bstoll1 said: "Can anyone comment on how it was to be in the PIT. My concern is if have a jacket and small drawstring backpack....what am I expected to do with them while standing for 3 hours? I assume they don't want us holding our bags and/or wearing our coats. Was there a place to check bags and coats for those standing in the pit?"
I'm not sure if you'll be warmer from standing close to other people in the pit, but I was very grateful for my coat (a lightweight jacket.) It was chilly inside, and during each "commercial" break they blasted the AC. They turned it off (it was pretty noisy) during the show.
Here's a rough timeline of today:
Arrived just before 2, although my ticket said to join the line at 3. Upon arrival, seated tickets lined up inside, pit outside. Once we got inside, there was one line for both general and priority seats downstairs. They split us into two lines once we got upstairs.
They started processing (scanning 1iota tickets and handing out wristbands, and I believe giving out the printed JCS tickets) for priority fairly soon after that, maybe 2:30ish?? They started processing general tickets right around 3. At this point, they had also let in priority pit tickets.
We were back downstairs and waiting to get onto the shuttles around 3:45. There were pit tickets in line downstairs, and still a lot of pit tickets in line outside by the time we boarded around 4. It took awhile for us to board, the shuttles to actually move, and then get to the Armory. Once we were at the Armory, it took some more time before we could get off the bus, into the next line to enter, lock our phones, and go through the metal detectors.
They had run out of JCS tickets with printed seat locations right before us. Only the first 20 people or so of the general line got printed JCS tickets. We got a second wristband instead. Our group without tickets was waiting inside the venue right around 4:50, and they then later led us to the seated section in between pit and the bleachers (where most of the priority tickets were sitting)
Once we got seated, it was just after 5 I believe. A group in our section left to go to the restroom. When they came back, they did a last call to escort the next group to the restroom. We were then escorted in groups of about 4-5 back outside and to the restroom trailers across the street. This is when I was told to hurry, they're starting soon in about 15 minutes.
The show started right around 6. They took "commercial" breaks, each about 3-5 minutes long. The show ended right around 8:30.
Reiterating to make sure you eat before, or eat while you're on line at check in. I was super hungry and dehydrated when we got out! I noticed they didn't check our bags too thoroughly, but no idea if they'll be stricter tomorrow. That being said, they probably won't notice if you bring a small snack, just make sure it's hidden.
Updated On: 3/31/18 at 11:23 PM