Corral was a terrible venue for concerts from an acoustics perspective, but with it gone Calgary just doesn't have that mid-level venue for 5-7,000 people. So you see more and more shows playing at the Dome that would be way better served in a venue like the Corral was. No offense to Lamb of God and Mastodon, but in both of their primes I saw them playing shows at Mac Hall and those weren't even sold out. Now they are playing the Dome? Probably gonna have terrible attendance, but that show is also too big for Mac Hall or the Grey Eagle, so it's kind of a no-win situation for bands.
I think a lot of Calgary venues are smaller than people think, especially with concert set ups. Julio (I think) is really good with exact figures as he's in the industry.
For example I always thought the Corral was 5-7k, too, but while it's 7700 for hockey, it was only like 3700 or something once you got the concert set up. I also thought Grey Eagle was 4k or so, but it's apparently 2700. Those 5-7k shows have almost always been at the Dome and many mid size cities are the same.
Edmonton has a nice mid size in the Shaw conference centre (now edmonton conference centre) I believe it's in the 5-6k range.
Corral was a terrible venue for concerts from an acoustics perspective, but with it gone Calgary just doesn't have that mid-level venue for 5-7,000 people. So you see more and more shows playing at the Dome that would be way better served in a venue like the Corral was. No offense to Lamb of God and Mastodon, but in both of their primes I saw them playing shows at Mac Hall and those weren't even sold out. Now they are playing the Dome? Probably gonna have terrible attendance, but that show is also too big for Mac Hall or the Grey Eagle, so it's kind of a no-win situation for bands.
The Corral is a legendary venue. Damn I miss that ratty old #### hole.
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I think a lot of Calgary venues are smaller than people think, especially with concert set ups. Julio (I think) is really good with exact figures as he's in the industry.
For example I always thought the Corral was 5-7k, too, but while it's 7700 for hockey, it was only like 3700 or something once you got the concert set up. I also thought Grey Eagle was 4k or so, but it's apparently 2700. Those 5-7k shows have almost always been at the Dome and many mid size cities are the same.
Edmonton has a nice mid size in the Shaw conference centre (now edmonton conference centre) I believe it's in the 5-6k range.
Calgary is for sure missing that 4-7k venue that disappeared when the Corral got bulldozed. Max Bell is maybe 3000-3500, and I don't know if the renos they did a few years back fixed the issues that didn't let them do concerts any more.
In a perfect works, the arena @ COP would have an extra couple thousand seats, but I don't think they'd be able to expand, at least not to that degree. Also, it's not the easiest venue to get to, or to get in and out of before and after an event.
I'd love to see Stampede do something to replace the Corral, even if it wasn't a venue with an ice pad, but just as a concert venue. I'd be shocked if that happened tho, as it seems like they are happy just running the Big Four as their main concert venue.
I think that smaller shows will end up in the new arena, but they will have a better atmosphere than in the Saddledome. Almost all arenas, even old ones like SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, have good curtain systems that both make a big venue feel much more intimate, and help with the sound.
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I think a lot of Calgary venues are smaller than people think, especially with concert set ups. Julio (I think) is really good with exact figures as he's in the industry.
For example I always thought the Corral was 5-7k, too, but while it's 7700 for hockey, it was only like 3700 or something once you got the concert set up. I also thought Grey Eagle was 4k or so, but it's apparently 2700. Those 5-7k shows have almost always been at the Dome and many mid size cities are the same.
Edmonton has a nice mid size in the Shaw conference centre (now edmonton conference centre) I believe it's in the 5-6k range.
I always wondered how much could fit in the Grey Eagle since it's all standing room. That seems to be the busiest venue these days when it comes to concerts or at least metal concerts.
I always wondered how much could fit in the Grey Eagle since it's all standing room. That seems to be the busiest venue these days when it comes to concerts or at least metal concerts.
Grey Eagle is great for the show, but the parking lot is a nightmere.
Been forever since I've been to a concert at the dome, are the floor seats worth it? Even if they're back by the mixing booth?
Shows at the Dome have always sucked, with one exception, Buddy and I went to Robert Plant and got hammered and stoned with a bunch of bikers sitting behind us.
He closed down the show with Communication Breakdown at breakneck speed.