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Nokia Theatre
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
15 reviews for Nokia Theatre
+ 3 Stars for:
Seats. Nice, comfy theater-type seats.
Extreme cleanliness. This place is clean. Your feet do not stick to the floor. You don't arrange your jacket over the seat because you're afraid to make contact. The restrooms aren't scary and are stocked with toilet paper.
Not a bad seat in the place.
The sound is good.
-2 stars for:
Parking. Not only is parking confusing, it's expensive. Ridiculously so.
$8 beer. Seriously. Eight dollars for a beer. A beer.
I've seen Bob Dylan w/ Merle Haggard there as well as Interpol (and an American Idol show but we won't talk about that) and all were very excellent concerts- great sound, comfortable atmosphere, no fellow concert-goer obnoxiousness. Staff are very helpful in guiding you to the right section. The venue itself is very nice but they're way too proud of their parking and drinks since both are exorbitantly priced. I would definitely see another concert here but the parking situation is off-putting.
Not my favorite concert venue.
Sure, it's great that not only is it inside and nice, but it's huge. I think it's too big for the experience.
I saw Snow Patrol and Silversun Pickups here and couldn't even see them. The sound was great and so was the light show, but I wouldn't pay a great deal to do it again.
I was really bummed they had Flight of the Concords here, because unless you're sitting in the first three rows, dead center, it's not a clear sight of anything.
The one thing they did have right was keeping the drink lines moving. I'll give them that.
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I saw lil wayne here... and bun b... need i say anymore... really? HAH! THE BEST RAPPA ALIVE HUH? YEP!
I pray that bands I love won't get booked at Nokia. Why, you may ask. After all, it's a mid sized venue where just about every seat is a good one and the sound is great. Unfortunately, that's not enough for me.
First of all, I don't want to drive to Grand freaking Prairie for a show. I really don't, especially when there are no restaurants or bars anywhere near the venue. Speaking of beer, did I mention that the beer is $10 at Nokia? Ridiculous. And parking? Don't even get me started on parking. I'm 100% opposed to any venue that charges $10 or $20 to park even though their lots are the only ones within a 10 mile radius. If DART went to Nokia, as it does the AAC, I might change my tune. But until then? I'll stick to the Granada and HoB.
Nokia in one word: Cush. or. Coosh. Or Kushh. However you spell it.
I'm used to the tiny, packed venues of Austin, where the best bands played on the outdoor stage of Emo's. Wall to wall crowds dripping in sweat and hanging on every word. You'd get jostled and pushed and elbowed, but you just accepted it as payment to worship at your favorite musical god's feet.
But not anymore! Oh no, Nokia takes all feelings of intimacy and social bonding out of music and puts you, cold and alone, in shiny rows of cushy theater seats, complete with cup holders for your $8 beer. Now obviously, I was not in the pit (where I belonged) for Death Cab, and had I been I probably would A) danced more B) sang louder than an inaudible whisper and C) enjoyed my ethereal experience at a more enlightened height.
That being said, Nokia is 2nd in my list of best Dallas venues, an oxymoron in its own if it weren't for the Granada and the late great Gypsy Tea Room. I, for one, enjoy a giant A/C system keeping me at a comfy 72 degrees. There really is no bad seat in the house, and the acoustics were fabulous without making my eardrums bleed (then again, it was Death Cab).
Death Cab and Nokia together have a way of washing music over you until you're bathed and glowing. I love the feeling of having music and thousands of voices surround you and pulse through you....but enough of my spiritual experiences. Speaking of, not a lot of people seem to brave authority and sneak "illegal" substances in. The Fuzz was fearing a contact high....not even close. Plus, the team at the door didn't bat an eye at my purse, although maybe it was too tiny.
They have 2 large screens, but the three times I've been there, they've never been on. What gives?
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I got to see two of the most handsome and romantic men in concert at this venue : Alejandro Fernandez and Luis Miguel so obviously I can not come up with one thing to complain about.
The seats are super comfy and I dont feel you lose any intimacy simply because you are more at ease than you would be at a less flashy venue.
I love going to these concerts: everyone dresses up ; does their hair and makeup, the way most dallasites only would to go to the opera and; we all sing along to the ubiquitous Spanish boleros and centuries old mariachis and dance to all the hot Latin hits.
Its kinda funny to hear one of the performers remark to the aduience with genuine surprise " you know this one?" all the while we are wondering why he is he speaking to us in English.
anyway, thank you Nokia for doing such a good job hosting these artists next time dont be so quick to bring the lights up .......
OTRA!
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This place sucks, hardcore.
For the longest time I absolutely refused to go to Nokia. I had no interest in subjecting myself to the corporateness or the insanity. But a few years ago, Bright Eyes toured with the Faint and I would FINALLY be able to see them. And I was jazzed.
At least until I was driving around Grand Prairie forever. And then had to pay $20 for parking. And then had to sit in an stadium-seating type row (not condusive to dancing, at all). And I couldnt even see them that well. Basically, it was one of the worst venues I've ever been to (though one of the best shows - Thanks Faint!).
You will not be able to pay me to go to Nokia again. Try to see bands before they get to this stadium-ish level. Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth or Granada Theater in Dallas are your best bets.
My biggest gripe? $20 for parking. $20! That's more than a CD (and more than I pay to see shows at better venues like Hailey's in Denton). Seriously, Death Cab For Cutie said they would never play there again when they realized how ridiculously expensive it is to park there. And of course there's no other way to get there unless it's racing season, you place a few bets on the ponies at Lone Star Park first, and use your winnings to defray parking costs -- or just walk over from their lot.
This venue has no soul. It's been great fun for shows with a full house like the Flaming Lips, Beck, the Raconteurs, and Dolly Parton, but for shows that sold poorly (like Stereolab, and even Modest Mouse) it was tough for the performers and the audience to get excited because it felt SO empty.
I'll admit I'm still holding a grudge because I much preferred the Bronco Bowl and feel it closed in part because of Nokia.
But in an attempt to end on a high note, I'll say that the overpriced cocktails are strong and on the rare occasion that I have encountered a long line in the women't room, it has moved briskly.
And even though parking is a rip-off, I know I'll be back.
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Let's face it, concerts are outrageously priced these days. So if you are going to shell out that kind of cash you definitely don't want to get stuck at a lame venue, right? Well, the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie does not disappoint. Mid-sized, good sight lines, effective sound, a generally impressive roster of acts all make for good nights of music.
I have been several times over the last few years and I am also always impressed with the cleanliness. I realize that some of the best shows I have seen were in dives where the bathroom looked as if it hadn't seen a sponge in decades, but not having to worry about contracting some flesh-eating bacteria while peeing is a bonus. I also appreciate the fact that the rows provide a decent amount of leg room, which converts to dance space when things really get going. Finally, the security staff is very helpful and respectful. I hate it so much when a place has steroid-inflated buffoons who are just waiting for you to stick your toe in the aisle so that they can come over and harass you.
Sure, there are a couple of things I'd like to change. For instance, it certainly takes the "cool factor" down a notch knowing that the Wiggles or the Dora the Explorer Extravaganza played there last night. I could do without paying $12 bucks for a double Jack & Coke, but that happens everywhere and the bartender did make sure I got a healthy pour each time (plus the $4 slice of pizza turned out to be both big & tasty so it evened out more). There is an elaborate labyrinth you are required to navigate to leave but it does move relatively well. Finally, the cheapest parking was $12. OK, I can't justify that, but the other aspects of the place make up for it.
One last thing...maybe it's just me but I always get "ugly, drunk girl" ,who sits directly in front me and then proceeds to stand and dance to every single song, including the ballads or that "song off of our new CD" that no one knows. Despite that, the bottom line is that if a band you like comes to town and plays at Nokia, buy tickets and enjoy.
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Out of all the other concert arenas in the metroplex, this is the best one. Compared to the Superpages formally Smirnoff and the American Airlines Center. The nice indoor level seating, big clean bathrooms and good sound. Plus it's easier to get to instead of going into downtown Dallas. Of course everything is overpriced, but HELLO that is expected. I hate that people complain about the prices, yet still pay for them... It's a business. Drink and eat before and after. I've always left pleased!
Located on a plot of dirt next to any number of strip malls, this theater has about as much character as its corporate namesake.
That said, it's modern and clean with movie-theater style seats in the balcony with an open floor space in front of the stage for those who like to position themselves from custom vantage points.
Decent but not a great tailgating venue, for those who like to turn their concerts into all-day affairs.
What you see is what you get.
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If I'm not seeing a show in a really small venue like Granada or Ridglea, then I want to see it at Nokia. This is the best medium sized venue in the Metroplex to see national acts. Most seats have a good view. The sound is great. And here's the trick on parking...park at Lone Star park for cheap and just walk a little. Heck, park at Lone Star park, go win money on the ponies, eat one of their amazing pies, have some beers and THEN hoof it over to Nokia to watch your favorite band. That's the new plan. Yeah, there's a little more walking but there's a lot more pie.
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Even though it's all the way in freakin BFE, Nokia is pretty good venue for shows. Easy parking, the theater itself is awesome. Every seat in the house is a good seat.
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I went here last night to see a comedian.The parking was outrageously expensive, the promo booth to buy CDs, DVDs, etc is badly located exactly where you enter and exit making it impossible to get to and from your seats. Even though it is a relatively new venue, restrooms are only located on the lower level, and finally the sounds quality is terrible! The sound echoed so badly I couldn't even hear the jokes and the music was literally, painfully loud.
Great sound and a great time! Went to see Widespread Panic this past weekend and had a blast at this venue. First off the pre party/tailgate partying was great! Just a bunch of chill people hanging out all day drinking booze. No harassment from the cops or security and everyone was great. We took a cab to the venue from downtown Dallas which ended up costing us 30 bucks. Good deal opposed to paying for parking, gas, and having someone be sober. The sound inside is amazing anyone who says otherwise may have a bum ear. The sound was crisp and gorgeous I heard every rocking note from every musician. This was also the case when I saw Stevie Wonder. The show was pretty much a free for all once the house lights went down. People smoking cigs, pot, and just having a good old time. The drinks are pricey , 12 dollars for a double and THEY ONLY TAKE CASH! Overall great experience here. I would def go back for more shows if they didn't only book lame artists.
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