Route 91 vs. Stagecoach

What’s better than a country concert? A country music festival, of course! Lucky for you, I’ve tested out 2 of the BEST country music festivals on the West Coast to help you decide which one you want to go to in 2017! Starting saving your beer money now.

VENUE

This is a toughie. Ultimately, it depends on the type of person you are.

One of the great things about Route 91, is how close you can get to the stage. VIP seating is on the sides of the venue, and chair seating is towards the back, so if you’re a dedicated fan who wants to get as close as possible and stand all night… you can! But trust me, your lower back will feel it in the morning (even though it was worth it to see the artists up close and personal) But, if you want to relax, have a good time, and maybe dance around a little bit, Stagecoach is the place to be. Yeah sure, you can’t get as close and you’re stuck watching a big screen all night – but there is much more room to dance, run around, and be your crazy self.

Winner: Tie! It’s your decision – stand and be close, or sit and run free!

LINE UP

Stagecoach has 3 stages, Route 91 has 2. Stagecoach has featured Merle Haggard, Alabama, Chris Stapleton, and “The King” George Strait. Route 91 on the other hand is more known for acts like Brad Paisley, Toby Keith, and Miranda Lambert. While, undoubtedly BOTH festivals have awesome line-ups, Stagecoach simply has more. They have the old country, the new country, and the up-and-coming country. Whereas Route 91 just has current country. So, to me, the winner is a no brainer.

Winner: Stagecoach

ACCOMMODATIONS

Without a doubt, hands down, you don’t get more hospitable than Vegas. With the mass amount of hotels up and down the strip, the various means of transportation, and the endless amount of restaurants and bars to chose from, it’s MUCH easier to travel and stay for Route 91 than Stagecoach. Now that Stagecoach has gained a mass amount of popularity; camping sells out instantly, hotels skyrocket their prices, and houses are a pain to clean up after and only affordable if you have 20 people staying there.

Need I say more? With over 30 hotels on the strip alone to chose from, Vegas wins here, no doubt.

Winner: Route 91

OVERALL CHAMP: STAGECOACH

Now, this was a tough decision to come to. But, the freedom of the Stagecoach venue and the better line-up helped me reach this decision. But, Route 91 has only been around for 3 years, whereas Stagecoach has been around since 2007. So, with a little more experience, Route 91 will certainly surpass Stagecoach in no time; they just need a little bit more practice and popularity!