nTelos Wireless Pavilion

I’ve been here a few times now for a few different events and I’d say it’s a pretty cool space for an outdoor concert. The shows I’ve been to, I’ve been standing so I can’t speak on the seating or the grassy knoll views, but I can say that for summer night this place can get packed and be plenty of fun. The acoustics in the giant tented area are loud enough that if you’re standing on the downtown mall you can still hear the artists.
As far as this place goes for non concert events, such as Fridays After Five, I’d also say it’s a cool event space since they invite in local food trucks and beer vendors. There are always a wide array of people attending FAF so you’re sure to run into someone you know. Additionally, the bathrooms are decent, and the space itself allows for a huge volume of people to attend, so it definitely feels like a lively spot. All in all the nTelos Wireless Pavilion can be a fun place to check out when there’s an event happening.

I’ve seen four shows here over the last five or so years. It thunder stormed at both The Decemberists and Death Cab concerts but I still had a fabulous time in this outdoor venue! The people working the beer ticket/​booths have always been super funny and nice, the bathrooms are incredibly clean, and the actual stage/​audience area is perfect. A slightly downward slope makes it easy to move up towards the front. I’m usually late to concerts, so I love when it is easy to see the stage from far away and move up easily to better see the band. Looking forward to seeing Mary Chapin Carpenter here next week.
Did I mention that the pavilion is located at the end of the gorgeous downtown mall? My tradition: Christian’s pizza and a walk before the show! Nomz!

I’ve seen quite a few shows at this venue, both in its current configuration and «back in the day» with a different stage setup. I have to say I REALLY miss the old setup, with a smaller, lower wooden stage. I recently saw Ryan Adams from what should have been very good seats (3^rd row, right orchestra, on the aisle). The problem is the height of the stage relative to the sightlines, from at least the first 10 – 12 rows. The stage is so high – I would guess almost 6 feet – that we were craning our necks the entire time and we really felt the yawning gap between the stage and the seats. Maybe this makes the stage easier to see from the lawn, but it is a real problem for someone who prefers a more intimate concert experience. Also, I think it hurts the quality of the shows, because It’s almost impossible for the performer to feel connected to the audience and to feed off that close-​to-​the-​stage crowd energy. I wish there was some way they could lower the stage by at least a foot or more.
Charlottesville attracts a good calibre of artists and nTelos Pavilion has a lot to recommend it (downtown location, size), but to me the high stage is a major problem, for both the performer and the close-​up audience members.