While we were enjoying yesterday’s baseball game, Kelly pointed out something quite true.
“This just makes me all the more angry at Walnut Creek,” she said offhand.
Kelly was referring to the rampant price-gouging that occurs at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek (that’s its $20 name. Locals know it by its $2 name of “Walnut Creek”). Go see a show at Walnut Creek and you pay $6 per ticket for parking (wiping out any incentive to carpool). Expect to pay $10 for a shitty beer, a few bucks for a bottle of water, and if you want a souvenir T-shirt you’ll be parting with two Ben Franklins at least. It’s out of control.
By comparison, the Mudcats game cost some money to get there, as it’s a 30 minute drive out of town. You pay $4 per car for parking, but then the concession prices are reasonable ($3.50 for a pretty good-sized ice cream, for instance). Ticket prices are affordable at just $6 for general admission seats. The kids had a great time and so did we.
Kelly and I have seen more concerts and show this year than we have in a long time, but with the exception of Buffett none of those were at Walnut Creek. And we’ll not set foot in that place again if we can possibly help it.
But you left out the best part: Instead of getting practically strip-searched, we were allowed to bring in our own drinks and snacks. I figure our goldfish crackers, apple slices, and the 3 or 4 times I refilled our water bottles saved about $40! And I don’t mind springing for the occasional ice cream when I’m not forced to do it.
BTW, Mark will have to wait to shun Walnut Creek completely until after this month’s Elvis Costello show. But I bet he won’t be buying any beers there!
Yes, thanks for mentioning that important point, Kelly.
As for Elvis, he’s playing at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre. While it isn’t Walnut Creek I hear it’s not much better. 🙁
Seriously?!? Parking is “per ticket”?!? WTF? That is the most braindead idea I’ve ever heard of.
Koka Booth for me has one big advantage, though, since I can park at my work and walk to the amphitheater. Although, I’m not really one for big concerts. I tend to prefer the more intimate ones at places like Cat’s Cradle or Lincoln Theatre.
Yes, every ticket you buy for a Walnut Creek show has a $6 parking fee already added. This supposedly was done to keep traffic moving into the facility but it, uh, also keeps money moving into the pockets of Live Nation.
Don’t judge Koka Booth too quickly. It’s not bad and it’s a nice setting. Here’s a link to what you can bring in and what you can’t. It usually depends on the artist and their wishes
http://www.boothamphitheatre.com/concerts.htm#elvis
also, they have really good food and you can order a picnic before hand. The prices aren’t horrible but alcohol is still fairly expensive. They have menus on their site so you can check out all your options.