Incredible week and still standing

Talk about not knowing if you're coming or going. The past week was crazy here at the complex with the Def Leppard/Journey concert, Milwaukee Bucks game, Sweet Street at ShopKo Hall and the Gamblers games Friday and Saturday nights. The operations crew was busy switching the Resch Center from hockey to concert to basketball court to hockey.

The Def Leppard/Journey was awesome Wednesday night. It was the third for Def in the Resch Center and the second time for Journey. I believe it was the best Def Leppard has sounded in three trips here. Journey sounded pretty good too with the new lead singer. The entire band (Journey)did the meet & greet with fans who won them through radio stations. On the other hand, only lead singer Joe Elliott appeared for the Def Leppard meet & greet, but the lucky fans who won them were thrilled that it was him who showed up.

A few Toby Keith notes from his two appearances here a couple of weeks ago. After the first concert on Thursday night, Toby and some of his crew played cards in the Resch Center. Then, during the day on Friday, the Toby crew went curling at the Green Bay curling club to pass some time and have some fun.

On the music front, just announced for the Meyer Theatre on December 10 - Hoobastank! Things still on the horizon include Disturbed, All American Rejects, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Herman's Hermits Christmas show, Oak Ridge Boys Christmas show. Did I mention motorcyle ice racing at the Brown County Arena. No reason for any of us to be bored this fall and winter!! Check out the ticket star Web site for everything that's coming! Until next time....see you in the seats!

Toby Times Two

Well, at this writing, Toby Keith has performed the first of his two concerts at the Resch Center. About 6,000 people left with a big smile on their face at the end. If you know anything about Toby Keith, you know he wants you to know he is a regular guy who rejects the glitz and glamour that a lot of the other stars clamor for. More reaction about his concerts and a few behind the scenes notes next week.

Meanwhile,a little bit about the set up for such a concert. The Tobe meister and his crew, at least his crew, were in Green Bay by late Tuesday. The tour arrived with 8 semis and 8 buses. They didn't start setting up for the concert until about 8 a.m. on Thursday. They set up the whole set during the day. That's pretty typical for a big concert. When they're done, they're able to tear it down even faster and many times are out of the building in 2-3 hours.

The Friday night show was pretty much sold out several days before the concert, but the Thursday show had room. In any case, if a show is ever advertised as sold out and you want to go, just check with the Oneida Casino Ticket Star box office in the Resch a day or two before the concert. Many times, tickets get released. I'm guessing Toby didn't sell out both shows like his last stop here because he just headlined Country USA in Oshkosh this past June. Some folks probably figured they'd just seen him and would save their money for the next big Country act to hit the Resch.....and there will be another big one coming!

In the meantime, the Gamblers are off to a great start and the team has its annual Caps for Cancer Toss game this Saturday night. Def Leppard and Journey are at the Resch next Wednesday night, Oct. 25 and the Milwaukee Bucks are here the next night on Oct.26. So until next time....see you in the seats!

TC

Welcome to TC's Venue Vibes Blog!!!

Well, the busy season is upon us. The Brown County Veterans Memorial Complex and the Meyer Theatre will be hopping pretty much from now until the end of April. As all of the events channel through here, it is my hope you will gain useful information from this blog to know what is coming next.

But I'd also like to offer insight into what has been here. We many times have interesting stories after a concert or a family event. I will share those happenings in this space. I may also share my thoughts about certain things, but I will not review concerts because that is not my expertise. I know what I like and I may tell you that, but that's only my personal taste. But then again, I guess that's no different than someone who reviews an event professionally. It really is about personal taste. In any case, I welcome your comments and observations as well.

Most recently, we had the Wisconsin Badgers hockey team at the Resch Center playing Northern Michigan University. It was a great weekend. NMU was the host team as it moves it's two home games to the Resch. This gave them the chance to expose their university to the Green Bay area and a chance to make some money because the Resch Center has a far greater capacity than their home rink. We had close to 5,000 people here on that Friday night and about 7,000 on Saturday night.

Coming up...A big weekend as the Gamblers have their home opener on Saturday night, October 14th. Then, Toby Keith is here for two nights on October 19 and 20. There are still plenty of tickets left for Thursday night! Until next time, see you in the seats!

~TC