Joe H.
Yelp
Saw my first concert (Dwight Yoakam) at the DMH since the renovation a few years back. I'd hardly call removing the seats on the floor so you can jam more patrons in a "renovation", but that's neither here nor there.
Parking was found easily nearby , but after lining up down the street and around the corner to Broadview, I was told by security that the camera I bring to any other concert venue in the city, a non-professional point-and-shoot with no detachable lens, was not allowed in the venue. The venue's website said it was allowed, but that policy may change on show day at the request of the performer(s). I totally understand that, but the no-camera policy could have been posted at the doors (which I passed on my way to the end of the line) to prevent people from lining up with them.
The box office does not accept debit or credit, according to their website. The merchandise stands do, depending on the artist, of course.
The main level bar was easily accessible, as were the restrooms. The restrooms, however, don't allow for a lot of privacy, as the entry doors are propped open. Fine for the ladies, but gentlemen are left (literally) hanging in the wind in full view of the open doorway.
My wife and I chose balcony seating, preferring a reserved seat to the free-for-all of general admission. For the first two thirds of the show, this was not a problem. But security were going up to everyone who wanted to stand and enjoy the show to sit down? At a concert? In thirty years or more of attending concerts at several venues, I've never seen security tell anyone to sit down and not enjoy themselves. Being forced to sit in seats with little to no legroom for several hours can get quite taxing on the knees for anyone taller than 5'6". Rather than make people feel like they're living in the town in the movie Footloose, where dancing is outlawed, why not just let people who want to stand up and enjoy themselves go down to the floor area?
There have been no major changes to the acoustics of the building. The last show I saw there sounded fine, as did the opening act, but Dwight's vocals seemed a drowned out by the guitars at times, so that would be the fault of his sound crew.