James L Knight Center

This is the first time I’ve been to this convention center, so I can only go by the set up they had for this particular event. I came into see an orchestrated performance of my favorite video game of all time: The Legend of Zelda. I sat in the lower section where chairs were set up to maximize the space. I was very uncomfortable throughout, because the chairs were set very close together. Basically we were all squished in, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the music. Parking wasn’t bad, right at the Hyatt and it was only $ 10. For downtown Miami, that is unheard of. I was happy about that. Overall an okay place, a little on the small side and it needs more doors as well as wider hallways. Of course I would come back if an act I’m interested in happens to perform here.

Not the best venue around but it gets the job done. The Knight Center, attached to the hotel lobby, is in the downtown area of Miami, which as a whole needs a complete makeover form the roads to the traffic patterns to the overall dirtiness are the area. The Knight Center — old, boring, just-​doing-​its-​job — fits right in. Not the worst place to hold an event but surely not the best.

New times iron fork event was awesome. .so many great restaurants to try their food plus great atmosphere.

With all the larger performance and concert venues in the Miami area (Arscht Center, AAA, BB&T Center, Hard Rock Hotel/​Casino, Filmore/​Gleason, etc.), you really don’t hear the James L. Knight Center mentioned very often.
This venue is attached to the Hyatt Regency, adjacent to the Brickell Avenue drawbridge, which means it’s conveniently located between downtown and Brickell. The way this place is laid out, it’s really as multi-​purpose as a venue can get. There are about 5,000 seats, but the seating area is laid out in a very wide wedge/​semicurcular fashion. The floor area is quite large (both wide and deep), there is a decent house sound system with 2 large Electro-​Voice line arrays, and if you want a stage, they can set one up as large as you need it to be and position it nearly anywhere on the floor. Likewise, if you have equipment that needs to be hung or flown from the ceiling, there are numerous points available for that as well.
As some have mentioned, this place does look a bit old school and is a bit worn. I was in here about 5 years ago and was surprised at how old, run down and beaten up it looked. I was back in here recently just for a walk around while attending a seminar at this hotel and it appears they’ve updated this space a bit with new carpeting and some badly needed upholstery work. She still doesn’t look new and modern, and to be honest, she probably doesn’t attract enough events to make it cost effective to carry out a major renovation, but she’s certainly functional and one of the larger auditoriums in this city. I can’t imagine there’s really a bad seat in the place during a concert or performance here…

Went to Tyler Perry’s –The Haves and the Haves Nots yesterday. The play was excellent but spoiled by the James L Knight Center which is just horrible. It’s old; the seating is uncomfortable, the ground seats are so close together that you end up having to touch the person beside you (I am not a big person); to access is horrible especially the parking. I don’t care how good the show is, I will never go back there again.

Oh the traffic to get to this location! It took me 15 minutes to turn into the parking garage. Then there was a charge to park b/​c it was a special event going on. Lucky for me I brought cash.
After making my way upstairs, I had no trouble getting my tickets at the will call. I had little trouble finding my seat. But boy was the seating cramped. There was little room for my long legs and there was a hint of a disgusting order hitting my nose every few minutes. The seats/​carpet. something smelled nasty.
Trying to leave was as hard as trying to getting to the parking garage. So many people and only one way to the parking garage… elevators. Such a struggle. But I must say «I Survived James L Knight Center»

Honestly, this place is really generic. Maybe I didn’t walk around it enough, but it seemed like your average, run of the mill center. I guess it’s good that the sight lines seemed fine for everybody. And the sound was decent.
But those things are expected at a large hall like this. They shouldn’t need to be pointed out.
Come to think of it, I’m not exactly sure what would make a place like this stand out… Really nice security guards? Mandatory laser light show with every performance? I dunno…
But I’d come back here if there were an event that I wanted to attend.

Wow! This was not what I was expecting. The seats are great, You can see, even from the back. This is a really great small intimate venue. It is older, but I think that’s why I liked the layout.

Came here to see Circo de los Horrores. Although I enjoyed the show, your theater/​auditorium really needs a facelift. The seats and overall feel of the place seem old and outdated. I know that this place is kind of a «Miami historic relic» but with all the new and beautifully decored centers built just a few streets up, this venue needs to up it up a bit. Time for some restoration!

James L Knight Center has been around for years, and although it has the old school feel to it, I absolutely love it, it’s older but well kept. It’s walking/​taxi distance if you live in the downtown area and it’s cheaper than parking here (which would have been $ 40 at the hotel) or around $ 8 – 10) around the corner in the garage near by.
The restrooms were clean and I have nothing to truly complain about.
I came here to see El Circo De Los Horrores and the show was absolutely phenomenal. It was scary in the beginning while you waited for the show to start, and although through out it had the scariness of the costumes it was funny and entertaining (cirques du soleil type) all in one. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. It is in Spanish and English so you get the best of both worlds here. Great theater and great show — I couldn’t have asked for a better night.
I would definitely go see the show again.
xo,
kristin nicole

Went to Knight Center to see Circo de los Horrores from Spain. The show is kind of like Hunted House + circus du soleil.
If you have never been to a circus du soleil show, I am sure you will enjoy it very much. But since I have been to couples times and half of the show is using the same idea/​theme of other circus du soleil shows.
I didn’t find it (WOW)…
If you are a circus du soleil fans, you will be like me always compare to other shows you had been to…

Came to this theater for Circo de los Horrores and it was an awesome show. It was scary, funny and amazing to watch, totally worth the money.
The theater it self it different than the other ones in Miami. The size is fairly big, and the seats are comfy.

I live in Brickell, so the fact that is walking distance from my apt, it’s a super plus, no need to park. The venue is a bit outdated, but really like its size. I’m looking forward to the Miguel Bose concert here. Since the place is not huge like the AA arena, you can still hold a nice sized event without losing the intimacy.
I saw the same show as Ilisa, Circo de Los Horrores, IT SUCKED BIG TIME!!! Save your money.

I went to this theatre (is it a theatre?) last night with my family to see the show from Spain Circo de los Horrores. First you need to be aware the the neighborhood that you are travelling through to get there is not that great. Also, it is great to know that the theatre is located inside of the Hyatt Regency in Miami. This would have been fabulous, useful information for me to know, and would have kept me from running two blocks in both directions from the garage where we parked hustleing to get to the 8pm show at 7:55 since the hotel sits off by itself on a huge hill and your gps on your bb won’t be able to give you exact directions since the theatre is in a hotel, and on a loop. I also could have avoided being harrassed by the homeless.
If you are a frequent show goer, then the Knight Center will be relatively familiar to you. Especially if you are familiar with smaller venues and non-​permanent seating. I didn’t completely understand folding chairs in the front of the stage, and was quite embarrassed when the woman in front of me complained that my shoe was going into her rear! OOOPS! I also was not especially happy that my $ 100– seats that were in the 2^nd row still did not afford me a great view because of how the stage was set up. At least the show was pretty good.

Went to see a show here last night. I like the fact that its relatively small, so almost all seats are good seats. Of course, you have the nose bleed section, but its not like when you’re in a stadium.
The seats were comfy which is one of the things I always judge the most.
The worst part, which really isn’t even JLKC fault, is that the parking garage is a bitch to get into, and if you miss it, you have to go all the way around. Someone else was driving and they panicked and we ended up parking in an outside lot.
We couldnt find the way in and had to walk all over the place. We weren’t the only ones either.

I recently watched a show at the James L Knight Center. It’d been a long time since I was last there but nothing has changed. There were no visible upgrades. As for the concessions, sadly, a local strip mall movie theater is more impressive.
With this venue being on the river and in downtown Miami and having a Metro Mover stop I really wish they’d update and upgrade so there could be more concerts and performances.
And while someone is doing that, it’d also be good to redo the signage…

Dear James L. Knight International Center,
I can honestly say I’m surprised no one else has reviewed this place considering the number of business functions that they host. JLK Center, you have been around for AGES, and I’m talking at LEAST 30 years!
I can remember coming here on field trips to watch Disney On Ice and Sesame Street as a child. And how can anyone forget the countless concerts you have hosted, or even boxing matches back in your glory days.
I was just here on Friday for a Trump Network event. However, I was a little perplexed to see that it looked the same since I was last there for my Senior Homecoming over a decade ago. Nothing has really been upgraded or renovated. Sure, some of the furniture looks new, and maybe you’ve had some paint jobs, but the venue itself is still in its original form. There are 80s pictures of all the major events in a Hall of Fame type setting that I can say haven’t moved in 20 years.
For being such a popular venue space I expected there to be more state-​of-​the-​art advances. Flat screen tvs, monitors through out, new floors, new lighting, etc… But nothing. Still the 1970s tile that probably came with the building.
But you are still the JLK Center. An iconic Miami venue. And you still have the capability of hosting thousands of people and having enough space for almost any event anyone could ever possibly think of throwing.
Hope to see some changes with the new decade approaching. You need to get with the times!!!
Good Luck and Best Wishes,
SabrinaAnna*