Los Angeles - Staples Center vs. Hollywood Bowl

My wife would like to go, during an upcoming visit to L.A. to a Josh Grobin concert at the Staples Center. I've not been to the Staples Center, and it's been years since I've been to a concert of any sort in a basketball/convention arena. I'd be interested in how the acoustics are. I suggested a classical conert (symphony and ballet) at the Hollywood Bowl as an atlernative (more of a unique eperience, IMHO). Thanks.

I've only seen one concert at Staples, U2 several years ago, and I'm no audiophile but the acoustics did seem less than adequate. I'd seen U2 probably 25 times since the beginning in the early 80's, so it could also have very well been that it's my hearing that's now less than adequate!

The Hollywood Bowl is a destination venue, don't think you can wrong with that.

Also for a great "unique" experience and one where acoustics are optimal - The Walt Disney Concert Hall is a "must hear", and with Gehry's architecture a "must see" - atleast once.
http://www.laphil.com/watchlisten/virtualtour.cfm

But if your wife's a Groban fan - do you really have a choice here? ;)

My wife would like to go, during an upcoming visit to L.A. to a Josh Grobin concert at the Staples Center. I've not been to the Staples Center, and it's been years since I've been to a concert of any sort in a basketball/convention arena. I'd be interested in how the acoustics are. I suggested a classical conert (symphony and ballet) at the Hollywood Bowl as an atlernative (more of a unique eperience, IMHO). Thanks.

I agree with you.

You can attend a concert set in a large indoor arena in just about any U.S. city. The Hollywood Bowl (http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/), on the other hand, is the quintessential Los Angeles experience.

BTW, the Bowl is not limited to classical programming. The schedule (http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/calendar-fullseason.cfm) includes jazz, pop, international music and Broadway musicals.

Thanks for the input. We're actually in Brazil, but I'm from L.A. and we are in the U.S. a lot. I was last at the Hollywood Bowl probably well over 40 years ago, with my parents. My wife has not been. Neither of us has been to the Staples Center. It just so happens that the one night we could go to the Hollywood Bowl there is a program of classical music (Symphonie Fantastique and a ballet). I'm not a real big classical music fan, but my wife likes it. I think she likes Josh Groban-like music even more but I do agree that the Bowl is a more unique experience (and I could buy her a Groban CD). The Bowl also makes it easy with their Park and Ride program (there's one departure lot in Westwood and we'll be staying in Westwood that week).

I was last at the Hollywood Bowl probably well over 40 years ago, with my parents.

The Bowl has been thoroughly remodeled in the last few years. The shell has been completely replaced and the acoustics vastly improved.

Pack a picnic dinner and bring along a nice bottle of wine. There are both Whole Foods (http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/westwood/) and Bristol Farm (http://www.bristolfarms.com/locations_detail.php?loc=72) stores in Westwood. Your wife will enjoy this Southern California summer tradition much more than a concert at Staples Center.

The park and ride is the best way of getting to and from the Bowl.

I'll also second (or third or fourth) the Bowl nomination. I've been there several times, and bringing wine and picnic food is always a nice experience. Concerts indoors just sound bad to me, because of the echo and distortion. The last time I was indoors was in the Houston Reliant Stadium. I fell asleep because it sounded so bad, I couldn't pay attention. Thank goodness for the beer. :)

I live across the street from Staples Center so I am a bit biased. I agree that the Bowl is a more unique experience but make sure it is not 100+ degrees or raining or your experience will not be good. Also there are some VIP Clubs at Staples and you may have an opportunity to interact with the band.

Dinner at the Ritz across from Staples and a concert would be a good experience also (depending on your budget).

But the Bowl is pretty cool.

Have you checked out what's playing at the Greek Theatre (http://www.greektheatrela.com/)? It's another outdoor venue that often has great shows

The Bowl has been thoroughly remodeled in the last few years. The shell has been completely replaced and the acoustics vastly improved.

Pack a picnic dinner and bring along a nice bottle of wine. There are both Whole Foods (http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/westwood/) and Bristol Farm (http://www.bristolfarms.com/locations_detail.php?loc=72) stores in Westwood. Your wife will enjoy this Southern California summer tradition much more than a concert at Staples Center.

The park and ride is the best way of getting to and from the Bowl.IMO, people who write off the Los Angeles area do not understand that you can have wonderful, unique experiences like this here. I cannot recommend this option highly enough -- provided the concert options are sufficiently entertaining. ;)

I live across the street from Staples Center so I am a bit biased. I agree that the Bowl is a more unique experience but make sure it is not 100+ degrees or raining or your experience will not be good. Also there are some VIP Clubs at Staples and you may have an opportunity to interact with the band.

Dinner at the Ritz across from Staples and a concert would be a good experience also (depending on your budget).

But the Bowl is pretty cool.On the one hand, if the Bowl concert is at night, it's unlikely that it'll be all that hot. (Rain? Are you for real? I won't even address that possibility at this time of year. :p)

But, you do make some good points about Staples. There are lots of great things to do near the Staples Center. For example, there are plenty of great restaurants in the immediate vicinity.

Have you checked out what's playing at the Greek Theatre (http://www.greektheatrela.com/)? It's another outdoor venue that often has great showsYeah, but IME, the Greek is too expensive for what you get. It's a great venue (provided you don't drive), but you pay through the nose to get decent seats. You also pay through the nose for really good seats at the Bowl, but you get much more bang for your buck in the cheap seats at the Bowl.

On the one hand, if the Bowl concert is at night, it's unlikely that it'll be all that hot. (Rain? Are you for real? I won't even address that possibility at this time of year. :p)


uhm, it rained saturday night and part of the day sunday...as crazy as it sounds, it should be addressed.

i've never been to the bowl, but the area around staples is pretty incredible.

uhm, it rained saturday night and part of the day sunday...as crazy as it sounds, it should be addressed.OK. Good point. But, honestly, how common is it to see rain at this time of year? Of course it should be considered, but I would say that the likelihood of rain is nearly negligible at any time of the year that the Bowl is open.

i've never been to the bowl, but the area around staples is pretty incredible.They're both great areas, but they're very different.

(And, FWIW, I don't recall any rain in my neighborhood.)

We decided on the Bowl. I did check out the Greek Theatre, but selections were slim. We'll take the bus from the Park-and-Ride lot in Westwood, near where we're staying. I grew up in L.A. so know weather is variable but that odds are in our favor. The show at the Staples Center, the following night, is not out of the question if we decide not to go to either the Channel Islands or Catalina the morning after that. Have stayed at the Millennium Biltmore hotel twice on past trips so know that downtown has really changed.

OK. Good point. But, honestly, how common is it to see rain at this time of year? Of course it should be considered, but I would say that the likelihood of rain is nearly negligible at any time of the year that the Bowl is open.

They're both great areas, but they're very different.

(And, FWIW, I don't recall any rain in my neighborhood.)

I've been to the bowl once when it rained/sprinkled for 3 minutes or so. When people noticed and started packing up, it stopped.

And I also don't recall any rain last weekend.

And I also don't recall any rain last weekend.

It sprinkled Sunday morning. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works precipitation map (http://ladpw.org/wrd/precip/) shows that there was no measurable precipitation in the Hollywood area in the past seven days (http://ladpw.org/wrd/precip/alert_rain/index.cfm?cont=7days.cfm).

It sprinkled Sunday morning. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works precipitation map (http://ladpw.org/wrd/precip/) shows that there was no measurable precipitation in the Hollywood area in the past seven days (http://ladpw.org/wrd/precip/alert_rain/index.cfm?cont=7days.cfm).

Ah. That answers it. Sleeping.

Hollywood Bowl for sure! Glad you chose it. Staples is okay, it's multi-function since Lakers and Kings play there, and concerts too.. lots of parking but traffic can get crazy. I'd pick dinner near the Bowl, along with a shuttle up to it for the concert, any day.

Enjoy!

Ah. That answers it. Sleeping.

i'm not up in hollywood, but i remember waking up sunday morning to a pretty decent downpour. and then during the day it rained for about oh, 20 minutes.

but you're right, it hardly ever rains, that's why i was so surprised this past weekend.

i'm not up in hollywood, but i remember waking up sunday morning to a pretty decent downpour. and then during the day it rained for about oh, 20 minutes.

but you're right, it hardly ever rains, that's why i was so surprised this past weekend.

Well, I was awake from 11am onwards, and I didn't notice any liquid falling from the sky. I live on the west side so maybe it was localized to Hollywood.

The Hollywood Bowl is clearly a better venue that Staples. In the Summer, rain is extremely rare, and if it occurs, it is in the morning. However, if you have garbage seats, Staples is probably the better venue.

Also, parking is a nightmare at the Hollywood Bowl. The close in lots usually stack the cars, meaning you are hemmed in until well after the end of the show. You can alleviate this by bribing the parking attendants with a 50 dollar bill or you can park at the Hollywood and Highland complex which is about a half mile away.

If you are attending with a woman, high heels are not recommended as the walk can be tough in heels.

The garden and terrace boxes are wonderful, depending on the concerts. If you are in these areas, you are allowed to bring your own food, including alcohol. However, this depends on the performer: they allowed wine bottles for Carole King, but not for the Rolling Stones. It all depends on your taste.

However, if you have garbage seats, Staples is probably the better venue. I've only ever sat in good seats at Staples, but the garbage seats there looked pretty bad. I think the difference is that if you have bad seats at the Bowl, you're still outside on a gorgeous night at the Bowl. If you have bad seats at Staples ... well, you're just far from the action.

Also, parking is a nightmare at the Hollywood Bowl.But the nice thing is all of the shuttles one can take to the Bowl. The shuttle that departs from Pasadena, California, is, for example, quite convenient for me. The Studio City shuttle is nice, too.

The Staples Center has nothing like that.

The garden and terrace boxes are wonderful, depending on the concerts. If you are in these areas, you are allowed to bring your own food, including alcohol. However, this depends on the performer: they allowed wine bottles for Carole King, but not for the Rolling Stones. It all depends on your taste.Actually, the ability to BYOB is a little more complicated. Some concerts have independent promoters that are basically renting out the Bowl; others are put on by the operators of the Bowl. I think the independently run concerts do not allow BYOB, whereas Bowl concerts do ... or something like that.

I have never known BYOB to vary according to seating. If you can bring your own wine to a show, it doesn't matter where you're seated IME. But you only get wait service in the very expensive seats. ;)

I think you can always bring in your own food.

I've only ever sat in good seats at Staples, but the garbage seats there looked pretty bad. I think the difference is that if you have bad seats at the Bowl, you're still outside on a gorgeous night at the Bowl. If you have bad seats at Staples ... well, you're just far from the action.


Yes. Exactly. What are garbage seats at the Bowl? You still hear the music, and then you drink and be merry in the back, not disturbing the ones who paid a lot to sit in front. Bring a pair of binoculars, and you can see some people down there playing music or something. :)

Tickets in the back can also be very cheap, down to around $10 a person. And the outdoor fresh air feels better when you're not so enclosed. It's less claustrophobic too in the garbage seats because there aren't as many people.

Yes. Exactly. What are garbage seats at the Bowl? You still hear the music, and then you drink and be merry in the back, not disturbing the ones who paid a lot to sit in front. Bring a pair of binoculars, and you can see some people down there playing music or something. :)

Tickets in the back can also be very cheap, down to around $10 a person. And the outdoor fresh air feels better when you're not so enclosed. It's less claustrophobic too in the garbage seats because there aren't as many people.

^

Yes. Exactly. What are garbage seats at the Bowl? You still hear the music, and then you drink and be merry in the back, not disturbing the ones who paid a lot to sit in front. Bring a pair of binoculars, and you can see some people down there playing music or something. :)

Tickets in the back can also be very cheap, down to around $10 a person. And the outdoor fresh air feels better when you're not so enclosed. It's less claustrophobic too in the garbage seats because there aren't as many people.

I could not agree more. Also, at the end of the season or during 4th of July, the fireworks from the cheap seats are really fun to watch.