PhilaMOCA, Venue Review

On 3/23/24 I got the chance to co-host the 2024 Wacken Metal Battles: Philadelphia  finals along side the one and only American Mosh Pits! That was such an amazing experience, a huge thank you to all the bands, sponsors, judges, and most importantly Loud Scout!

PhilaMOCA, located in the heart of Philadelphia is a repurposed coffin distributor from my understanding. Very fitting for the metal music that fills the walls inside! The area around PhilaMOCA does lack traditional parking, most of the parking that I saw was street parking which was already filled by the time I arrived. There was paid lots a few blocks away though so that's always an option. Me personally, I'd get their early so you can park closer and not have to walk back at night. I ended up making my own parking like some others did right on the sidewalk down the street . The sidewalks around the venue were surprisingly nice compared to some other places I've been to. The front door did include 2-3 steps, however the staff informed me right away they had portable ramps to setup for me, so that was cool! It wasn't the best situation but I give them credit for doing what they can for the disabled fans! Sadly I learned they have to keep it inside unless in use because people kept stealing them, now that is just down right wrong. I know I personally struggled with it because my wheelchair at the time was half broken so that's on me, aha. Inside the venue your met with a open dance floor with a good amount of space for the size of the building. Coffin designs line the walls and there were photos and news articles showing the history of the building. The vendors and merch tables were on the sides of the room out of the way and allowed for easy traffic flow which is key for smaller venues. They did have an upstairs but it was for artists/vendors only and I personally did not see an elevator, but that shouldn't be a problem for fans. The bathroom was on the small side and it was single access only, but I managed to get my chair in fine. However, larger chairs like electric wheelchairs may have some issues sadly. The location of it is in the back of the dance floor, which is fine, but it did cause some traffic jams in the back especially if you were trying to utilize the couches in the far back. I liked that idea, real couches, it provided comfortable seating for those who wanted it and felt more casual then standard venues. From what I could tell there was no true bar or anything like that and it was a BYOB for that event. So if you require snacks or refreshments I'd call ahead of time and ask if there will be any, or just bring them yourself. The stage was nice and wide for the size of it and offered great views from most directions. I personally did not see any "designated" accessible seats, but with the design of the room you can basically pick your spot and have decent views. I personally parked myself at the edge of the stage and had zero issues the entire night.

Overall the venue itself is great, the sound was amazing and all the bands were complementing the sound technician. The staff were helpful, kind, and were ready to help me with anything I needed. Of course the fans were a huge help as always, I can always count on a helping hand amongst the crowd.

Rating this venue, with very minimal negatives to consider, I'd be happy to say it deserves a solid 8/10 from me. The biggest draw backs to me were the bathroom size and the entrance. The bathroom could be made bigger by removing the shower that's in there (I know, easy enough to say, lol) and as for the ramps I mentioned, if they were slightly longer it would be much easier to push up. Besides that I was extremely pleased and will certainly be back! Until next time PhilaMOCA!