"FYI for folks reading about negative reviews of the venue. SPAC is and has been one of my fav venues to see a show. It's like a west coast venue transplanted to the northeast in many ways. The lot scene on a sunny breezy afternoon is unbeatable. Iv always gotten parked somehow in the same area near the pottery workshop(for those familiar with the grounds) and had prob the best show experience of my life during the two show run back in 2004. It was still the beginning of the summer, we all knew phish was calling it quits but there was a very diff vibe during that first leg of that summer tour compared to the second leg. Although il say I also attended the final three shows of the tour plus conventry and as bad as conventry was(minus the first set of each day and any of the long jams that were still pretty sick) the two mansfield shows were still pretty cool with a fun lot vibe and the Camden show was all business in a good way. It rained and the band played like they were pretending for one last night that the countdown wasn't on. I wouldn't take anything back though. Telling people stories about hiking 7 miles into Coventry is still fun..Lol. That said the Saratoga shows had a totally cool vibe with endless possibilities still out there in everyone's minds. And the shows didn't disappoint as im sure your all aware. Here's the scoop on SPAC though. If your not inside the amphitheater the sound is absolute poop. If you just wanna chill and be able to throw a Frisbee and puff oneies in one of the large lawn areas and still be able to kinda hear the show-it's cool. But if you really care about hearing every note you def wanna either get tix in the amphitheater or else sneak in like I usually manage somehow to do. So on to the beer situation. This particular year they did something they never had before and enforced THE ALREADY EXISTANT NO ALCOHOL LAWS on public state property. They warned everyone with huge signs and electronic billboards all along the road and the driveway into the lots. So anyone who just ignored them and got arrested is pretty stupid. I feel bad, I've been there, arrested and in jail when I was supposed to be having fun so I feel for you. But of they warn you ahead don't act like it's some kinda sting and you had to"have inside info" as one poster puts it to know. Ridiculous. They had huge hiway style electronic billboards saying no alcohol allowed! Do I agree with it of course not but it is what it is. However as of 2015 I'm not sure but I think that they went back to being lenient on that front in recent years. But there was some kind of local law enforcement bs going on during 2010. But regardless of that for the poster who said he hopes phish never played ther again I have to say shame on you. SPAC is one of the true rare historic venues with ghosts of jerry and the dead and the allman brothers and santana and many many phish shows over the years. It would be very very sad if phish never played there again and I hope for any newer fans that you eventually get to experience a beautiful afternoon in the Adirondacks surrounded by ancient and wise trees and good friends. I always specifically loved how they would park cars kinda tucked away in little glens. There was always some old Westphalia van nestled amongst the trees with a grainy old GD tape playing with floating notes from jerry wafting on the breeze. That's what SPAC will always be to me. That and the crazy, epic, one of best ever versions, 30 something minute piper in the midst of a 5 song second set in 2004 during the early part of a summer that seemed to hold endless possibilities at the time. Peaceout y'all, "

"This was my 40th show.... Over the hill Phan, Lol. Sleep Again rocked as did my first Undermind, and lets not forget the Cities I was looking for all weekend!!!"

"Am I the only one who enjoyed this venue? I did not see the 19th but I did attend the 20th. We had balcony Center seats and the sound was great and unique (I'm approaching my 50 th show and saw over 70 Dead shows). I am attracted to throwback venues and this is one of those. Getting to the restroom was easy(saw the Greek shows and the restrooms were a nightmare!), the scenery is nice and the security were a bunch of old farts that gave up 1/2 way through the 1st set and the balcony was basically a free-for-all.This venue has great sound! If you are getting the busted in the lot, then you are not playing it smart. I saw 7 shows this Summer, and this was my favorite 2nd set. I would go back to Saratoga anytime."

"Knowing that parking was gonna suck and security was on high alert it pays to have some inside info. The gentle jabs at law enforcement during Makisupa and the beginning of Piper were fun, silly Phish. If your at SPAC for a show there is a golf course with its own lot. Throw a set of clubs in the whip and when you get to the booth tell the guy your going golfing. No charge to park...No searching your car...No waiting to pull out after show..."

"Gumbo..... not a real review. It's more of a "how glad i was to see each particular song because i'm a song-chaser." pissed off you've seen YEM at every other show?! you should feel lucky man, that song kicks ass. i'd watch trey and gordeaux bounce on those trampolines all day long if i could. let me guess.... you went to SPAC, Albany, and MSG last year? And SPAC this year huh?"