eastern kentucky exposition center

Wife and I made first trip here Sept 2014 to see Chicago the band. No bad seats. Parking is close. Very friendly staff and management. This venue, while fairly new, is a gem for concerts as they have lots of drinks and facility is certainly user friendly. We'll return. If you're staying over night, book nearby new Hampton or Hilton Garding Inn. Venue has excellent wheelchair access and seating.

Just returned from seeing Chicago in concert. Beautiful venue. Ease of access with free parking close by site. All seats are chair backs. Plenty of beverages available. Food also. Staff friendly. Would definitely go back. We hope Pikeville will attract some great acts in 2015. The town is lovely. The drive down 23 was gorgeous with awesome mountain views.

Easy parking and access to several restaurants. Can not believe this little town has such a venue. I hope they bring more country.

Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center hosts two or three big name acts a year. The rest of the year they host local things like basketball, school events, some Disney children's shows, and even weddings. I've been to this venue three times. In 2010 for Shinedown. In 2011 for Tim McGraw with special guests The Band Perry and Luke Bryan. In 2012 for WWE wrestling. I know that Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rascal Flats, Sugarland, Gretchen Wilson, Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert, and many other big names like these have all appeared here. It's great they bring in big names for this rural part of the country but I've heard several complaints that it's mostly country music acts. More variety would be nice like rock & roll. Myself, I'm a big country music fan so I'm fine with how it is but there are people out there that want more variety. More than just two or three a year would be great too.Their sound system is not the greatest. I've attended shows at numerous arenas and the Expo Center by far has the worst sound. I use to think it was just the musical acts not executing a proper sound check to ensure a great sound throughout the arena. But it has been like this just about every time so I'm starting to think the problem may be with the Expo. The music is fine but it's hard to understand at times the lyrics the performer is singing. If I had not known the song, I wouldn't have been able to understand a word of it. I would think it would be the band's responsibility during the sound check but this is the only arena I've ever had this problem. This is puzzling to me. I don't know who is to blame for this.This venue takes safety and security seriously. Every time that I've been, they have checked bags thoroughly at the entrance and they also wave a metal detector over you to make sure you have no weapons. It's great that they make sure each event is safe but they need more security inside the arena to keep those that have had too much to drink settled down. Also, there have been times when I make it to my seats I'll find someone else sitting in them. They need ushers to make sure everyone sits in their assigned seats. If I pay to sit in the 3rd row, that's where I expect to sit. Not in the 6th row because someone stole my 3rd row seats. Three rows did not make a difference in our view of the stage and it was the same price range so we didn't make the seat stealers move.They need more concession areas!!! If you want a drink or snack, prepare to stand in line at least 15 minutes if the arena is at full capacity. Get there early and get all the drinks and snacks you want when first arriving so that you are not spending a lot of time in line thus missing the show. Outside food and drinks are not permitted. From time to time, they do have an employee walk around and sell cotton candy in the arena. This is great but they need to walk around and sell sodas as well. They would make more money. I know there have been times when I've been dying of thirst but I would not go out and stand in the huge line at the concession stand and miss the show. If they had someone walking around selling sodas like they do cotton candy, I would of gladly purchased one. Not many restrooms either so prepare to wait in line. They have an area where they sell t-shirts, CDs, etc. of the act that is performing. It gets a little cramped at times in that small area but I have been to venues where the merchandise stand area is even smaller. More room for the merchandise stands would be nice but again I've seen smaller.Parking is a nightmare. The parking garage down from the facility fills up fast thus leaving guests no choice but to park along the side of the highway and walk. There is a huge hospital just up from the Expo Center so the speed limit is slow through the area with several traffic lights so you don't have to worry about being hit by a speeding car. After the event, it is very congested trying to get out of there but you'll find this problem at just about every arena. It would be great if they could add another parking garage somewhere nearby. A few improvements are needed in order for me to rate this place 5 stars. But overall, it is a nice facility that provides great entertainment for a rural part of the country. Needs some improvements in the concession stands, a few more guards and ushers, and check the sound system. 4 star worthy.

A friend and I attended Daughtry concert late November. Stayed at nearby hotel and was fortunate to walk to venue. Have been to many concerts in various venues, really enjoyed this one. We were fourth row from stage, but all seats were good ones for this show. When we were walking back to hotel, traffic didn't seem too congested. Would drive the 4.5hrs again to attend a concert here.

always professional, courteous, great shows and lots of room...parking, getting in and exiting are always a problem but everything else is a 10

Easy to find the facility but parking is near to non-existent during the day time. Parking is approx. a block away to the back of the building and across the street from the front of the bldg. Plan to go early for events. Not fancy, but friendly.

I have seen a number of concerts at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center.We are very fortunate to have access to a facility in the Southwest Va.,Eastern Kentucky Region.The arena is large enough to accomodate quality entertainment but small enough to enjoy the performances in an intimate setting.The accoustics are very good and there is not a bad seat in the arena.

You can find some big name acts here. It is a smaller arena so there is not a bad seat in the house. Parking has never been issue and ive been 4 or 5 times.

The "Expo Center," as it is more commonly called, is a good-sized facility that has been constructed to accommodate various forms of entertainment. Because the main area is set up to be everything from an indoor football arena, a basketball court, and an exhibition floor to a concert hall, it tends to feel a bit awkward compared, say, to a facility designed specifically as a theater. However, it serves a useful purpose and brings events and shows to Pikeville that otherwise would never be available for people in that area.There is also a 'ballroom' on the mezzanine level that can be divided up into 2 or 3 smaller rooms for meetings or shows that don't require the main auditorium. There is an outdoor performance area, too.The Expo does attract some fairly big acts from time to time [Sugarland's tractor-trailers were arriving one evening just as we were leaving] but could do with some better promotion if only the city would provide a bigger promo budget.Our only real complaint: parking. If there is a large close-by parking garage or parking lot, we couldn't find it. May we suggest signs, put up on "show nights" directing out-of-town visitors to the nearest parking? Maybe even guys with flags, pointing cars to parking areas?

I go to Pikeville a few times a year. I never miss 'Hillbilly Days'! That's when my friends & I (about 15 of us) go to the expo center for concerts. Always an awesome show and as far as prices go, its about the same anywhere else. I enjoy going there and so glad the city finally has a place to have great activities and shows!

This is a local venue for concerts--they've had some great acts some there recently. Within the last year, I've seen REO Speedwago, Styx, Daughtry, Gretchen Wilson and Big and RIch and Billy CUrrington. This place is SEVERELY underused though. They could do so much with it and are in danger of losing it if the city of Pikeville doesn't step up to the plate.

Few shows and mismanagement by the city government make this a horrible entertainment destination. Tickets are overpriced.