Top Worldwide Clubs: Terminal 5 Places 3rd

Photo via pixbymaia's flickr

The folks who run Bowery Presents certainly have some of the best music venues in New York City, but where would you rank their superclub Terminal 5 on a list of best venues in the world?

Well, the behemoth placed #3 in a "Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues" compiled by Pollstar. For what it's worth, the partners at Bowery say Terminal 5 is successful because they treat patrons well—though they also noted fair ticket prices, "concessions and bathrooms on all of the three floors, plus a massive smoking area on the roof" help matters.

All opinions on whether or not the often-griped-about staff actually does treat patrons well don't matter here though, designations were based solely on how many tickets were sold in 2009. The Onion's AV Club says of the ranking: "still—a little strange to see Terminal 5 at the top of a list headlined Top Worldwide Clubs."

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on February 3, 2010 1:48 PM

Comments [rss]

MrCow

I went there for a Dir en grey concert in November 2008 and they were SO UNORGANIZED. It was horrible. They had people lining up under a bridge across the street and when doors opened everyone ran across traffic. Will Call tickets were done at the same time as everyone being let in. It was chaos. Location also sucks. Terminal 5 is an unmarked building in the middle of multiple car dealerships.

Gwinny

Ridiculous. If you are in the balconies, it's impossible to see ANYTHING unless you are right at the railing. What a joke.

retrovertigo

I really don't care much for terminal 5 or the people that go there. I mean, I've seen some amazing bands there and it's often the people in the crowd and the environment they create that ruins the experience.

I mean really, have you ever seen an entire crowd of people stand completely still and docile for the entirety of a Cake concert? I do mean the whole concert, except for the fist bump during "Comfort Eagle." I was literally shoved out of the way for trying to get my groove on to my one of my favorite band who put on an excellent show.

jles

I can't really speak for what people look for in a "club", but as a music venue, Teminal 5 is EASILY my top 3 LEAST favorite venues in the city. I actually can't think of a worse one off the top of my head. You basically have to decide if you want to hear or see the concert. You can't do both. Sucks that so many acts choose to play there.

Bowery Ballroom #1 best music venue in NYC. But, don't pass it on.

rlhbomb

Not really fair to compare Bowery Ballroom with a 500 person capacity to terminal 5 with a 3000 person capacity. Bowery has great sight lines and acoustics, things which are easier to control in a smaller space. Comparisons should be made between Terminal 5 and Rosleand or Hammerstein Ballroom. Venues of a similar capacity.

What is fantastic is seeing how Bowery Ballroom as a NY city based company has grown from 1 venue, the Mercury Lounge to the multi-venue enterprise that it is today. Most of the venues they operate are among the best in their class.

ides_of_march

Terminal 5 is nothing but a warehouse with a stage.

JMH

Bowery Ballroom is definitely "homier", but the facilities at T5 (bathrooms and bar on each floor, for example) are pretty good too.

upplepop

Terminal 5 is one of my least favorite venues in NYC. Like the folks above said, the sound is awful and the location is very inconvenient - several blocks away from the closest subway.

It also doesn't have a nice lounge area that some of the the other Bowery venues provide. If at all possible, I avoid seeing bands here.

BILL

T5 was originally a parking garage, and still feels like one.

Bowery Ballroom feels like home. Nothing could beat that intimacy. Saw The Hold Steady there last June and was close enough to touch Craig Finn.

Guest

Sucks for live Music though. (Rock acts, etc). Caught NIN there. If you dont get in there early enough, you wont see anything.

ganghiscon

Not even top three in NYC.

buttface

When it comes to acoustics, Terminal 5 is about as effective as an airplane hanger.

longacre

Same goes for most venues, even many theaters. The best are those which were specifically built for music, i.e. Radio City.

PTG in nyc

Um Bowery Ballroom is the best, if not too small to be considered a club. I do however appreciate T5 getting all the attention, hopefully keeping Bowery as the lesser known spot.