Hey Locals: Baltimore or Northern VA?

“If you could pick, regardless of Distance, would you see a show at The Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA or 1st Mariner Arena Baltimore, MD?


Are either of the venues hellacious in terms of getting the #&%!$ out after a show?”

“Beats the crap outta me.”

“MarkO's chance to shine and he drops the ball. ;-)”

“I've never been to the Patriot Center, you dang Appalachian American!

The First Mariner Arena might be the new name for the Baltimore Civic Center.
If so, its several blocks from the Inner Harbor and there are quite a few routes out of downtown and escape might not be too painful.

Its been twenty years since I even drove through Fairfax(maybe longer) and the traffic situation sucked twenty years ago.
Does it still suck??
I dunno...................probably worse.”

“1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland USA was formerly known as the Baltimore Arena. In 2003, it was renamed by 1st Mariner Bank, which purchased naming rights to the arena for 10 years. It was reported that 1st Mariner Bank will need to pay the city $75,000 for the next ten years to keep the naming rights to the Baltimore Arena. 1st Mariner Bank Arena is located about a block away from the Baltimore Convention Center on the corner of Baltimore Street and Hopkins Place; it is also only a short distance from the Inner Harbor. It seats up to approximately 13,000 people though this number varies depending on the type of event.


The Patriot Center is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fairfax, Virginia, on the campus of George Mason University. It is home to the George Mason Patriots basketball team. Annually, it attracts more than 450,000 visitors with more than 120 events, ranging from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and concerts including David Bowie, Ricardo Arjona, REM, and Linkin Park.

The largest attendance was on November 18, 2006, as 9,804 spectators watched the Patriots raise the 2006 Final Four banner. The Patriots lost the game to Wichita State, 66-72.

In 2005, the Patriot Center was ranked number 51 in ticket sales worldwide by Pollstar. Since its opening, the Patriot Center has hosted more than 7.6 million visitors attending more than 2,400 events.[2]”

“Never been to The Patriot Center.

The Arena is hell getting out of town if you park in one of the local garages. You'll sit for an hour as everyone fights to get out at one time. Better bet is to park at one of the light rail stations and take that to the Arena - it has a stop right next to it. When leaving you'll be on a train within 10 minutes.

http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/lightrail/”

“I'll be going to a show so I hope to be in no condition to drive.”

“Been to both BM. The acoustics in the Patriot center are absolutly HORRIBLE! I saw neil young there and left with a headache the sound was so bad. The Baltimore Arena I saw Dylan and Phil Lesh and friends. Much better acoustics and ample parking. Also you dont have to deal with the crappy NV traffic.



IMHO : )”

“Whenever I visited downtown Baltimore, I never wanted to leave!

So, just walk over to the New Inner Harbor, enjoy some food and good cheer, and then take a taxi home. It's there, enjoy it!”

“Thanks. Getting home late night from baltimore w/o a car might not be feasible. We may have to do Patriot Center.”

“So Bearmagnet, you goin' to see Celine Dion?”

“Blue Man Group. saw them in '03 at the Warner Theater in DC, seats 1800. The show was an Orgy of sensory stimulation unlike anything I had ever experienced before.”

“Ooooo!
Better watch out for those late-nite urban thugs!”