Floor vs. Elevated Seating

[ColdplayNorth]

I am going to my first Coldplay concert in August and need some help. Where is the C stage in the arena? Not the X stage, but the C stage? And would you recommend floor seating near the front of the main stage, or back by the C stage. And finally is elevated seating better than floor seating? Thanks for your help!

[Drew42LP5]

I believe the C stage is way in the back of the arena. I thought that the C stage is located in one of the upper levels. I would sit close to the stage rather than back there, they only play two songs back there, as you may know, you get more action near the stage.

 

You ask a very interesting question regarding floor seating or elevated seating. I was thinking about that before I purchased my tickets for the concert in Miami. I ended up not going with floor seating, this will be my first time sitting in one of the higher levels. You never know who will be in front of you, if you're tall, then you should be fine. If not, you could be in some minor trouble.

 

If I were you, I would sit in an elevated section next to the stage. Like what I'm doing.

 

Enjoy!

[Juanma]

I am going to my first Coldplay concert in August and need some help. Where is the C stage in the arena? Not the X stage, but the C stage? And would you recommend floor seating near the front of the main stage, or back by the C stage. And finally is elevated seating better than floor seating? Thanks for your help!

 

Floor! No doubt. And close to the stage.

Sitting is a "colder" experience.

[Beximus]

Floor seating at Coldplay is a really strange concept to me. They did it for their tour a few years ago and it was weird - I thought it killed the mood a bit. If I'd thought about it, I'd have gone for elevated seating rather than floor seating. I couldn't see the stage and had tall people repeatedly standing on their chairs all night in front of me.

 

I like elevated seating sometimes - I can get a good overview of what everyone's doing, and I can always see the stage.

[Drew42LP5]

^ :nod:

[strikie]

the incredible view of all the xylobands on the elevated seats gives them more value :smiley:

[Jenjie]

c-stage varies. sometimes it's on the left, sometimes the right. also depends on the venue. seems to be on the lower tier of seats in an arena and on the floor at the back in a stadium.

[eleanordc]

May depend on how tall you are. I'm 5'3" (1.6 meters if I converted right) and had 7th row floor seats 4th in from the ramp to the x stage. Sometimes I had to shift around to see past the people in front of me but was able to see everything really well. Especially Guy who is even more majestic and radiant in person. Sigh!

[coldplayfan_115]

I'm sorry I can't give you any insight (mainly because this is my first concert too) but do you happen to be going to one of the St. Paul shows? If so, on the Xcel Energy Center website, they have photos of the stage from each section of seating. :)

[ColdplayNorth]

I am going to a Minneapolis show! And I found that one their website. I think I am going with elevated seats. Next mission: Find out how to smuggle in a SLR...:\

[getithom]

I am going to a Minneapolis show! And I found that one their website. I think I am going with elevated seats. Next mission: Find out how to smuggle in a SLR...:\

 

I'm going to the first show in Minneapolis, and I bought floor seats. It'll be a great concert!

 

Me too. :/ I emailed Xcel Energy Center today, asking about media passes (as I work for a newspaper), but even then, the rules are really strict.

[Corkus]

For almost any show in an arena, it's floor or bust for me.

 

But Coldplay is an exception because of their dumb "seats on the floor" policy in North America. Being in a floor seat anywhere farther back than the very front section is an awful, awful experience. You can't see a thing, you can't move from your seat, and because everyone is restricted by seats too, nobody can dance around, making for lifeless crowds. At least in elevated seating areas, you can ACTUALLY SEE THE BAND.

 

Now, I'm just going from experience from the Viva shows and haven't seen any MX shows, but paying $125 for a floor seat in 2009 that was only probably 1/3 of the way back turned out to be one of my most miserable concert experiences ever. Total waste of money. Couldn't see a damn thing. And I'm NOT short, mind you. Being in the lower-most raised section at a show in 2008 was a way better show for me.

[fakfak]

Floor! No doubt. And close to the stage.

Sitting is a "colder" experience.

 

It's all seated.

[l0wxo2]

I had both floor seats and elevated seats for this tour at different shows. I am pretty short and I had 7th row for one of the shows and at times it was very hard to see. I was one section up from the floor at a different show, 5th row and I could see perfectly. I'd say that if you in the first 10 rows on the floor, you'll have a decent view. Otherwise, I would go one section up.

[fakfak]

For almost any show in an arena, it's floor or bust for me.

 

But Coldplay is an exception because of their dumb "seats on the floor" policy in North America. Being in a floor seat anywhere farther back than the very front section is an awful, awful experience. You can't see a thing, you can't move from your seat, and because everyone is restricted by seats too, nobody can dance around, making for lifeless crowds. At least in elevated seating areas, you can ACTUALLY SEE THE BAND.

 

Now, I'm just going from experience from the Viva shows and haven't seen any MX shows, but paying $125 for a floor seat in 2009 that was only probably 1/3 of the way back turned out to be one of my most miserable concert experiences ever. Total waste of money. Couldn't see a damn thing. And I'm NOT short, mind you. Being in the lower-most raised section at a show in 2008 was a way better show for me.

 

There are good reasons to do seats on the floor. Don't get me wrong, floor seating does suck for aesthetic reasons, but there are a ton of safety/liability issues that go with GA floor. More shows are going all seating these days.

[fakfak]

I'm going to the first show in Minneapolis, and I bought floor seats. It'll be a great concert!

 

Me too. :/ I emailed Xcel Energy Center today, asking about media passes (as I work for a newspaper), but even then, the rules are really strict.

 

In the past, there've been cases of people with media credentials being escorted out even when they had personal tickets (not just with Coldplay shows), so be careful if you do decide to go that route.:)

[coldplaymom]

I wound up in section 116 at the Philips Arena show and I had a better view than a team of mom and daughter with VIP tickets I'd met earlier. Unless you're in the 1st 3-4 rows on the floor, elevated sitting in the 100s is better.

[butterflygirl]

Yay! I almost got floor, but for the Minneapolis show I am the section beside the stage. I was worried about my daughter being able to see!

[Batman]

Man I'm so happy German concerts don't have seats in the stage area!

[getithom]

In the past, there've been cases of people with media credentials being escorted out even when they had personal tickets (not just with Coldplay shows), so be careful if you do decide to go that route.:)

 

Oh, wow. :sad:

 

I emailed Xcel Energy Center yesterday, and the lady told me anyone with a media pass will be taken to a designated area, where we can only take pictures for a select amount of songs, and then our cameras get taken away until the end of the concert.

 

I'll just take my own camera and not do that.

[getithom]

:uhoh:

I had both floor seats and elevated seats for this tour at different shows. I am pretty short and I had 7th row for one of the shows and at times it was very hard to see. I was one section up from the floor at a different show, 5th row and I could see perfectly. I'd say that if you in the first 10 rows on the floor, you'll have a decent view. Otherwise, I would go one section up.

 

Oh, really? :sad:

 

I hope I can see something at the concert next month. :uhoh:

[500daysofkatie]

We got floor seats thinking it was going to be better, but now I'm worried that being 5'3 I won't be able to see anything. Should I just wear massive heels?

 

I am officially suffering extreme angst about the possibility of not being able to see. :(

[fakfak]

I'm really stressed out now. :( We got floor seats thinking it was going to be better, but now I'm worried that being 5'3 I won't be able to see anything. Should I just wear massive heels?

 

I'm only 5'3" and have limited mobility, and haven't had nearly the issues seeing things from the floor that other people have. I think it depends on where on the floor you are. Of course, I was also in a venue where security really cracked down on prolonged standing, so most everyone was usually sitting down. The MX stage is more steeply graded and elevated than the Viva one FWIW.

[fakfak]

:uhoh:

 

Oh, really? :sad:

 

I hope I can see something at the concert next month. :uhoh:

 

It's one of those cases where venue staff doesn't always properly enforce the policies.:dozey:

[500daysofkatie]

That is really good to know. It seems like there are mixed reviews.

 

I will be in Row 1 of section D by the way... We were thinking maybe there would be some kind of space between sections that would make it easier to see, but I don't know.