If you follow me on social media (I am @blm03 on all platforms) or are a regular reader here, you will know that I attend Chicago Open Air last summer at Toyota Park in Bridgeview IL. If you are new here, I did quite a few posts about my experience. Yes, I plan on heading to Chicago Open Air in 2017.
The #1 question I have been getting is if the VIP tickets are worth it. Now, if you don't know yet, here's the lineup for 2017 Chicago Open Air:
Now that you've calmed down reading that list of amazing bands, you have to decide which tickets to buy: single day, weekend bowl, weekend field, and VIP. Now, single day tickets sold out last year, so if you want to go to this festival, get your tickets now. (After showing my Lyft driver this lineup last week, he went and bought a ticket!) These are all different price points (which I'm not listing because as it gets closer, the prices go up). Now, before you go into sticker shock, let me tell you why VIP is worth it.
First, if you are a girl, you will never stand in line for a bathroom. Seriously. I've done festivals before and missed bands, because I had to pee. I never once had to stand in line ever.
Second, no/or really short lines for food. You don't want to stop jamming for food. However, you have three days of bands so you really have to eat or you aren't going to make it. The VIP section has its own food people in there. We stood in line no longer than 5 minutes to get food. The food was good too. Super filling, super delicious food was had by all the vendors they had there. We did try some of the food in the regular venue, and it took forever to get and you are waiting in the sun the entire time.
Third, there is a place to sit down and eat. Best of all, it's under a huge tent so you sit in the shade and eat. There are TVs in there, so you don't miss a thing from the main stage. The other fun part of this is that we got to meet some really awesome people who sat at our table.
Fourth, watching from the VIP area is pretty sweet. Great views that you don't have to stand for hours to get. (** that being said, if you want front up against the fence spots for the headliners you will have to stand there from about 4-5 pm. General admission people were lining up and staying there from the time the gates opened in the morning. ) Also, if you are like us and watch both stages (they stagger the start times so you can see all the bands if you want too!), you only have to walk over to the second stage. If you have bowl tickets, you are walking up and down the stairs a million times. It may be because we are older (we both turn 40 this year), but for us this alone makes it worth it.
Fifth, you never know who is going to climb into the VIP section. (Yes, that's Marilyn Manson. I did get to touch him. That isn't zoomed in either. I had one hand on the camera and my other hand outreached.)
Sixth, the VIP had so much less of the “stupid” people. If you ever have been to concert, you know who I am talking about. These are the people who get so hammered they can't stand. They act like idiots. The majority of the people in VIP were behaving themselves and it did swing to an older crowd. For the most part, we met some of the most incredible people. My favorite was the 60ish reporter who flew in from Seattle for Rammstein. She is exactly how I want to be when I grow up.
I could go on and on. Chicago Open Air is one of the best festivals we've gone too. As you can see, I think the VIP tickets are well worth it. If you head out to Chicago Open Air this summer, let me know so we can Rock On together. (Is it bad that I am still in love with the shirt Bill bought there last year? It still makes me laugh.)
It sounds like a great music festival. There were a lot of great bands at this mega concert.
We live close to Chicago and know this is a big thing there. You get to see tons of different performers. You never know what will happen. Have fun.
Festival food is the bomb! I haven’t been to a huge concert event like this in years. Have a great time this year!
Sounds like getting the VIP tickets are definitely worth it. I am totally with you on the whole standing in line for the bathroom. You had right there! LOL
My bladder is worse than the kids. I need easy quick bathroom access. LOL
I’ve never heard of the Chicago open air before and I used to live really close to there. It looks like you had a fun time at the concerts!
This is the 2nd year!
Not having to wait long for both food and bathrooms makes it worth it to me. Cool experience you had!
Wow now that is the most amazing line up. I would so love to go myself and see it with my own eyes! Have an amazing time.
I think it’s ok to make the most of the experience by going VIP. It’s not common that all these performers go together in an event.
Haha looks like you had an awesome time! No lines are the best, I hate going to events because I just hate waiting in line!
The list of bands performing is totally awesome. I have a few fave in this genre. From the pictures it’s worth it for the VIP.
It sounds like you had a great time at Chicago Open Air. I bet VIP is worth it just so you don’t have to wait in line for bathrooms.
Totally!
Woah, that line up is amazing! I have heard great things about Open Air in Chicago. Also, that food has me hungry now! I love good music and good food, great combination.
The Chicago Open Air festival sounds amazing. I would love to go to one of these some day. The VIP tickets I think would indeed be worth it . Thanks for sharing your experience.
Those are popular bands! I’d truly love to have the VIP ticket and get up close with my fave band.
This looks like it was a lot of fun! Seems like you had a blast! Sounds to me like VIP tickets are way worth it!
I think it is worth it to pay more to get VIP passes. The perks you get are just awesome. I can’t believe you even have a VIP hang-out area.
If I didn’t live so far away I’d go for sure. I love the bands and I think it sounds like it’s worth it to me. A fun time for all.
What an awesome experience sounds like a fun music festival and should get the VIP tickets
I would get VIP passes to avoid long wait at registration/gates. I have never been to Chicago Festival, sounds pretty fun.