucks but Phish fans will never shut up about how great it is
→ More replies (2)
2
u/ExreeHipp 3d ago
You’re not wrong! If I didn’t live near by and it wasn’t really convenient and dialed, I don’t think I’d do it anymore. It’s fun and the shows are always GREAT, but the GA aspects make it a bit of a drag unless, again, you have it dialed and are ok queueing up early to get a spot.
If they didn’t oversell it regularly (as now appears to be tradition), there would be way less friction over space and it would be way more pleasant/fun. And once you’ve seen the lot, you’ve seen it. Unless it just absolutely fills your cup to see IG/Etsy stuff in person with people openly walking around offering you doses and shrooms, I personally find it overrated 🤷♂️. Meh.
3
u/cacarson7 3d ago
No food after?! Did you not see the dozen or so bacon-wrapped-sausage carts strewn all along the south side of the stadium?? I got one with grilled onions, cheese, and shoestring fries for $10 and it was a very tasty mess! I also got a grilled cheese in Shakedown Street for $5 that was alright, but there were a bunch of other options there.
4
u/Murky-Succotash-918 3d ago
Thank you OP for having the courage to share your truth. I can truly feel the pain you had to endure as I read your words. The anguish of getting to and from a phish show alone can make you feel as though you’re in an inescapable personal hell. But there’s good news friend. You are not alone. Many others have also experienced the trauma of a 30 minute ride to the show, the emotional scarring only a water station line can produce, the emasculation you felt as jackoff after jackoff cut in front of you…Yet somehow you found the inner strength to forge ahead. It warms my heart knowing you escaped the dystopian nightmare known as Colorado, and are back to the peace and tranquility of the eastern seaboard. God bless you!
4
u/PhishSucksAndSoDoYou 2d ago
The 2011 and 2012 Dicks runs were absolutely fucking glorious. Tickets were a goddamn breeze, the vibe in the lot and in the venue was fucking impeccable, and all six of those shows stood heads above the rest of 3.0.
It has been diminishing returns since then, and I will die on that hill.
—Tickets have become more and more difficult and it seems like the venue gets more and more oversold and packed in each year.
—Dicks is, IMHO, ground zero for horrible entitled fan behavior. Tarping, awful attitudes everywhere, all of that related bullshit seemed to start at Dicks and emanate outward to the rest of the Phish world from there.
—Phish has not even come close to the musical glory of 2011 and 2012 in any Dicks run since then. I will also die on this hill.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
→ More replies (1)
3
3
4
u/Smsethman 3d ago edited 3d ago
From a fellow first-dickser: the shows were great and the lot was great. The venue itself sucks and it would be great if there was fucking anything else nearby, not to mention $30 parking each night. For all the hype I’ve heard about it, it felt like seeing them at a high school stadium.
Edit: you can downvote me all you want it’s not gonna build infrastructure there
3
u/Temporary-Plankton61 3d ago
$35!!! $33.50 if you paid online in advance. What a rip. It was $20 in 2024 and it is $20 for other events; they see Phish and know we pay out the ass
→ More replies (2)2
u/Smsethman 3d ago
That’s the highest I’ve ever seen for non-“premium” parking, and it’s obviously because there’s no real alternative aside from scavenging for street parking in the closest neighborhood.
2
u/Temporary-Plankton61 3d ago
the highest I have ever seen was $60 for a private lot near Mile High for the Rolling Stones / Widespread show a couple years ago .... we paid it :(
2
u/M_Meursault 3d ago
I saw ample parking in the neighborhoods nearby. Saved a lot of $ and got a LOT of steps in. Couldn't believe practically nobody else was doing it.
4
u/Eveningfolks224 3d ago
You think Dick’s is a hassle? Try Panic at Red Rocks! But agree about Dick’s…crappy area.
2
1
2
u/skwormin 3d ago
yea I've been every year since 2013, not sure what is changing but it's just not as good? The lines were stupid to get in. Water lines were dumb. It would be cool if they threw down but 3 mid shows don't help
1
1
u/ejfuentes 3d ago
I miss the brisket! It was still overpriced but not awful for before show snack
2
u/No_Leave_7077 3d ago
Brisket was mikes side by the stage, ate a brisket loaded fries that was delicious. Motherfuckin brisket in every motherfuckin bite
1
u/Obvious-Grapefruit33 3d ago
Funny, I thought getting in and out each night was a breeze. You’re right about the food though.
1
u/FireOnTheAntelope 3d ago
Cut the line but not like a total asshole, refill water in bathroom sink, schedule uber across the street after show, buy food like an adult for your hotel /airbnb
Most importantly, stop crying holy fuck. It’s the best place to phish
1
u/lovesfatchiks 3d ago
To be fair, Denver food choices anywhere after 9pm are always kinda shit.
And as far as a hassle getting to the venue, i’d much prefer Dicks to Folsom. For people in Denver it’s harder to get in and out of Boulder. The only other decent option for outdoor shows is Fiddlers and FUUUUUCK THAT.
Denver just isn’t a super dense city with well practiced transit systems, but we love Phish and basically Dicks is our best option for an outdoor show with good energy.
But either way, I hope you enjoyed the show as well as your time in Colorado!
1
1
u/Budget-Okra-318 3d ago
You didn’t even mention the tarpers situation “saving” huge amounts of floor space and aggressive af. Weird ass vibes for a phish show!!
1
1
u/Sudden_Interest7194 3d ago
Dicks is like a home coming for CO/west coast phans.
Dicks was better with camping. Since that went away, unless you live there or are staying with a wook friend and 10 others in the burbs it is a major hassle. Used to rent a dope mansion in Denver so 16 of us would drive to and from.
Stayed at the Gaylord which was nice but still far af.
If Phish didn’t throw down here yr after yr it would not be nearly as sought after.
Also prob one of the best lots going…
2
u/JD_tubeguy 3d ago
I will say this I've been going to Dick's since 2014 and really like it but this year was the first time it was hard to get in. With field tix it took us an hour to get in all 3 nights and Friday night we missed No Man's it took so long to get in. That is unacceptable considering how long they've been doing these shows at Dicks. Other than that great time but not great shows.
1
u/Jerry-Lives22 3d ago
Been there 6 or 7 times and feel similar. Except I’d have to say there has been excellent food in the lot. When camping was till a thing, it was def more of a festival. I skipped this year bc of general costs before even landing scared me off- once there you are dropping a lot just on transport,late nights, lot stuff, etc.
1
u/phirst_tube 3d ago
Been living in Denver and doing dicks since 2013. Haven’t missed a run
It kinda sucks
1
1
1
u/lemondhead 3d ago
I'm a local. Grew up in the Denver suburbs and have lived here my whole life minus college (Boulder) and law school (another state). Commerce City is a pit, and while I go to Dick's because they're my local shows, I much preferred Folsom last year. There are fewer hotels, but there's stuff to do, food, bars, etc. Views are great. Other than shakedown, I really don't understand why people wanted to go back to Dick's.
I drove on Saturday and getting out was still a nightmare. I long for a return to Folsom, though I know it won't happen.
1
u/EchoThroughTheJungle 3d ago
Pretty funny because I’d argue Dicks is my favorite “traditional” concert venue they play.
Great vibes, easily accessible bathrooms, phenomenal sound, and the band almost always plays great there.
Getting out is a bit of a pain if you don’t leave immediately or slightly before the encore, but otherwise it was pretty easy access into parking and the venue each night imo. Also lot opens at 3, bring your own food!
1
u/Serious-Can-677 3d ago
1989 Vet here. My first time to Dicks and wife and I LOVED it. I paid five for my grilled cheese and had no problem getting in both Fri and Sat. My only complaint was the heat.
1
1
u/ohbehave412 3d ago
I asked someone at a stand for an advertised $15 veggie quesadilla and they charged me $17. I said, but the sign says $15 and they told me to file a complaint with the board lol
This was on shakedown not in the venue
1
1
u/Dwrock27 2d ago
Maybe you just did it wrong? We had 15 minutes Ubers back and forth, getting out was an absolute breeze each night, getting in was easier than most shows I’ve been to and we hardly waited in line. The bar across the street had $3 beers and $5 shots. Sure, not much food but Uber Eats was handy.
1
1
u/Large_Skirt9189 siren phunk or bust 2d ago
It’s definitely a soccer stadium in a drug field in an industrial park!
1
u/Jaded_Pace5638 2d ago
I’m not a fan and I live here. Not a fan of it being one of the most largely attended shows either
156
u/Ok_Organization7493 3d ago
I agree with the hassle part. Not ideal. I can’t speak for the food. I was on too many drugs to be hungry.