STEWART COPELAND

As I posted on the Tickets page, I might be in the Bay Area at the same time as The Police, so I might be getting tickets for the concert in Oakland.

But the venue is a baseball stadium (stage in outfield), which totally screws with my ability to figure out where to look for seats. (I've never been to a concert at a baseball stadium obviously.)

Football stadiums and hockey arenas are easy to figure out cuz of the shape -- but how do the viewing angles work in a (big circular) baseball stadium? The lower level seats that are closest to the stage seem like they'd have a view of nothing but backstage, while the seats with the better angles seem so far away!

I don't think floor seats will work cuz my friend is on the wee side (and my chances of scoring affordable front rows is smaller than my chances of fitting into a pair of short-shorts), so I'm thinking about lower (first) levels.

Help? Recommendations?

If it's helps, this is the venue: http://www.ticketmaster.com/seatingchart/229689/18192 .

Thanks!

[ETA to fix stage location -- cuz I'm an idiot]

I feel your pain, DM...I'm seriously considering tix to Churchill Downs in Louisville. But as I've already got tix to four other Police shows, I'm not sure which level I want.

Of course I'd love the 225, but this is starting to really add up, so I may settle for 50 to make sure I'm in the door, then troll Ebay for bargains...

Sorry to be of no help on your request, tho.

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert at this, but it appears the side seats don't look like they go that far toward the back of the stage, except for sections 200, 300, 234 and 334. I'd probably aim for sections 102, 103, 132 or 131, then 202, 203, 232 or 231. But that's just my opinion.

Thanks for the shared pain, Dive. I'm kinda stoked that I might actually see them twice. Trying not to get hopes up cuz I'm not sure if my friend is into the idea or just wants to make me happy. But it's a weird serendipity that a business trip of hubby's, a visit to friends, and the tour schedule would all match up. So hoping . . .

And thanks for the thoughts, Mardee. You don't think 102-103/131-132 would still be too weird of an angle? Seems like the view of Andy/Sting would be okay, but -- I don't know if you know this, but they've got this drummer that I hear is phenomenal. Like unto a god even. And I'd really hate not being able to see someone that's unto a god.

(Man, I never thought I'd suddenly feel such an affection for Giants Stadium til I tried to do baseball stadium angle math.)

A phenomenal drummer, eh? Nope, can't say as I've heard of this drummer.... please tell me more.


Asked my hubby's second opinion on the situation, expecting sage advice, and getting: "ummmm, the floor seats are the best seats. Bring a stool? or binoculars?" Not the answer I was looking for. (But reserving punishment for a later date, as he just brought me home ES: TPIO. Yes, I'm slow at getting things.)

It is a pain when you've not been to this type of venue. As I said, no expert here. Perhaps 125-129/105-109, but I'd still lean more to the sides. Let's not forget, Stewart also has much stuff in front of him. Like cymbals. Big ones.

Although I haven't seen a concert where the stage was at home plate, I did see the Police in Comisky Park back in '83, and we got "field seats" (actually, general admission), and they were easily the best seats in the house. The stage would have been in the outfield.

I also saw Bruce Springsteen at Cleveland Stadium where, again, the stage was in the outfield, and I had tickets behind home plate. Worst seats I've ever had at a concert.

My strong advice would be to get floor or field seats. The stadium seats will be at an angle away from the plate, so your perspective will also be at an angle. Plus, how are you gonna' groove to the music in stadium seats?

The only time I've been to one at a baseball stadium, there were no seats... it was general admition.

I feel your pain. I lucked out and ended up with 10th row, but section 2 (WAY off to the side). Then I bought another pair in section 115 (directly across from the stage). I will end up selling the pair I like the least but won't know which seats those are until day of show. Probably not much help...

Crap. Thank you for the brainpower, everyone! but crap. I guess I should try to pose a question of height in the hopes of not pissing anyone off:

If one were not especially tall (around 5'4" maybe?), how many rows back on the field would one be able to go w/o having a terrible view? (Assuming a seat for the front section. I have no idea if standing on the chairs is the norm or not in Oakland.) I want my friend to get to enjoy herself, too.

PS -- Mudspoke, I can groove in the parking lot. It's what I do.

Mardee, don't worry -- I only picked up ES:TPIO a couple of weeks ago myself. (Cymbals and octobans are quite a bit of an annoyance -- damn you, Stewart. For Giants, I actually sat down and figured out the math -- our heights, his height, the likely height of the stage, where the monitors will likely be placed, the whole nine yards. Total geek. But this baseball stadium thing is royally screwing with my limited math powers.) Remind me to tell you about this drummer sometime. I think you might like him.

Thank you, everyone!

For Oakland I bought 3 in sect 101 on the aisle, about 10 rows up. Even though this is on the side it should be a great view and fairly close to the stage- relatively speaking. Oakland is a big stadium, and you don't want to be too far away if you can help it. Also- the earlier you can get to Oakland the better as that stadium tends to have traffic issues (probably like everywhere else). The only other Police show I saw was- in Oakland...same place...

Thank you for the inside info, bret6262. This will be my first trip to the northern CA area, so I'm pretty much clueless.

Since you've been to the venue before, do you mind a couple of questions?

* As side-views go, you don't think 101/133 will end up being blocked by offstage/backstage stuff then? I fear that the sides of the stage that close will be obstructed by lighting trees or the like.

* How far back in the lowers would you suggest to stay within? Say, no further back than 105/129? Or is that even too far away? (The hope is to be able to watch the stage rather than rely on the screens.)

Much obliged and thanks again!

As far as height goes, floor seats SUCK when you are short and not up really close. I once saw Stink from the very last row on the floor at MSG. SUCKED!

Thanks, Kim -- that's exactly what I'm afraid of.

Would you (or anyone) recommend a particular row range (as in, Don't go further back than Row X)? I'm thinking that if I can't get floor seats in the first front section, then I'll get something in the first-tier lowers. But as floor seats go, I'm not sure how many rows back I can look before her enjoyment level drops.

(Of course, there's never any guarantee. You never know who'll be seated in front of you. Just trying to minimize the damage as best as possible.)

Thank you all, as always.

Dangit...I was worried about this as well. I'm at Dodger Stadium on the floor, somewhat centered (relatively), Section F19 row 7 I believe. From looking at StubHub tickets it seems to be about *30 rows back*. I'm 5'6" the rest of my family is roughly the same or a little shorter.

http://media.ticketmaster.com/en-us/tmi ... 18191s.gif

Should I reconsider looking for new tickets??? I had put this to rest....but I don't want to not be able to see

Dangit...I was worried about this as well. I'm at Dodger Stadium on the floor, somewhat centered (relatively), Section F19 row 7 I believe. From looking at StubHub tickets it seems to be about *30 rows back*. I'm 5'6" the rest of my family is roughly the same or a little shorter.

http://media.ticketmaster.com/en-us/tmi ... 18191s.gif

Should I reconsider looking for new tickets??? I had put this to rest....but I don't want to not be able to see