Long Beach Arena

You can't miss the Long Beach Arena. It's the big round building at the foot of downtown Long Beach, wrapped in a mural of whales swimming through blue water, and you can spot it from Shoreline Drive. The arena is part of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center at 300 E Ocean Blvd, next to the Terrace Theater and the convention halls.

The venue's own page pitches it as the smaller arena. It holds about 13,000, compared with 20,000-seat arenas, and the venue says many performers credit that size with a better flow of energy between them and the crowd. Inside it's a classic bowl of seats around a flat floor, and the floor can be set up almost any way. Even the ceiling can be raised or lowered. Disney On Ice skates here, the Long Beach Symphony plays its pops nights here, and touring concerts, dance music events and conventions use it too.

Pay attention to the bag rule. Personal bags have to be 5 x 8 x 2 inches or smaller, which is about the size of a wallet clutch, and every bag gets searched. Outside food and drinks, alcohol and glow sticks are all banned, and so is smoking, vapes included. Rules can change by event, so check your ticket page as well.

For parking, the Arena Parking Garage has 1,200 spaces and opens for arena events. The standard rate is $15 a day with no in and out, and rates can differ by event. The kiosks at the garage's southwest and south exits take cards only, while one near the Arena Box Office takes cash. If the garage fills, the main lot along Shoreline Drive has another 1,900 spaces. Drivers coming from LA should take the 710 south to its end, where it turns into Shoreline Drive, and follow it to Linden Avenue.