McDonald Theater

It's a little small, it's a little dirty, but y'all... it's FUN. Parking is easy in the garages nearby, it's in a fun area of the city, and if you get there early you won't be stuck in the longest outside lines Ever. I went here in my early twenties when I still lived in WA and realized last night that huh, I Have been here before! Acoustics are Good Enough, you're definitely going to want earplugs for a rock show, but whether it's a heavy metal band or a Faerie Ball (it was a long time ago), you're going to have fun. The floor gets crowded, and your night will depend largely on the type of people who go to whatever you bought tickets for, but that's not on the venue. The balcony upstairs works well for a bar, I like how easy it is to keep it separate from the youth when it's an all ages show, and when seating is GA, the balcony gives you a chance to sit down if you're wily enough to grab a chair. The bathroom situation is small but clean (I only use the ladies so someone else will have to fill you in on the other side), and the secondary room makes it easy to wait in line comfortably. That second room is also great for fancy attire adjustment and accoutrement application should you go to that sort of thing. All in all we will be perfectly happy going again the next time something rolls through we want to see.

I didn't expect much knowing this was an older theater. The sound upstairs was OK, but WAY better downstairs on the floor (SRO). The seats upstairs are old-school, and quite cramped for tall long-legged people, and there was a large group of loud drunk people talking through the show, so we opted to go downstairs so we could hear the music. Once we were downstairs, the music quality was way better, and the floor is slightly sloped so you can still get a view of the stage even if someone taller stands in front of you. The staff here are GREAT!

Normally I really don't mind this venue for concerts, or going to see the occasional comedian. It really is a neat place, and the acoustics inside this old place you really can't beat. We just saw Cody Jinx the other night, he was amazing. The comedians I have seen here have been Nick Swardson, and Adam Devine from Workaholics. They were all wonderful. I do not mind going here in support of my favorite people.
So here is what I do mind, and this is why the two stars! Previous to the other night I had no issue.
When I go to events I expect for my purse to be gone through. Perfect, I have nothing to hide. I have I.D, money, lip gloss, and gum that has always been in my purse. The one thing that chapped my ass was the security saying I couldn't have my gum, and then to make a comment about the type of gum I had! Oh that is old lady gum any way! Umm okay! Well you look about 40 years older than me, but I wasn't going there until now!! They made me throw a brand new un opened pack of ice breakers gum in the box... or should I say my old lady gum in the box!! I understand there are children that spit their gum on the floor, but I am not one of them! The other thing that really chapped my ass, was the amount of people I saw that had gum!!! Maybe they didn't have old lady gum like I had!! Sorry, but my old lady gum doesn't stick as much as the other crap! Too bad I am a respectable person that throws my gum in the garbage, or if I can't find a garbage I find an old receipt in my purse or something and spit it in there!
My next complaint...the drinks were not that great! I have been having migraines from the haze, there really is not too many options of what to drink, I had water. And also a nasty what was supposed to be sprite. My guy ordered my a vodka pineapple, they barely put pineapple juice in the drink.
The ladies restroom smelled so rancid! It was like using a bucks out doors, and a cross between being in a fishery on the coast! I even heard other women making even worse comments about the women's rest room!
Love the small venue feel, and everything else, but just the crappy treatment by the staff!
So not cool!!

I came to see a hip-hop artist here and while the artist always puts on an amazing show I was underwhelmed by the McDonald Theater. First of all the ticketing system is very confusing. I purchased tickets through their ticket provider and never received an email with a confirmation. Of course they don't answer their phones so leading up to the concert I was worried I had forgotten to buy tickets since so many months had gone by. The ticket company was able to tell me over the phone that tickets would be at will call but that when you create a profile the don't store and information for your upcoming concerts. Anyways, the staff were nice even though they have the job of patting you down and looking through your bag. I didn't go upstairs but I would get there early if you plan to grab a seat above. We stayed downstairs for the show and I liked how the floor is a little slanted so you can get a decent view if you're standing being the crowd. I honestly didn't think the sound was good at all. I have seen this artist so many times and I was disappointed at how it didn't sound that great at this venue. My boyfriend also had to wait in line for over half an hour just to grab a bottle of water while drunk girls ran around trying to cut in front of him. Either way it wasn't a bad time but it wasn't a venue I'll come back to unless there's an artist I really really want to see.

This theater is quite beautiful in a historic sense, yet simultaneously divey. Came to see the Devil Makes Three, and it did NOT disappoint! The band was excellent, but the theater had great sound, and I love the general admission floor - my favorite kind of venue for concerts such as this! The bar was wildly ill-equipped to serve the number of people trying to get drinks. We waited in line over 30 minutes, and then couldn't take our drinks into the theater. Nonetheless, we had a great time goofing around in line with the rest of the thirsty mob.

Good vibes all around! Definitely recommend seeing a show here!

The historic McDonald Theatre truly is an atmospheric and fitting venue for a mid-sized college town. Opened in 1925 and owned by the Kesey family (same as the renowned author) it originally served as a cinema house until the early 2000s. Since being converted to an all-purpose venue, it offers a mixture of live concerts, stage performances, weddings, proms, and other entertainment and celebratory events to the local community.

Keeping with the classic feel of last-century architecture and ambiance, the interior has large vaulted ceilings and plenty of open space. This in turn amplifies the acoustics during live shows, making it an especially popular scene for hip hop, EDM, and reggae music. The main floor is standing room only, which encourages free movement and dancing. A seated balcony area looms above, which is reserved for those patrons over 21 due to the serving of alcohol. In additional, the venue also offers a fashionable separate full bar area which includes an outdoor smoking space.

Over the years I've personally seen many shows at this establishment and have come to appreciate it. Although it offers nothing to knock your socks off, its yester-year feel and great acoustic quality keep me coming back for live music and artists old & new.

We really enjoyed this small, yet inviting theater. The live music sounded great, almost like a private show. The line to get in and the line at the bar was quick and easy. The downside was only having one bathroom. Be sure to go before the show! ;)

My favorite indoor venue in town. As a 40- something the balcony area is very nice since I don't want to stand all night. Sound is near- universally good even from the balcony area which I can't say for a lot of other venues. I've never had to wait in line for the bathrooms either

This is an older theater, but is still pretty nice. Located in downtown Eugene where all the action is. The staff was very helpful and nice. Overall a good place to watch a comedy show.

I always get the feeling they want me to have a great experience. They let me drink more than they probably should. They know we're excited to see artists we love and respect. That's wonderful and I don't have one negative thing to say about the staff here. They are kind and the vibe has always been positive.

Some highlight shows for me include Slayer, Modest Mouse, Lamb of God, Iron & Wine, Chimaera, Blues Traveler, Five Finger Death Punch, Mickey Hart, and so many more going back through the years. Floater on New Years Eve is always amazing.

I find the sound quality to be pretty darn good. Lots of high-caliber bands tour with their own sound guys, so sound inconsistency is to be expected at times. The stage, proscenium and lighting are gorgeous, the mezzanine is fantastic and the bar up there is awesome to have access to. I love the smoking deck and the main bar as well. They try their best with the bathrooms and I appreciate that. The merch area is accessible and works quite well in this space. They are in the heart of the city and there's a lot to do in downtown Eugene these days before and after a show. Eugene has become one of my favorite downtown scenes anywhere in the Northwest actually. But like partying in any decent sized city, it helps if you act like a big boy and have cash to play with. That's not asking too much, is it?

I would like to see the owners redo the outside, have it washed and thoroughly touched up. I agree that it is a beautiful building with obvious exterior neglect, and it is a Eugene landmark that needs to pop a little more and be showcased accordingly. But that is my only complaint.

I've been to many other similar venues in Oregon and the PNW. The McDonald is near or at the top in comparison. Go spend a night at the Hawthorne in Portland, or the Domino Room in Bend, to name a few. Holy hell.

Thank you McDonald Theatre for all the memories, and for those to come. Eugene is lucky as hell to have you.