Megan L.
Yelp
Growing up in Florida, I remember going to shows at The Edge and Chili Pepper, now Revolution, in the early 2000s. I haven't been to Revolution in years and it seems like they haven't made many improvements since the place opened.
Drinks are overpriced for what the venue is - $25 for a Ketel and soda ($30 with tip). They have a bottle service area on the second floor, which seems out of place considering the state of the venue. It would be nice if they opened the bottle service area for additional standing room. There is a bar on the second floor tucked between the bathrooms that had little traffic and is an ideal spot to grab a drink if the lines downstairs are too long.
The second floor walkway to the bathrooms and back bar creaks and feels flimsy to walk across. The place gets packed on the second level, and with people dancing and jumping around, the condition of the floor was making me nervous. The bathrooms are fairly clean and in acceptable condition compared to similar venues, although some of the stalls had broken locks and broken seats.
There was a smoking area and bar set up outside, and a grill where they were making burgers and hotdogs. There are railroad ties on the ground to create the perimeter for the smoking, bar, and food area. The ties are not marked and the area is poorly lit, so it was no surprise when I saw a woman trip over one of the ties and fall, almost hitting her head on another tie on the way down. The woman had scrapes and immediately developed bruising on her arm. The venue did not call the paramedics and a few members of the security team ignored patron AND police requests to block the rail tie with a standee so other people wouldn't trip over it. Management needs to have the ends of the rail ties painted so they're clearly visible, especially since the set-up gives the illusion that there is a clear path from the venue door to the outdoor area. The area could also use ashtrays so people aren't littering the ground and planters with cigarette butts.
Lastly, the sound in this venue leaves a lot to be desired. The building design requires you to stand in the center of the venue to be able to hear the full scope of the performance which, as other reviewers have pointed out, makes the full experience of the venue inaccessible for people needing accommodations. The main floor is also relatively small for the crowds that the venue brings in, which makes for a poor experience overall. The venue became incredibly humid halfway through the show, which was concerning given Covid is still making its rounds.
Overall, I would not go back to Revolution unless it was renovated to include improvements for safety and compliance, accessibility for folks who require accommodations, and a reconfigured layout to improve the acoustics and promote a better listening experience. Thank you for having me and best of luck.