Don Haskins Center

I attended Carrie Underwood's concert last week at the Don Haskins Center, and it was a really pleasant first time for me at this venue :) ! I really liked how it was so easy to find and park at the adjacent parking structure. Parking was $20 for this event. My sister had told me about this venue before because she watched the Trans-Siberian Orchestra here a few years ago and loved it :D ! I forgot to check online regarding their bag policy. So it wasn't until I got up there near the entrance that an employee informed me that my Kipling crossbody bag was too big and pointed out their clear bag policy. So I had to leave my crossbody bag in my car, and just carry my wallet with my driver's license, some credit cards and cash. I'll remember to bring my clear bags the next time I come here. Customer service was excellent :D ! All the employees checking us through security were really courteous and friendly :) ! And even the vendors selling food and snacks inside were really courteous and friendly :) ! I just bought a hot dog once I got in, and also a fruit arrangement with tajin and lemon juice :) ! The kettle corn line was super long! But I could see why! The kettle corn itself was so hot and fresh :D ! Carrie Underwood sang and performed so amazingly and beautifully with her stellar powerhouse vocals :D !! I have followed her ever since her humble beginnings and early days on American Idol and she was phenomenal :D!! I still have her original debut album "Some Hearts" all the way back from 2005 on CD :D ! I felt like all of El Paso came together just to see her perform for that one night only :) ! LOL :D ! I would definitely come here again to watch concerts or sports games :) ! It's a very spirited and energized entertainment and sports venue in the heart of El Paso :D !

Now the Cirque de soleil OVO show was awesome. The 3 stars was for the venue. Don Haskins center needs to be renovated badly and taken cared of. Floors were sticky to all hell, the rails to the seats were loose and coming undone or starting to paper clip. Which is a safety hazard. Matter of time before someone takes a nasty spill because of those and UTEP has a law suit.

While in town for business, my flight from Dallas to El Paso had some MASSIVE athletes on the plane. Caught a glimpse of their jackets (Florida Atlantic) and a couple of Google searches later found they were going against UTEP. Love some college basketball so got some tix for the game.The arena is nice enough...a bit older but not a bad seat in the house. Plenty of UTEP orange, hurts the eyes at first. Not having a clue of the crowd expected I got something near the floor. In hindsight, a nosebleed would have been fine since there was no one at the game. Maybe a 1000 fans? Definitely not Butler University (which is typically where I go to games).My favorite part was the food choices...had some terrific tacos from what I only assume was a local restaurant selling. Either way was really good. I had to park some ways away and walk...which was fine, nice evening for a campus walk.Can't imagine I will make it back to UTEP ever again but really a neat campus.

The place is alright. If you're expecting The Staples Center or some other huge arena, this isn't it. The Don Haskins Center seats around 12,000. It's not huge but not small, either. It seems to always be clean inside and out. The restrooms have also been spotless everytime I've been. They usually sell concessions and souvenirs during events. It's not cheap but not entirely expensive. The staff is always courteous and helpful here and at the ticket center. Their parking staff is ok too.I have to say parking is kind of a burden. It runs about $10 to park in their garage across the street. Be sure and get there early because it fills up quick! Sometimes I'll just walk and park somewhere else. Be careful if you do this because they can tow your car. Look out for signs at businesses. My car got towed when I was attending a high school graduation one time. I parked at the nearby Pizza Hut. There went my car and over $100! Oops, my bad! Lesson learned! I've had the opportunity to see bands/shows, graduations and sporting events here. A few off the top of my head: Journey, Britney Spears...lol, Earth Wind & Fire, Nine Inch Nails, Cirque De Soleil, Luis Miguel, Pitbull/Enrique Iglesias and others. I look forward to seeing one of our hometown heroes, Khalid for the second time on 9-1. He, like myself, is an Americas High School graduate. Go Trailblazers! He's a lot younger than me but still! Lol.

Don Haskins Center Staff, I absolutely adore you. I've been here a few times for concerts but can't believe I never left a review, however, I have to do it now. My mother got put into a wheelchair back in November, and the adjustment has certainly been interesting. We were a little concerned because we had tickets for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra that we purchased back in September, but we weren't really sure how the wheelchair situation would affect us.I spoke to the Don Haskins Center and was assured we could still see the show without any issues and they told me which entrance we could enter through and how it would work. When we got there we went where we were instructed and only my mother and one other person could enter through that way. I sent my brother with her while I went through the regular ticket/security check at the front. We had floor seats, so when I finally got down to meet with them, my mom was raving on such an amazing job they did of guiding them and getting her to her seat. The show was fantastic as always and it was my brother's first time seeing Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He enjoyed it except for the lady sitting next to him complaining that he was too big. For next time I'll just have to buy him an extra seat so no one sits next to him, but he really wasn't in her space as I had him lean over closer to me while I leaned forward. After the show ended we waited while everyone started to leave and the staff came and got us and made room for us to exit the way we came. It was amazing because while they were tearing down everything at breakneck speeds they also took the time to announce to everyone we were coming through and to be aware of us so my mother wouldn't get hurt. I applaud all of the staff for being so caring and ensuring my mother had a good experience and she was able to get to where she needed safely. Thank you Don Haskins staff/theatre crew.

I was so excited to see Kane Brown. But having a few drinks was a nightmare!!!! The lines to the women's bathroom was unacceptable. All the women in line were miserable. Girls were running into the mens bathroom. If you plan on seeing a concert in the future do not drink anything!!!! Also bring a clear bag!!!!

You would think with all the events they have, they'd be a little more organized. Weather it's for graduation or concerts or games, there always seems to be a bit of confusion and nobody ever really knows anything. Besides that, I love this place as a venue. Every concert I've gone to, no technical difficulties and always good sound. Graduation is beautiful here.

This place has all good memories for me- the Eagles (when they were still all together), Trans Siberian Orchestra, and OVO Cirque de Soleil...every seat here is good. The location is perfect in the heart of everything by the college. My strategy is to make use of the parking garage right next to the center and come early so I can get a parking space. Then I wander across the street for a nice margarita before the show- people seem nicer when I walk back and wait in line. Coming from NY, this is an amazing opportunity for entertainment; there is nothing like this in a community setting back east. Shows downtown will cost upwards of $60 just to park- never mind the hour drive coming and going. If you are thinking of seeing a show here- don't hesitate. Get your tickets and enjoy the show!

Don Haskins...where I walked across the stage, where I've watched my friends play basketball for UTEP, where I've enjoyed a concert, and where I recently watched my cousin walk across the stage. Don Haskins makes a full circle and that's why it will always be a indispensable part of El Paso and it's history.This is a large basketball arena/event center that can hold around 10,000ish people (I now know this because of the women's basketball craze that was Kayla that recently happened). Orange seats, narrow walkways between 'em and overpriced foods. Everything I expect in a college sports center.I only have three gripes with DH and I think they are all very tangible improvements:1. It generally feels dirty. Like Chuck E Cheese dirty where you know someone comes and sweeps up after guests have left, but the whole thing could use a scrub down.2. It can hold 10,000 people, but there isn't parking for even half of that. On a crazy game night, big graduation, or huge event expect to park blocks away if you don't arrive at least an hour early.3. The food is lackluster. Not to say it's bad...it's okay. It's just normal hot dogs and nachos at a ridiculous price. Doesn't UTEP have a culinary program? At minimum EPCC does. Get those college kids coming up with new menu items that are tasty and cost efficient. That's real life training, man.If I could only pick one improvement to take place I would choose number three. So chop, chop UTEP...let's make DH a 5 star venue!

Great place for a concert.... especially seeing NKOTB, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Salt n Peppa & Naughty by Nature.... all in 1 night!!!!