Earl Warren Showgrounds

We are currently here attending the AHASC Region 2 Championships. The grounds are quite nice and kept up. However, the dome arena needs a bit a work such as a fresh coat of paint & basic repairs. This is a wonderful place to have a horse show, the footing in the all the arenas is very nice and soft, which makes it comfortable for the horses.

Showgrounds are always dirty so to have low ratings means something really bad is going on.

Everyone who attended Glass Animals last night can relate to everything I’m about to say. I fortunately arrived early and didn’t have to wait in the crazy line, but I knew from the minute I asked the first staff member a question that the people working the event were by far the most unprofessional people I’ve seen. There was no structure to the line and it went off into the parking lot. While I waited in line a group of only about 15 security guards came out to help 2,000+ people. One seemed to have a napoleon complex as he went through the line screaming at us like we’re toddlers, which I found extremely crazy considering we paid to be there. He went off about no drugs, no alcohol, which is fair — but then he started telling us to get rid of our bags, e-​cigs, etc etc and cigarettes. Which is ironic because there were 3 staff members about 5 ft from my smoking cigarettes after we were told it was through the «state rules that the venue can’t have cigarettes». Not to mention he was screaming and cussing, then let someone cut in line.
So we get in and I noticed it took about 5 minutes to get each person in. He was busy chatting to realize I was ready to be checked, then after forgot to give me my 21+ bracelet and yelled for me to come as I was halfway in. He then had me wait for 5 mins again just to get my bracelet that HE forgot. What I found confusing is why the staff and security gossiped at around 7pm when they could have started checking then. After the opening set came on, two guys nonchalantly came up to the microphone and told us in a rude tone that the show is postponed an hour. didn’t even seem to care. We all sat on the floor sweating our butts of and everyone was getting extremely irritated.
Glass Animals did eventually come on and made up for the mistakes, but nonetheless it was one of the most ridiculous concerts I’ve ever been to. I feel bad for Glass Animals because they had gotten the backlash for the BS that Earl Warren pulled. I went on FB and Twitter after the show and saw all the unprofessional things almost every customer got. Even security grabbing them! Not to mention this happened on a Sunday night where people had school the next day or work. FYI — telling people to just «get over it» and just giving them no choice other than to leave after they gave you their money probably won’t help you out in the future. HIRE BETTER SECURITY. THEY SUCK. If there was ever an event that I could attend here or in LA, or SF, I would go out of my way to drive out and waste gas instead of coming here again. I suggest no one waste a single minute here, especially musicians who want to book shows here. I’d think twice. So unprofessional.

DO NOT ATTEND AN EVENT HERE unless you want to be harrassed and wait hours to get inside the venue. I attempted to go to a concert there this evening and am disgusted with the treatment and lack of organization of this place. Before I go on any further, I did address my issues on site with the concert organizer and was told that the issues were in fact the fault of the venue and their security team hired by the venue whom they were also very disappointed in.
I’ve been to many concerts in my life and have never seen such poor and inefficient organization. I arrived and there was a gigantic line around the entire parking lot to get through security to enter the show (there was also no separate line for people who had tickets already and will call). I waited for 45 minutes with no movement what so ever, there were not any employees regulating the line and droves of teenagers were cutting in groups with their friends. I wish I knew the crowd and type of event this would be, otherwise I would not have attended at all.
I went up to the front and requested a refund and was told no but I could bypass the line at this point and enter the concert. I had my ticket scanned and went through the security check, no where on the showgrounds website, event website, or tickets were prohibited items listed. There were no signs showing prohibited items. I was then checked by security and violated (yes, this is worse than the airport) and as they went through my bag, he found my vaporizer, a legal smoking device — asked me about it, then proceeded. He then made accusations about my non-​sharp quartz stone necklace being a weapon? Seriously??? He then tried to confiscate my LIPSTICK saying that it was a lighter, I had to open it and show him it was lipstick… Then he scanned me with a metal detector, it went off on the button of my jean jacket then asked me to open up my jacket… are you kidding me? This is a local concert. Further, my fiancé gets checked after me by a different security guard, who then confiscates his vaporizer, but the other security guard told me they were allowed… He tried to get it back from him and the security guard actually put his hands on him. This is the worst event I have ever been to and would never attend a concert here again. I am disgusted with the security team and where their priorities are for keeping people safe at an event. They should be much more concerned about all the underage kids drinking in the line on their property (they wouldn’t know — no security other than at the front entrance) than adults with legal contents in their bag and jewelry.
Perhaps this place is better during the day for a horse show or other like event, but I know for sure I will never waste the time or money to find out after tonight. Pathetic.

I am having a hard time putting my experience into words. Putting it mildly, this was absolutely the worst event I have ever been to. Earl Warren Showgrounds is by far the most unorganized and unprofessional company I have every encountered.
After driving about an hour to the Showgrounds we stumbled upon a line that was over 2 hours long and growing (no exaggeration). We thought this was for sure a «will call» line, but to our amazement this was the line for everyone, and it was in fact due to their pathetic excuse for a security team. When finally reaching the front of line, the Security company used at Earl Warren Showgrounds ended up making us feel extremely violated and caused us to leave the show before entering. After illegal search, attempted confiscation of my belongings, illegal touching, pushing, harassment, and name calling, I had to leave the event before even entering. What an absolute nightmare! I wouldn’t go to Earl Warren Showgrounds if it was the last dry land on earth after tonights treatment!

BROADCASTING FROM THE PARKING LOT OF EARL WARREN, 9÷20÷2015 9:30PM
Me and hundreds of other American citizens are stuck out in the parking lot in a line wrapped around the entire parking lot trying to get into the venue to see Glass Animals.
We have just hit the one hour mark of standing in line and are still moving at snail’s pace with more line to be had ahead. We already missed the opening band which could have been my new indie band to not tell anyone about. Now I will never know and I can never get that back.
This event is run by Night Out but has externally hired security. Said security just came out and gave us a stump speech about rules, laws, following orders, heroine, and stop asking us questions. Not sure who is at fault here or who should be assigned blame or if it is merely a cataclysmic sum of the unavoidable, but this situation is absolutely ridiculous and sees no sign of getting any better.
If I die in this line, tell Night Out to give my refund to my parents.
Over and out.

Came here for a gem show last weekend with my sister and had a lovely time. Having spent lots of time in Santa Barbara growing up, I was surprised I’d never been to these showgrounds before. The gem show wasn’t highly attended so the majority of the grounds were closed off this day. Everything was well groomed and the lines were well managed, too. Just like other convention centers or fairgrounds, this was a great place to come for an afternoon and see something unique as it traveled through town throughout the weekend.
The bathrooms were a bit of a disappointment, maybe just one step above port-​a-​pottys, but other than that the place was A-​ok. A little dated, but clean. There was ample parking, clear signage, and it didn’t hurt that the weather was gorgeous. I read that the gem and mineral show will be back in a few months. I might have to make another trip to check it out again!

This is a great location. I have enjoyed the property many times for the rodeos and bull riding competitions. The stables are very well kept. Always good times to be had here.

Awesome location depending on the event at the fairgrounds. We typically go to dog shows here and really enjoy the layout, restaurants and available parking.

A little advice about getting to Earl Warren, especially when there is a fair:
If you want to park there for $ 5, then enter on Calle Real from the West side Gate C (get off on La Cumbre and travel towards Las Positas on Calle Real). If you try to enter from Las Positas you will fail. When you leave you must exit on Las Positas. Don’t try and exit the same way you came in.
Or there is a «Park ‘n Ride» service when the fair is going on… and it is a FREE trolley ride every 30 minutes from:
La Cumbre Middle School or Bishop Diego High School or Sansum– Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic
Stay classy

Traditional fairgrounds… clean and organized so that’s a plus!

I went to the dog show here on a whim a few weeks ago, and had fun! There are a few large showrooms/​showrings/​arena areas, allowing for quite a few dog rings goin’ all at once. We paid $ 5 for parking near the restaurant area, and walked right into the dog show from there! (Don’t tell them, shh). I wish they had more chairs out, seemed like people brought their own.

It may be easier to mention what does not come to the Earl Warren Showgrounds rather than list the Santa Barbara fair, home shows, craft shows, gem shows, dog shows, wedding shows and gun shows. There’s flower shows and horse shows too. Horses are what they do best with a large number of stables and the Kramer arena.
There’s also great rental opportunities with the Exhibit building and Waren Hall. I’ve been to a few hosted events in these buildings and enjoyed my time and the location. I even buy my Christmas tree in the lot each year.
I’m sure you’ll find something to do there too.