I'm so sorry if this is in the wrong forum again and it has to be moved, but it is concert related to me, so I'm posting it for now.

So I've looked at the ACC stage set up, does it matter at a Prince concert if I'm on the left side of the symbol on the map or the right side? I'm not even sure if the symbol will really be in the middle, or on one side like the majority of concerts. So basically, I'm asking if the entire circle will be available to buy and we will have a good view?

at o2 he spent most time at the round bit as there was more space there. the pointy bit was more a walkway

so the left of the symbol if looking at it in the normal way round is best

Thanks for the response, so does he face the audience sitting at the left side the most?

In Los Angeles at the beginning of this year the Symbol was totally in the middle of the Forum.

I tended to like MID-LEVEL (not floor, not nosebleed) seats in this order:

1 - Swirly side of Symbol (left if looking at it straight on), that's where the Piano was. Not that he spent more time on that side I just loved the view of the full concert and did love when he was at that side

2 - Straight in front of Symbol - View was fantastic - not close to Prince though. These seats were perfect for view. I sat there at least 4 times by choice.

3 - Right side of symbol. Excellent view of whole stage & concert.

I've always loved floor tix for his shows but this time not so much. Floor tix are a cool concert experience but at my age I just wanted to see the whole show.

I also had back of stage, back of circle of Symbol on the floor tix which was the closest I got to him when he went back there (cool concert experience) but the view of the whole concert was non-existent.

I also had floor seats near VIP near front of Symbol and it was agan, cool for a concert experience, but the view was minimal most of the time.

I'd say he faces the front arrow of the SYMBOL the MOST, like any concert stage, front facing, but he walks the whole stage.

Hope this helps. Good luck. ENJOY!!!!!!

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ACC here, still confused a little bit, maybe highlight to me where you meant? I'm just worried about getting a bad view, even if far.

alphastreet said:

[img:$uid]http://media.ticketmaster.com/tm/en-ca/tmimages/venue/maps/tor/40738s_a.gif[/img:$uid]

ACC here, still confused a little bit, maybe highlight to me where you meant? I'm just worried about getting a bad view, even if far.

108 is best - based on the o2 (and i was there every night and saw the show from all around the arena, from the VIP floor seats to the nosebleeds (as i wanted to see what it would be like)

I agree with unique. 108 best

107 really good too

also, 119 & 120 would be great view

I would also say 101, 102, 103 & 104 would be a great view if you could secure something in the mid-level, not too close to stage and not too far back but right in middle

This is def a bigger venue than in LA though so I guess anything closer to stage would be better

GOOD LUCK! I SURE WOULD LIKE YOU TO POST AFTER WHAT SEATS YOU DO GET AND HOW THE VIEW WAS! I'm sure the view will be delicious..... no matter where you sit......

107 is okay, but the further along you get you realise how far away you are. 105 is quite far away so you might be better higher up in the middle

119 isn't bad, but 118 and 109 are at the back of the stage behind the band, and he didn't go that way much, and he wasn't at the 119 side half as much as the 108 side

the stage looks a bit different to the rough layout. the circle part is much bigger than it looks and the horn part is much smaller. the end pointy bit at he right of the photo is miles long

you don't usually get a good view on the ground area. the lower tiers give the best view

What about the VIP Purple Circle seats...

R they worth it?

Has anyone ever seen a show from the VIP tables?

R the sides the best option?

Any insight would B helpful.

I saw 5 shows in California earlier in the year - 2 in LA, one in Fresno and 2 in San Jose. I've been in the stands, the risers, the VIP seated area and the tables.

I'd basically agree with all other comments, but ultimately it depends on the experience you are after.

On the floor (or even in the front of the risers, if they have them), you don't get a full, complete view of the stage - it's not really that things are obscured as such, it's just that the perspective is wrong, kind of looking at a big widescreen TV from a metre away.

You also don't see the lights that run around the edge of the symbol on the floor - they change colours depending on the 'mood' of the songs (though you generally see by reflection what they are). You also have equipment, teleprompters, etc... to contend with, that just alter the view from those higher up, who would most likely barely notice such things, if at all.

Up in the stands, you see everything much clearer, or rather get a more complete perspective, but of course, by definition, you are further away. The front seats (101-104) give you the best type of view - ie. front on - but you are even further away from most of the activity. The side views still make you feel close and you won't feel like you're missing anything.

My experience

I was definitely wanting the "up close and personal" type of experience when I went, so I started in the risers on the first night, was in the VIP seats (not tables) the next 2 nights, then finally at Table 1 section 1 for the fourth night My last night I sat in what looks to be section 120 in the diagram and got to appreciate a different view - my need for being as close as humanly possible finally sated

A bit more detail about each area for anyone interested...

My first night in LA (13/5), I was in the front row of the risers on the left (looks comparable to the little grey bar in front of 103). I was really happy with my seat, because there was basically no one directly in front of me. Had security not been there, I could have taken a few steps and been right at the point of the symbol. It was great for the first night, but I did realise the drawback at around midnight when Stevie Wonder came out and I couldn't really see him as well once he was at the keys. That said, from memory you can see the screens from the risers, so it wasn't really an issue.

The second night (14/5), I made it into the VIP section, the back row of the seated section (as opposed to the roped off area with tables) on the right-hand side. I was still far enough back to take in most of the front and sides of the symbol and the right was where Prince spent most of his time, though it was harder to see him when he was over at the piano. When he or one of the girls came walking along either the arrow or the horn, I felt very close.

The first night in Fresno (18/5), I was in the front row of the VIP seated section on the left and I loved that. Room to dance, just outside the roped off area and I really felt like he and the girls were making eye contact when they walked down the arrow and turned to us. That said, it was probably the worst view from the point of view of the whole stage. Even though we were so close to the piano, his back was to us when he was playing, of course, but the upside was when he jumped on it

The first night in San Jose (19/5), I splurged and took the opportunity to sit at Table 1 in Secton 1, which is on the right (using the terms here) - or the upper side in the diagram, tucked away where the 'horn' meets the 'stem'. I had a ball that night, despite the fact that a lot of the band were barely visible and of course, at that distance, you definitely can't see any screens, stage lights, etc... Shelby definitely smiled at us though and I maintain that Prince did too That's also where any legit VIPs are, so I literally bumped into Larry Graham at one point!

If you do spend the money on a VIP table though, I'd strongly advise you get one in one of the front sections - the ones on the other side of the horn and curl (adjacent to the circle instead of the stem) couldn't be much of a view at all

My last night in San Jose (21/5), I sat in the stands for a different experience. I was actually amazed at how close the stage still felt, which is what people here have really been saying about getting seats on the sides, because the 'curl' and the 'horn' both stretch almost to the edges of the stands.

Despite being many rows back and not even completely lined up with the 'horn', I still felt quite close to anyone who wandered along. I preferred the right-hand side because the action seemed to favour that side, but there is a definitely "quality over quantity" argument to be made involving the piano (and piano-related antics) on the left, near the 'curl'.

The other advantage of the stands is of course that you can also see the close-ups on the screens (particularly for the small percentage of time he spends at the back/top of the symbol) - a viewing option that diminishes into nothing the closer you get to the stage.

Sorry for the long post, but hopefully some of it is useful (if not, I've enjoyed the trip down memory lane!! )

Ultimately, given the chance again I'd still opt for VIP, but if I was going to more than one show, I'd make sure one of them was in the stands, on the side, as close as possible either to the curl or the horn.

Have a wonderful time, wherever you end up sitting!!!

[Edited 11/3/11 20:49pm]

Not that I'll be at any of these shows, but I just could not handle being at a Prince concert with a seat. I'd go absolutely stir crazy if I was confined to a space miles away from where the best experience is- right up front at the stage, being only a few feet away from where the magic happens. So close you can taste the energy.

I'd rather just not go if I had a seat at the back of beyond, cuz that would certainly kill me!! Maybe that's why I prefer the more traditional style of stage, purely from a practical side of getting up front. In saying that, the symbol stage is mighty impressive looking & I suppose most folks don't care where they are as long as they have a decent view.

Hope you all have a wonderful funky time at the upcoming concerts!

I got section 121, thanks for your help guys! Highly appreciated!

[Edited 11/4/11 7:14am]

ughhhh now floor seats are suddenly available! Tons of them! But I already bought my tickets!

How are the floor seats? Or am I better off sitting where I'm at so I could see the whole stage?

alphastreet said:

ughhhh now floor seats are suddenly available! Tons of them! But I already bought my tickets!

How are the floor seats? Or am I better off sitting where I'm at so I could see the whole stage?

you will probably get a better view where you are. in both the o2 shows and musicology shows that were in the round, the stage was quite high, so coupled with the stage being long and a weird shape, as prince is having to cover all sides of the venue, there will be a large part of the gig where he won't be performing in your direction, so on the floor there will be times you won't be able to see him without looking at the videos. in the tiers you will get an elevated view and see the whole stage

Okay that's good I think, but it sounds like he'll be facing my back now(will he?), though I think it's good I'm near the catwalk. It made me think a little bit of Janet's rockwithchu tour, I had to briefly go all the way down at one point and was near the catwalk when she came there, so hopefully it's like that.

Sorry I'm being annoying, I'm just really anxious about the view and about letting other people down now, especially cause floor seats have opened up, though I think I like where I got it.

alphastreet said:

Okay that's good I think, but it sounds like he'll be facing my back now(will he?), though I think it's good I'm near the catwalk. It made me think a little bit of Janet's rockwithchu tour, I had to briefly go all the way down at one point and was near the catwalk when she came there, so hopefully it's like that.

Sorry I'm being annoying, I'm just really anxious about the view and about letting other people down now, especially cause floor seats have opened up, though I think I like where I got it.

he mostly plays forward or to the left, but you will see him all the time where you are, whereas on the floor there will be times you can't tell if he's on stage or hiding underneath it (where the "backstage" part is)

K sounds good, thanks for the help I'm also hearing the floor seats don't have seats, so maybe it's better that I got seats, I don't have a good back.

alphastreet said:

K sounds good, thanks for the help I'm also hearing the floor seats don't have seats, so maybe it's better that I got seats, I don't have a good back.

at musicology and o2 the floor was all seated. usually "in the round" gigs are seated on the floor, otherwise it would be a nightmare for security

I'm so excited It will be my first Prince concert, though I'm not sure about first sighting. I'm pretty sure I passed by him one time when he was living here, and did a double take and was going to follow him,but just left him alone. He had on shades, dark red velvet, and heeled boots, and it was late 2003, though I didn't know he lived here yet, so it didn't occur to me it may really be him.

[Edited 11/4/11 11:59am]

I got 115 seats, it looks like i'm behind the stage .

SometimesIwonder said:

Not that I'll be at any of these shows, but I just could not handle being at a Prince concert with a seat. I'd go absolutely stir crazy if I was confined to a space miles away from where the best experience is- right up front at the stage, being only a few feet away from where the magic happens. So close you can taste the energy.

I'd rather just not go if I had a seat at the back of beyond, cuz that would certainly kill me!! Maybe that's why I prefer the more traditional style of stage, purely from a practical side of getting up front. In saying that, the symbol stage is mighty impressive looking & I suppose most folks don't care where they are as long as they have a decent view.

Hope you all have a wonderful funky time at the upcoming concerts!

I've done floor seats & for me, the beauty is not having to stay in your seat & actually having space to dance. I'm going on 26th & booked the same deal. IMO it's well worth it.

alphastreet said:

K sounds good, thanks for the help I'm also hearing the floor seats don't have seats, so maybe it's better that I got seats, I don't have a good back.

FWIW, in California, the only floor tickets that weren't actual seats were in the "purple pit", which was effectively a dance space behind the stage - some love the atmosphere of that, but I definitely wouldn't be giving up seats in the stands facing the front/side of the stage for standing room at the back (assuming they're using the same/similiar setup).

leezatj said:

I wouldnt bother w/ the vip/table thing, u will not see the entire stage and u will not see prince for much of the show. mid level is best 107, 110 etc (center area). you see full stage, band & P entire show.

prince did stay mainly in middle of stage at NY/NJ shows and does walk around the ring in back part of stage by drummer and comes out on pointed end of symbol also but majority of time in middle.

antoinet said:

In Los Angeles at the beginning of this year the Symbol was totally in the middle of the Forum.

I tended to like MID-LEVEL (not floor, not nosebleed) seats in this order:

1 - Swirly side of Symbol (left if looking at it straight on), that's where the Piano was. Not that he spent more time on that side I just loved the view of the full concert and did love when he was at that side

2 - Straight in front of Symbol - View was fantastic - not close to Prince though. These seats were perfect for view. I sat there at least 4 times by choice.

3 - Right side of symbol. Excellent view of whole stage & concert.

I've always loved floor tix for his shows but this time not so much. Floor tix are a cool concert experience but at my age I just wanted to see the whole show.

I also had back of stage, back of circle of Symbol on the floor tix which was the closest I got to him when he went back there (cool concert experience) but the view of the whole concert was non-existent.

I also had floor seats near VIP near front of Symbol and it was agan, cool for a concert experience, but the view was minimal most of the time.

I'd say he faces the front arrow of the SYMBOL the MOST, like any concert stage, front facing, but he walks the whole stage.

Hope this helps. Good luck. ENJOY!!!!!!

dude precisely on point thanx!

I have row 2 , section 106. Looks crazy close when I view the 3d virtual seat viewer for the Leafs, but I am not sure how it will translate for this stage. Anyone else sat in that area?

Thanks in advance

First Prince concert and I'm ECSTATIC We're sitting in Section 106, Row 3. Based on the seating chart, would I be disappointed?

Thx.

tigress74 said:

First Prince concert and I'm ECSTATIC We're sitting in Section 106, Row 3. Based on the seating chart, would I be disappointed?

Thx.

See you there tigress, if you are going fri night I am sitting in front of you.

I am 6' 10", have a huge head, wear gigantic hats and stand all concert.

2funkE said:

tigress74 said:

First Prince concert and I'm ECSTATIC We're sitting in Section 106, Row 3. Based on the seating chart, would I be disappointed?

Thx.

See you there tigress, if you are going fri night I am sitting in front of you.

I am 6' 10", have a huge head, wear gigantic hats and stand all concert.

LMAO! Very funny 2funkE! Thank goodness I'm going the saturday

antoinet said:

I agree with unique. 108 best

107 really good too

also, 119 & 120 would be great view

I would also say 101, 102, 103 & 104 would be a great view if you could secure something in the mid-level, not too close to stage and not too far back but right in middle

This is def a bigger venue than in LA though so I guess anything closer to stage would be better

GOOD LUCK! I SURE WOULD LIKE YOU TO POST AFTER WHAT SEATS YOU DO GET AND HOW THE VIEW WAS! I'm sure the view will be delicious..... no matter where you sit......

Hi - I am going to the show at the ACC in Toronto on Saturday. I have tickets in 2 sections I can choose from and I am wondering what you think would be best.

Section 113 Row 9 or Section 104 Row 8.

Thoughts?