text: I just visited the new Chelsea for the first time the other night and so far I am not sold While it seems like a vast improvement from the original my review httpwwwyelpcombizbelmontballroomlasvegashridHYHJRjTgZyNuRvsLg I do not think this is going to be the best venue in townnnWhat Has ImprovednIt actually looks like a venue now when you walk in versus a boring convention ballroomnThere are bathrooms just outside of the venue You no longer have to walk down a long hall to get to themnThe staff appears friendliernnWhat Has not ChangednIt did not feel hot inside for a while but halfway through the second band it started to get uncomfortable And that was with the venue half full so I would imagine it would be a lot worse for a sold out show Dress light and drink a lot of waternThe floor still shakes violently while people are jumping It is really unnervingnnWhat Went DownhillnThe sound I stood in three places in the venue and the sound varied in each From the seats in the backcenter on the first floor the sound was good From the barrier on the right side just where the stage ended it was terrible You could only hear bass and no vocals From the middle of the flooroff to the right side the sound was much better than from the right barrier but the vocals were still a little hard to hear Try to stay to the center of the stage if this is important to younThe size If I am remembering correctly the original Chelsea could hold many more people than this venuennWhat I Cannot Comment On Just YetnDrink prices I am just going to assume they are absurd including waternVIPs At the old Chelsea you needed a VIP ticket to get in front of everyone in General Admission Not sure what the policy is herenLine waiting If you read my previous Chelsea experience this was a NIGHTMARE Call ahead to see when you can line up if there is a band you are really excited to be up front fornnIve heard a lot of people say that this place reminded them of The Joint but I would disagree It has a floor space about the size of The Pearl maybe a little bigger and is setup is like The House of Blues There is a large General Admission floor with bars off to the sides and a few seats around the first floor and in the balconynnFor now my experience was not nightmareinducing like the last Chelsea but it still has not won me over I am sure a few more shows will change my mind one way or another