The Pepsi Center is at the head of the Denver entertainment scene. It is a massive structure that dominates the downtown area by Six Flags and it capitalizes on its size by surrounding itself with parking lots, creating the illusion that it is isolated in the core of Denver. The Pepsi center is home to the Denver Nuggets basketball team and it hosts shows such as the Cirque du Soleil and Disney on Ice. It also hosts some of the biggest concerts in the Denver area such as Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi, and Ariana Grande. It can hold up to 20,000 people for a concert and cost $180 million to build (all of which are reported to be private funds) and construction lasted 21 months. It is reported that it takes around 1000 people to staff an event and is built on 45 acres of land.
The Pepsi center is a monolithic structure that presides over the popular entertainment in Denver; yet for a city that prides itself on the unique structures and culture surrounding entertainment (Red Rocks, The Fillmore, The Ogden, Ophelia’s, ect…) the Pepsi Center feels out of place. There is a prevailing sense of consumerism that is inherent in the structure; even the name Pepsi Center just oozes corporate money and commodities. Though I have only attended a few concerts at the Pepsi Center, these few experiences were enough to dissuade me from attending any future events (though I am sure there will be exceptions to this statement).
While the Pepsi Center may be fit for function for larger sporting and ice events, many regular concert goers maintain that there is a loss of connection when attending a concert at this venue. The crowd is too large, the stage too far, and the people too internally focused. So while the Pepsi Center may be the head of the entertainment scene in Denver, I would argue that the heart remains in the smaller venues. The Ogden, The Bluebird, Summit Music Hall, and Red Rocks (just to name a few) continue to propagate the intimacy of concerts and the individuality of venues that adds texture and variety to the diverse music scene in Denver.
Okay I know I am supposed to put something constructive here, BUT I absolutely agree with this and your opinion 100%! I totally agree that larger music venues like this make the concert less intimate, and can make you feel very unconnected. I love smaller concert venues that only have standing room so you can dance and feel the music. I have never been to a concert in the Pepsi Center, but I have been to a similar venue in Las Vegas and it just feels kind of awkward and unenjoyable. The smaller theaters in Denver are awesome! I still haven't been to a show at Red Rocks, but I really need to go! I also agree with the fact that Denver prides itself on culture, and the Pepsi Center kind of goes against this. Yes, totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteWow, I love this perspective. I have never really thought about this, but this is a great observation. I feel like the only "crtique" I have is maybe try to make the part on how it makes people uncomfortable longer. I really don't know what else to say, because I really enjoyed this and the new perspective your piece gave me.
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