If you live near Manhattan, New York, and are into concerts at all, chances are you’ve heard of Terminal 5. The venue offers affordable tickets for your favorite B-list artists, with the occasional A or C-lister on the roster. I have been to Terminal 5 about five or six times, and to say it’s a staple of concert entertainment in the New York City area is an understatement.
On Sept. 25, two friends and I had $60 tickets (that we purchased a few nights before) to see Mk.gee, an alternative, rock-psychedelia guitarist, at Terminal 5. Knowing his live performances were something to rave about, we sprinted to my car after class to catch the train to Penn Station and make it to the venue before 8 p.m. We barely made it in before the show started, managing to secure a spot in the back of the crowd.
Terminal 5 offers a sprawling floor with bars in front of the artist’s stage, and a second floor balcony open to all who have a ticket. People attending the concerts pack in and you’re instantly surrounded by others ready to truly enjoy the music that you’ve most likely only heard through your headphones up until this point.
The energy is always dramatic, exhilarating and best of all, entertaining as hell.
Despite always providing a thrilling experience, the major problem I have with Terminal 5 is the location. Situated on the far west side of Manhattan, right near the Hudson River, the closest subway station is an over 15 minute walk away. Having to take a half hour train ride, then a 20 minute subway train, then another 15 minute walk down a hill, just to be standing in the far back of a line waiting for 30 minutes to get in is not enjoyable whatsoever. Then, having to do it all over again on the way back home after you’ve already been standing for three to four hours at the concert venue is incredibly miserable.
Additionally, the lack of seats or places to watch the entertainment in Terminal 5 is inconvenient. Your only options are to stand in the crowd of hundreds of people or try for a spot on the second floor.
When standing in the crowd, you run the chance of being stuck behind a dude who is 6 feet tall and wearing a backwards cap which adds an extra inch. You can end up getting a spectacular three hour view of his right shoulder as you stand there regretting your purchase (yes, this happened to me once).
If you risk your chances for a spot on the second floor, you may secure the balcony overlooking the entire venue, which is an awesome, unforgettable experience. But if you’re stuck behind even one person on that second floor, you’ll be stuck watching a screen of the artist performing like you’re watching a YouTube video in your room.
Despite these glaring issues, Terminal 5 holds some of my favorite memories. My first time at the venue was in 2022. The crowd was energetic, people were crowd surfing, there were two encores and the artist even pushed into the crowd when he wanted to perform his biggest hits.
When he started performing in the crowd, the whole venue turned into a mosh pit. People were singing, dancing and throwing each other around, and it was incredible.
Being a skinny, short high school kid, my Yankees hat got lost in the crowd, until some random guy from Britain found it, handed it back to me and we screamed our hearts out to the encore together.
I would recommend checking out a concert here if you get the chance. The trip may be grueling and the venue might be crowded, but you’re sure to have an affordable blast with your friends at Terminal 5.
Terminal 5 is located at 610 W 56th St, New York, New York, 10019.
