This is a great venue, we have been a couple of times & always enjoyed it , good acoustics . not... read more
This is a great venue, we have been a couple of times & always enjoyed it , good acoustics . not... read more
Only one ADA area on the floor because the venue is old with no elevator and lots of stairs. The... read more
Pleasantly surprised at the sound quality. The light show was fantastic as well. The concessions are a little bush league, but I must admit the prices are right! The seats are a little bit uncomfortable and crowded, but the quality of the music and sound really made up for the minor inconveniences. The opening duo was amazing and the Steve Miller Band did NOT disappoint, playing all the hits that put him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. All things considered, the evening was great, with easy access, decent, cheap parking, and a crowd that was definitely into the music. Almost qualifies as an intimate venue....
Nice 8500 person venue. Bar service was plentiful and very accessible. Several hotels in the immediate area and within walking distance. Be aware there is a no weapons policy that includes pocket knives.
Convenient downtown Augusta location. Parking is cheap at $5 in several church parking lots. The facility itself is rather dated. Floor seating is on risers with chairs that are not at all comfortable. Been here many times, but it's the only "concert" venue in the area other than a much larger arena not real well suited for Broadway show type entertainment. Would go back again for a worthy show.
Jsut like its sister venue, James Brown Arena, these should not be the substandard venues to have big acts and we calll ourselves a metropolis. my letter to the GM
I sadly am concerned this may not go anywhere but I need to address this. I
have attended concerts at both JBA and the Bell and I am not pleased at how
things were setup. Mainly my complaint is with the seating, when I attended
the Charlie Wilson/Fantasia show last year at JBA and though I was informed
I had good upper level seats (which the view was great), I was very taken
aback at how unprofessionally the stage looked, the backdrop looked at just
it was an huge set of drapes in which I was still able to see the back areas
down to the hallway where the artists I assumed would come from their
dressing rooms. Also I was told the JBA was renovated, I don't know what
'renovations' were done , but certainly , the seating(which was a bit closer
than I expected and I'm 5'11, the gentleman next to me and his date were
taller than I and my date, she was about 5'7" , and he was certainly at
least 6'4" and looked very uncomfortable . I chalked everything up to just
hey anyone can have a bad day (the stage setup) and I told myself that I
will get floor seating next time.
Fast forward to the Jagged Edge, Mint Condition Concert, I heard from many
friends form the Augusta area that the Bell would be a better venue. I
purchased ticket in the section behind VIP (floor section) and was excited
about seeing this concert in the 'better' venue, we got there early and when
they allowed us in it wasn't until around 7:45 that we were allowed in (side
note, need to have better snack choices or some type of heavy hors-d'oeuvre
available to purchase, even some light food stands outside, and 11.00 for
regular beer that sells for 3.00? now that's a markup) now back to the
seating. The seating was atrocious , they look liked seats that would be in
the principal's office and to have them so close together to make a buck and
sardine us made absolutely no sense , the seats didn't have any type of
ergonomic design to invoke comfort while sitting for any length of time ,
and cloth? They looked like they were from a school and the stage setup
didn't look much better, realistically, I scanned the whole area and felt as
if I were in a gymnasium that was setup for a prep rally instead of an even
semi decent entertainment theater.
I didn't want to write anything till I gave both a chance and hoped to
just go the better venue, but I am not impressed with either, and this will
be reflected. I am sorry that I had to write this, but hopefully steps will
be taken to present the Arts in better venues, when I have better seating at
the local performing arts school a few blocks from your venues at a much
cheaper cost, that is not good , if you are not aware which school ( Jessye
Norman School of the Performing Arts)