The Burglund Center

I came to this convention center about 3 years ago and was treated to seats that were as comfortable as the English Rack. However, 3 years later I find myself ensconced in velvet comfort, for what looks like a recent remodel had made for a very comfortable VEA Convention.
This may have had something to do with the fact that a recent episode of Dance Moms was filmed here (don’t hate me for this guilty pleasure as the owner Abby is just pure evil and I love to hate her) In any event, the building seems much improved

They were very helpful to us when we visited the home show with my disabled mother. Very kind staff, eager to help!

Woah. So… how many concerts have I seen here (aka — how many times have I smoked up here?) Goodness. At least 10 – 15 throughout high school. It’s actually a pretty nice venue, the structure is one big circle where the vendors, bathrooms and exits are located.
One of my favorite things about The Roanoke Civic Center is that it’s idiot proof. You would have to TRY to get lost here since everything is so clearly marked. The acoustics here aren’t amazing, but they do fine and get the job done.
The security is hit or miss depending on what kind of event you’re going to. For instance, when I made the executive decision to forgo my senior prom and go see Metallica instead, the security was NUTS. I’m telling you. They had every kind of cop available! Rent-​a-​Cops, real cops, band security, venue security, undercover cops! It was awful! (Great show, by the way!)
However, when my High School sweetie and I went to see «The Dead» (this was right after they changed their name from «The Other Ones»), it was great! Security consisted of me opening up my purse and some lady just glancing at it. I was prepared though. I had things stuffed in places that are not lady like to mention in a public review! She could have searched my purse for 10 minutes and not found a thing. Thats how good I am. ;) Anyway, for the amount of smoke in the arena that night, you would have thought the atomic bomb of pot smoke had been released.
The Other Ones show is the only time I saw the Civic Center do this, but they had several shuttle busses going back and forth from various parking lots to the venue, but that was an extreme concert — every other time there has been enough FREE parking in the lot in front of the building to accommodate all concert goers.
If you’re hungry before or after your event, there’s a 24 Hour Sheetz gas station right across the street that has acceptable, hot, greasy, food for sale. Just don’t leave your keys in the ignition with the car still running and the doors unlocked while you’re inside ordering food and then start panicking when you can’t find your keys in your hemp purse that reeks of pot smoke from the concert you’ve just attended, like yours truly did.