Flashing lights, blasting music, and a lively crowd. Going to your favorite artist’s concert may sound like a blast, but is the hours-long journey really worth it?
For years, popular artists have been dodging Tampa. Recently, artists such as Tyler the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, and Mitski have all chosen to go to Orlando.
Even if our idols seem big to us, it seems like Tampa Bay is small to them. With Orlando and different venues nearby, fans are the ones who have to pay. And it’s not just the drive that can be time-consuming, but tickets can be quite expensive as well.
“It’s evident that Orlando has a better reputation than Tampa when it comes to concerts,” said sophomore Mika Spalding.
Teens view these artists as representatives of their emotions, but their opportunities to see them live get stripped away due to where they live. Tampa Bay residents are becoming tired of driving for over two hours to see their favorite music live in cities like Orlando or Miami.
Driving on the I-4 can be daunting any day, but it’s an even bigger struggle for people with only 1-2 years of driving experience. According to Law Offices of Michael B. Brehne, P.A.,
from 2011-2015, I-4 led the nation in traffic fatalities, with 165 deaths.
There seems to be competition over which cities have more thrilling venues. Artists appear more attracted to Orlando because of its enchanting venues such as the Kia Center or the House of Blues. Senior Josliynn Sheppard said, “I feel Orlando has more choices and there’s more diversity in the venues that are there.”
Besides concert tours passing over Tampa, it seems to also be a common skip for music festivals. The 2024 Gasparilla Music Festival left many buzzing with excitement, yet they were instantly disappointed when it was postponed this year. The Gasparilla Music Festival left a message explaining their financial struggles and weather issues. The dates were supposed to be rescheduled, but there has been no recent news of this.
The Gasparilla Music Festival offered thrilling experiences with music, beaming lights, and booming music. It presented smaller artists with a chance to grow their platform while giving their listeners a fun night.
Junior Cole Oman, who attended the festival last year, said, “Though the bands weren’t very popular, the lights and music came together beautifully. The experience was incredible. I met so many amazing photographers who inspired me to think in new ways.”
Not only are cancellations a worry with music events, but in recent years, prices have increased significantly, with a ticket’s average price going from $76.55 in 2016 to $123.25 in 2024. Now, concerts have officially become a luxury rather than an affordable hobby.
And if an individual chooses to make the lengthier trip after purchasing a more expensive ticket, they may be left disappointed by the view they get once the artist takes the stage.
Whether it’s how tiny the artist may look from a distant seat or the extreme difference in their vocals live, the experience may leave many fans regretting their choice to attend.
So, if an eager fan hopes to see their favorite artist in concert, they’ll likely have to choose between inconvenience or watching the film version when it comes out on the big screen. Even if they avoid us, there are still many ways to avoid missing major live moments.
