The outside venue is fantastic. This petite venue packs a punch. A perfect view no matter where you sit. Bring a blanket. You cannot take chairs in. A good selection of food and drink. We stood in the pit. Easy to access. There are plenty of great bars and restaurants in the area to enjoy before and after.
Went to the first Sad Summer Festival here and had a great time. The venue isnt huge as far as outdoor venue spaces but they do a good job of spacing things out. They had plenty of water and the stage is set up great. The grass slope is perfect if you dont want to be up front with the band and parking wasnt as issue for us. Overall we had a great time and I would definitely attend this venue again.
Favorite concert venue! I’ve seen many concerts here, and whenever I see an artist I like performing here I always know I’ll have a great experience. The Jack White concert I saw here also had a great thing they do in which they locked the phones of guests so they lived in the moment rather than on their phones. Awesome experience! I also saw the 1975 here, beautiful set & sound and the venue just added to that.
Saw Melanie Martinez here a few weeks ago (indoors) and it was the most relaxed venue Ive ever been in! There are two pit like areas and one upper seating area - Im assuming for handicap and VIP possibly? I was in the second pit, and there was little to no shoving. There is a bar with drinks and food, clean, large bathrooms and after being outside in the cold and rain waiting for 4 hours, the temperature was perfect. There are big fans on the ceiling that keep the air flowing significantly.
Decent venue, great sound and lighting, but major seating issue... there isnt any. This is a standing only venue. Be prepared to stand the entire time or sit on the ground. The pit area in the front is concrete, but standing only, usually cramped and hard to see over others. However the lawn area situation is much worse. There isnt grass, its just dirt/mud on a fairly steep angle. We were unlucky and went on a night it rained some (shows go on rain or shine), and it was a slippery muddy mess. Was hard to hold footing standing in lawn area because it was muddy and steep. Check the weather/bring a poncho (umbrellas are not allowed). But we stayed (saw Bastille) rain stopped and the show was great. Great pizza place and bar connected!!
It really is a good place to see a show, just be prepared to stand for several hours.(Ok, there are a few VIP seats in the upper level, as well as a couple of small bleachers).Concert times posted are typically when the doors open. Our show was listed as 6:00, but actually didnt start until around 7:00.They have indoor and outdoor options for concerts.I was hoping our concert would be outside, but it was not, and I dont know how they decide.Indoor holds around 2200, outdoor accommodates approx 5200.
Express Live! is a pretty cool venue. There are no bad spots; you can easily see the stage from any location in the venue. It is predominantly standing room. There is some seating but that is for VIPs. As for the layout, there is the stage, then the pit, VIP seating, and finally a grassy hill. You can bring a blanket or beach towel to put on the ground in you want to sit or lay down. The venue creates an more intimate atmosphere due to its smaller size, but its not tiny. It can still fit a couple thousand people. There are plenty of food and beer/alcohol stands, mainly around the entrance to the outdoor venue. One drawback (or benefit depending on your preference) is that since it is outdoors, people will be smoking. Overall, I really enjoyed myself.
I love going to shows here but yall need to rearrange the inside layout. Its absolute hell trying to find a spot to enjoy the show with out a heard of people trying to get to the bathroom or to the pizza. Im not sure how it is for tall people but its One Star only for me. anywhere you stand in the entire building including the limited spaces upstairs is chaos.
This is an amazing venue with an incredible setup. They have no standing zones around the bars, bleachers to boost you up over the crowd, and plenty of standing room with great view of the stage. Accoustics were great and bar service was quick. Parking is super easy, so much parking around the venue. Ill be going back for more shows in the future.
Its my third favorite venue in Columbus. Lots of room, decent acoustics, excellent sound system, a GA Pit, and access to great food and drink in house provided by Mikeys Late Night Slice. Pro tip, take the doors across from the entrance to the bathroom to access the courtyard for a quick cool off or smoke break.
Love this place. Prices for vending are high, but everything I had was good and the show was fantastic. Reminds me of a more intimate Blossom when outside. Inside was nice, maybe a little claustrophobic getting out, but loved it.
Loved the atmosphere of this place, but cheap folding chairs were uncomfortable. Too many people smashed together made it a less than ideal experience.
Ive went 3 years in a row now for NXT and its an excellent venue for wrestling. Easy to get to, convenient parking and decent pizza. I also saw a concert outside here many years ago and it was one of the best shows.
Best place in Columbus to see a show. Ive been coming here for 20 years. Promowest, the LC, Express Live...throughout all the name changes, it has always remained at the top for concert venues. Ample parking nearby and plenty of food options inside. Near many restaurants and bars.
Very nice outside venue! Its smaller but holds a lot of people. Everything is general admission. I was right up front for these pictures taken but even way in the back of the lawn, youll have a great view of the concert. I highly recommend going to a venue here if you get the chance.
The venue is super nice. There’s an upstairs and downstairs. It’s a large venue which can hold a lot of people. The bar is good. And the best part about this venue by far is the pizza in there! So fire and be sure to use the sauces.
Great place for a concert whether its indoors or outdoors under the stars. Be advised, drinks are pricey!!
Great place, but they will literally search anything and everything on you. Just a heads up
This (awolnation) was my fourth time here. Ive seen over a hundred concerts around the country and this is becoming my favorite venue. All seating is general admission, so go where you like. Like to mosh and dance? Get down on the floor. Like your space, move to the back. Want a better view? Go up to the balcony. Bars and restrooms are easy to access. Venue is right off the highway with plenty of nightlife around. Bands always bring great performances here, and the acoustics are perfect.
Good vibes, awesome music..meet great people
Great outdoor venue, would definitely go to another show here. Visibility is good outside of the pit and theres plenty of room to get around if its not sold out. Even with the sold out NF show, there was comfortable standing room. Didnt buy any food but there looked to be plenty of options for food and drinks. There are multiple entrances which makes getting in easier, but the line for the show was about 3/4 mile long around the block before it started moving.
We went to Express Live to see Lindsey Stirling. The venue was just the right size. We sat in the lawn with our blankets and had great views of the stage. They had ginormous beers! Make sure to check the website for how big of a bag/purse you can bring because many people were turned away at the gate
Venue was great. Show was amazing.I had lost my phone during a show. After confirming that they had found my phone (via email as I live in Illinois), they asked when I was coming to pick it up. I asked for them to send it back to me because its a 6 hour drive (and I would pay shipping) and then never received a response. I attempted to reach out a week later and no response again. I was ghosted and I can only assume my phone has either been sold off or thrown in the garbage. By now its been four/six months and I dont expect my phone. I figured Id share my story.
Absolutely amazing. Saw Ween here in 2018, they were unreal. One of the most exciting and interesting concert venues Ive ever been to. It has this whole entire market place enclosed within the venue in like a mini gated community. With excellent Foods and great alcohol selection. Lovely outdoor venue. Good parking. Organized staff. Do recommend going.
Awesome, awesome venue. The sound quality was great, especially for it being outdoors. The staff were very kind; I was using a crutch for the concert and they kindly helped me get through the metal detectors and directed me to the ADA area. There is a nice concrete standing-room area in front of the stage, an elevated grassy patch behind that, and all the way back, a deck with benches and picnic tables. Even from the very back, the view was pretty good.
Went and saw Alice Cooper the other day. You can see the band pretty well no matter where you are in there which is good. You can get pretty close if you dont mind being crowded. But it Rained Really hard for a while. There is really no place to get out of the rain. Dont expect any of the staff to be nice enough to let you stand under any kind of tent they have for a few minutes to get out the rain unless your VIP. I went to stand under one and a lady working there told me I couldnt stand there so back out into the Pouring Rain I went. We did finally find we could go to the bar and be out of the rain.
Great venue for outdoor shows. Indoor shows are good but difficult to see if in the back. Intimate venue though so always a fun time.
This venue is the bees knees. Great inside and out. Seen lots of shows here and its all fabulous. Awesome beer prices too!
If you’re short you cannot see anything at a crowded show at this place. I did not like it at all and I was never going to go there again but they changed the venue on a show from Newport to here and I am so mad and do not like it. I bought tickets to go to the Newport not to express live but those greedy people at express live wanted to make more money since it’s sold out at the Newport I would’ve given zero stars if I could
Love this venue! I appreciate the fence and ramped up floors on the higher part of the flooring. Came for Blitzmas and finally saw Chevelle. Also came for Megan Thee Stallions block party. Would reccomend and definitely will return for other shows
This could be my new favorite venue. Incredibly friendly staff with tons of parking options for a quick getaway. Sound and stage were also top notch. Shout out to CBUS for an incredibly polite crowd. No pushing and shoving and ample room for fist-pumping in the front row. Super impressed.
Went to see Chelsea Cutler at the indoor venue, the drinks are pricey but overall a very fun time! I was stuck behind two 65 guys the majority of the concert (Im 52) so make sure to get there early for a good spot if youre GA (standing room)!
Great music venue with indoor and outdoor concert options. Good beer and food selection. There are table seating options and very accessible facilities.
Hundreds of people were in line hours before the venue opened, which is a very common thing at these big concerts. There were no restroom facilities available without walking a few blocks and imposing on restaurants in the vicinity. There is nothing on the website (unless I missed it) about purses or bags, but once you get to the ticket takers, you will likely be sent back to your vehicle (and out of your place in line) to put your purse away. No outside food is allowed in, but the had exactly ONE food option. Pizza. Thats it. No snacks. Nothing. So, if (like many) you cannot eat pizza, you dont have any choice to eat anything at all. The tickets gave the faulty impression that the show was supposed to start around 7. Gates opened at 6:30. The opening act came out at 8:15. There was a full 20 minutes of absolutely nothing. Then the main act started at 9pm. We had traveled 2 1/2 hours to the concert and would not have done so if there were any indication that this is how the concert had been planned. (Which it was. There was no unexpected delay. I confirmed this with the staff) The venue supposedly maxes out at around 5,600. It was a sold out show. Sold out of room to walk anywhere. Sold out of time to wait in line for all the things. And sold out of any personal space because you couldnt find any clear aisle or sidewalk or anything with how many people were packed in. The band was fantastic. the sound techs were great. The staff were all really polite, friendly and helpful. oh, and good luck breathing when one in 5 people around you is smoking cigarettes or weed. That is expected, I get it. But thought Id throw that out there for those who bring kids or asthmatics to a concert there. Because you are not allowed to stomp on smokers right to destroy your lungs while they choose to ruin theirs.
An amazing venue for listening to good music and having a drink.
Nice venue, staff was really friendly and helpful. Drinks weren’t too high price but food was a bit ridiculous. $10 for a pretzel and $6 for a slice of cheese pizza. Box seats were really nice except for the fact that people were chain smoking all around us. Someone in our party was very sensitive to it and she had to cover her face half the evening. The show was great though.
Some weird seat configurations that wont be clear unless youve been there before, but really helpful staff and great sound. Just the right size for a concert. Good pours. Dont waste your time with the single and just go for the double.
Went with the family to see Brit Floyd. Outstanding performance. Stage was set up great. Everything sounded good. Just the right amount of vendors and they had quite the stock on merchandise. Nothing too overly priced with it being a concert. Only complaint would be the chairs. They were uncomfortable. Still a great time.
Had a great night, as always! Express Live is my favorite venue for shows. I wish more were outdoors, but nothing beats their indoor electronic shows. The lights are always the best there!
Although this place can get really rowdy indoors, when attending the outside venue it is great. I really like this venue. Safe and secure. Always clean and very friendly staff. Great and easy location to find in the Arena District. Ive never purchased tickets for this venue that were over $60/ticket. The set and stage are great. Awesome view from wherever you are indoor or outdoor. If giving a recommendation I would choose the outdoor venue instead of the indoor just because its so crowded. Overall, Express Live has never let me down with any artist Ive seen and I intend to go back in November to see Starset again.
One of my favorite venues in Columbus! I’ve been to multiple concerts here, indoors and out, and I always have a blast.
Ive been to several indoor concerts at Express LIVE, which were great. However, last nights show was my first outdoor concert experience at the venue and it was fantastic! Every area had a great view. The entire place was clean, including the restroom, which remained clean and stocked with hand soap, paper towels, etc. The staff was very friendly, and the prices were good for both alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. Great experience!
Plenty of space to hear your favorite artist. I enjoy standing by the sound guys for the best overall mix, plus you are closer to the bar. Outdoor concerts are nice too, and dont wait in line for a drink - theres a bar at the very back. Also treat yourself to Mikeys Late Night Slice.
Fantastic sized venue for all seasons! Ive both seen and met some of my favorite performers here. Easy and affordable parking, too.
Express Love is a great location for outdoor concerts. Plenty of space, great views, great bands. Also a big fan of the 32oz beer and Mikeys Late Night Slice!
Love the venue, big enough to get big artists, small enough to get close. Ive only been there for indoor shows but theyve been awesome
One of my favorite venues for concerts. This particular time I saw Frank Turner. It is not super huge, but they bring in some great artists. It also offers outdoor concerts as well as indoor concerts. The sound is usually good and the establishment seems to be ran well. The only downside is how strict the bag size is (I dont suggest bringing one at all). It is also mostly just standing room, which is fine for me but not so much for others.
Went here for my first Starset concert. They were very professional with checking bags and tickets at the door. Normally you cannot bring bags over a certain size, but I have special medication I have to carry with me in my purse. They checked my bag and didnt give me any trouble keeping it with me. The bar was great and the restrooms were clean and great too! I was surprised. The acoustics were great and I had an amazing time.
The facility is on the smaller side, it was clean, bathrooms are in great shape and employees act in a professional manner. The only thing I was not happy about, was that they sold general admission tickets but when our group arrived, they are actually assigned seats. Luckily, there were still open seats beside us through the night, so we were able to all sit together. I would not have given all 5 stars had we been separated. Seat assignments should be listed when you purchase tickets.
I have been to this concert venue multiple times. Even before they changed their branding from LC Pavillion to Express Live. This place is almost always a good time. In door and out door venues and brings in a lot of really diverse and big acts. If you plan on drinking at all dont forget your ID. They have patrols on lookout for under aged drinking and the alcohol prices are insane. Over all this place is a great place to see your next show/concert. Highly recommend and will certainly be back again.
Awesome setup. Good sound. Longggg lines. Its like a mini version of whats formerly known as the world near Chicago. But a very cool atmosphere
Needs seating. Not 2 sound like a huge douche canoe But: the place lacks all remnants of character. Its basically a giant pole barn with a small pit area. Concrete floors void of any sound quality. Just my 2 cents. Coors 24oz 6.25 Guinness talls 6.50 as of 10/11/19 in case any ones interested.
My first visit here, but not the last! Good acoustics, clean, well organized, and a nice layout with the back part of the floor elevated so the back of the room can see better. Staff was friendly and professional. Great place to see a show!
The staff was super friendly and on their game. Plenty of bars to get drinks quickly. However, the show was EXTREMELY packed (at the indoor venue) to the point where it was almost unbearable...
Love going to concerts here...both the indoor and outdoor venues. Great acoustics! Still travel back up to Columbus from Nashville to see shows here.
Great venue. Make sure to take a blanket for hillside seating. You also may stand down by stage. Stage is close and viewing us excellent. Bar service and some food available.My wife and I really enjoyed Ted Nugent along with the opening group, Michael Austin band. Staff was very helpful and friendly.
Umphrys killed it
Once again, one of the worst experiences Ive ever had seeing live music in the city. The band (Lord Huron) was absolutely phenomenal and their performance was incomparable, but my experience with the venue and their staff once again made it an awful experience.The concert itself was oversold by at least two hundred people making it incredibly crowded and impossible to find any comfortable place to watch the show. Because its standing room only on the inside (would have been a much better experience had it been done outside), the temperature was incredibly thick and hot and made it difficult to breathe. I sat on the bleachers on the top floor and it was so packed with people, I have knees in my back the whole time and couldnt get comfortable enough when I was sitting - but it wouldnt have mattered anyway because everybody in the bleachers was standing and obstructing my view.It became so difficult to breathe in fact that I started having a panic attack and you had to get outside as quickly as possible. I had to climb off the side of the bleachers because there were so many people in them that there was no way I could find my way to the one staircase that I used to get onto it. We asked someone in security if we could use the nearby staircase to get downstairs and outside even though it was located behind a barricaded area and we were told no - despite in forming them that it was an emergency. I had to weave my way through an impossibly thick crowd to get to the exit one floor down and on the side of the venue. We stayed outside for the remainder of the concert because even though we tried to come back in on one occasion, it was too crowded to see the stage.This is the second time Ive had a bad experience watching a show at Express Live and absolutely will not be returning for any future concerts. The staff is incredibly difficult oh, doesnt seem to recognize when they need to help someone in the throes of an emergency and makes the entire experience altogether unpleasant.
Been going here for a long time. Outdoor concerts here are definitely my preference. Indoor concerts can be hard to see, I wish the stage was 4 feet higher so people could see from any place inside.
Loving the show! Great venue.
Im only giving this venue a 2 because the event parking was only $5 but besides that, this was not a good experience at all. My wife and I drove from Pittsburgh to be at this show and we wish it would have stayed at the Newport Music Hall like originally scheduled. My wife is 5 months pregnant and it hurts her feet to stand around. So we asked the staff there if we could get her a seat upstairs in the balcony, even offered to pay for it and we were shot down. They said every seat was already sold out. Which wasnt true at all, there was plenty of seats open upstairs through out the night but the staff was not very friendly or accommodating. We went on a little trip to just get away for a weekend before our son arrives in August and it was almost ruined. We sat on the bleachers upstairs for the first two bands and obviously couldnt see anything because of everyone standing in front of us. We ended up walking downstairs and leaning against the stair railing to help with her back and feet. Every venue in Pittsburgh is accommodating for issues like these, offering seats or better, more safe views for pregnant women, we have a 3 year old and when she was pregnant, the venues would give us balcony seating or safer seating without obstructed views. Just something to think about, women who are pregnant still like to go out and enjoy their favorite bands. Instead, we had to worry about her feet swelling, her hip seizures from standing so long and drunk idiots approaching her twice and giving us issues. So thank you Express Live for being one of the worst venues weve ever been to.
Nice and intimate venue. I like the three levels facing the stage. Parking and traffic can be horrible if there happens to be a Clippers home game, or anything at Nationwide Area.
Excellent outdoor venue for concerts
Great time like always!
Lindsey Stirling and The Federal Empire were amazing! Will be back to see other artists play at this venue!
Very fun! Convert was awesome service was good. VIP tickets to reserve a seat is worth it if you want a place to sit otherwise be prepared to stand
The sound quality is amazing. They book some amazing musicians. The only downside is that they start staff, in the GA area, that need WAY more training. I was mid recording, on my phone, and I was kicked out for being violent*. The reality of the situation was that the person behind me kept pushing me forward, into others. The MGR on duty was very apologetic for her subordinates behavior. I, at no point, demanded compensation. I understand that this is a stressful environment. The team member probably felt pressure from the massive amount of people who where actually causing trouble. Please prepare your team for proper conflict resolution, and ensure that innocent concert goers are not burdened by false allegations of violent behavior.Sincerely,Concerned guest
We attended an indoor concert (ZEDD) and I was pleasantly surprised by the space. It was not very big, but we werent packed in as tight as I feared. The bar staff was friendly and patient, but the drink prices felt a little high for the size of the drinks we received (but Ive also never been to a concert before.) The bathrooms were passable. The staff was fun and helped us feel at ease. I would attend another concert here!
As always, great experience at Express Live. The thing about attending a concert is that if you love the artist or band, it is difficult to have a bad time. With that being said, Express Live outdoors improves an already great experience with options in how you want to view your concert. The pit is large if you like the up close and personal experience, but I am partial to the lawn seating. You can bring a blanket to claim your spot and your elbow room on the lawn. You can stay sitting during the opening act if you so choose. The lawn is graded, so you can see over the head of the person in front of you. The lawn makes for a great experience everytime.
Its packed with exciting music and full of rock n bad peeps loved it
We were there for Ted Nugent! First time for us. We were quite impressed. Loved the atmosphere, the wonderful smells in the air. Great nite for music.
The concert I went to was awesome with really good sound! The customer service was also great considering it was raining right around the time everyone would be in line waiting for the doors to open. Instead of letting us stand in the rain for too long, they opened two gates, one at the regular entrance and one through the A&R Bar next door where we were able to buy some Mikeys Late Night Slice and drinks if we wanted (which I did because this was right around dinner time). Mind you, it is also an outdoor venue so I thought it was pretty considerate for them to have ponchos for sale for $5, which I think are overpriced but well worth not having to stand through a wet concert.
Suoer fun venue. Drinks are a little pricey, but whatever. Sound and lights are great. Ive seen MGMT and Phantogram in the last few months. The crowds are chill and respectful. A lot of standing room on the lower level and a cool balcony with seating (sometimes its open and sometimes its not). Nice courtyard past the restrooms if you need some air or a smoke or want to have a conversation during the openers or in between acts. They serve pizza by the slice here too. I havent tried it, but if youre buzzed or high, it looks pretty decent. A lot of parking around the venue (pay to park, usually pretty cheap).
Both the indoor and outdoor setting provides great views and great sound. There has always been plenty of staff and security to make you feel safe and to keep the venue looking great. Sometimes the entrance process is a bit slow, but there is plenty of parking in a nice area of town.
Awesome venue if outside. They oversell indoor shows
Unless you get VIP tickets or premium seating dont bother. You cant see the stage unless youre taller than everyone else there. People were packed in like sardines, nice cash grab. Monitors didnt even work either, 90% of the audience didnt see the concert!!!
A lot of my favorite bands play here. Theres not much in the way of seating (which is reserved), most tickets are standing room. Comfortable shoes are a must! But theres a rail that divides the pit from the rest of the venue. Food and drink are expensive, but thats standard for a concert venue.
Great music venue. Make sure you check the bag restrictions. 8 x 5 max for purses. We had to leave my wifes purse outside. They should at least have a check room with those limitations or have Ticketmaster tell the guests.
Have been there multiple times. Amazing when you can get closer to the stage or are in the VIP section. The pizza is delish too!
This place is amazing! Live show upstairs have bar and seats. Lots of space and great sound. Check jt out with your favorite band!
Always love express live outdoor shows!
Smaller than I had expected, but that did not take away from the experience!. Nice and straight forward and pretty clean! NF was outstanding when I went, and Im sure this venue will not disappoint you when you come to see your favorite band/artist!!!
Cozy venue, awesome speakers and a terrific view from upstairs. extremely close to ample parking.
Nice place for the most part. The staff is friendly. Bathrooms are port-o-pottys which were horribly gross. It is right by a train track so when the trains pass you can barely hear what is going on on stage and the floor shakes.
Great concert venue, alchohol prices and food prices werent that bad.
Great venue. Been here several times. Havent been able to see outdoor show yet.
Decent concert venue, but hard to get any accommodations. I needed a chair, and was told to stand for a long while till they got around to getting one. They do have freely available water though!
Great indoor and outdoor venue! Ive seen a bunch of different bands performing here and its always a blast!there are two levels on the inside which is nice if you dont want to be right up on the stage. The outdoor part has a bowl and grass hills you can set up blankets on which is nice for someone who doesnt want to stand the entire concert.
I cant account for the outdoor venue since Ive not been in it, but the indoor venue is pretty nice and clean. A good spacious room for shows. They have a well stocked bar and even a place to get pizza by the slice. Ive been there for a couple of events, and I would definitely go back.