BMO Harris Pavilion Summerfest Stage Layout

Let us welcome the BMO Harris Pavilion to the largest music festival in the world: Summerfest. The set-up of the stage overlooks the beautiful Milwaukee skyline and the lovely Lake Michigan as well. The BMO has a capacity of 10,000 people with a half circle arrangement. The front 5,000 seats are protected from the weather by the innovative roof overhead, while the other half is provided standing room that is exposed to the elements of Milwaukee summers, aka our current drought. The first 25 (or so) rows of the covered area is dubbed the “Lower Bowl.” Those seats have backs with cup holders. Fancy stuff, right? The “Upper Bowl” has room for 2,500 people. These folks have the luxury of sitting on bleachers that have back rests.  They are also under the roof. That is a big step up from the wobbly benches at other stages.
Also, the fact that the BMO is a FREE stage at Summerfest is another plus. (After all, who gets back rests 25+ rows away from the stage?) There is a twist, of course. What makes this stage unique is the new concept of the “Blue Circle Seat Pass.” The “Blue Circle Seat Pass” applies to the Lower Bowl, or “Blue Circle.” During the day, fans can sit anywhere they want in the theater. Once the clock strikes 7:00pm (before the opener and main act,) everyone has to vacate that area in order to let people with the “Blue Circle Seat Passes” to get to their assigned seats before the headline act performs.

Now where can we all get this Blue Circle Seat Pass to secure our spots up close and avoid the crush? They are given out free each day to the first people that ask for them. Tickets are issued on a first come, first served basis. Please remember that the BMO’s Blue Circle Seat Passes are not the same as admission tickets to Summerfest and the Upper Bowl benches up for grabs like other stages. This assigned seating is a clever new approach. If you ask me, this plan is excellent because it eliminates the pushing and shoving we all encounter when thousands of people push forward to get the best view of the big act.

As a plus, the BMO will continue to host great bands throughout the summer. In particular, the Counting Crows have been booked for next week (to be exact July 25^th.) Boston will play on August 3, and Daughtry on August 6 to name only a few. I would personally recommend going to at least one of the shows to see this new stage in person before the next season of Summerfest. If you decide to go to My Morning Jacket on August 11^th, you may just see me.