Stir Cove

What Plays There

Stir Cove's event listings on Ticketmaster are filed under Music, and recent bookings have spanned genres from hip-hop to rock; it's an all-ages venue, though anyone under 16 has to be with an adult 18 or older. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, and Live Nation's page lists the same shows — either one shows the current lineup as shows get announced, and both link out to Stir Cove's official Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages. That's also where you'll find each show's price: check the specific event listing for that show.

Tickets and Box Office

Buy through Ticketmaster, or through Live Nation, whose page links to the same listings; Caesars also sells its own ticket-and-hotel packages for some shows. Check the specific event listing for that show's price.

Picking up will-call? Bring the actual credit card used for the purchase and a valid photo ID. The box office itself accepts cash, Amex, Mastercard, Visa, and Discover, but it only opens at 4 p.m. on the day of the show, so don't plan on a pickup earlier in the week.

Our pick: buy ahead online rather than counting on will-call. The box office only opens at 4 p.m. on the day of the show, so a last-minute purchase leaves little room for error.

Seating and Capacity

Capacity and a general seating chart aren't listed on its ticket pages. Instead, Ticketmaster builds the chart per event, so select the specific show you're buying for to see how seating is laid out that night. Accessible seating is set aside for guests with disabilities and the people with them, including wheelchair users and guests who are hearing or visually impaired, and no special ticket is required to use it.

Getting There and Parking

Stir Cove is at One Harrah's Blvd., Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501, on Harrah's casino property.

• From Iowa: I-80 West to I-29 North, exit at 9th Avenue, then turn left.
• From Nebraska: I-80 East to I-29 North, same 9th Avenue exit, then turn left.
• From downtown Omaha: Douglas St. ramp to I-480, then I-480 to I-29 South, exit at 9th Avenue, and turn right.
• From Eppley Airfield: I-480 East to I-29 South, exit at 9th Avenue, and turn right.

Parking is free and located north of the venue. Accessible parking is west of the venue, near Harrah's main entrance.

Venue Policies

Bag Policy

Only a few kinds of bags get through the gate: clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC tote bags (subject to a search), small or clutch-sized purses and wallets no bigger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches, and one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags like a Ziploc. Backpacks, large purses, and fanny packs don't get in at all. Some shows tighten this further at the artist's request, so check your specific event before you pack.

What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind)

Bring:

• Binoculars
• Blankets or seat cushions
• Lawn chairs
• Ponchos or rain coats, if the weather calls for it

Leave in the car:

• Outside food and drinks, coolers, and picnic baskets
• Umbrellas, glass bottles, frisbees, and laser pointers
• Weapons, mace or pepper spray, fireworks, illegal substances, and musical instruments
• In-line skates, roller skates, skateboards, scooters, and bicycles

Cameras are welcome if they're non-professional and you skip the flash, but that rule shifts show to show at the artist's request — call 712.329.6000, option 2, the day before to confirm it for your show. Recording devices aren't allowed at all, regardless. You may be searched at the gate depending on the show, and Stir Cove reserves the right to turn anyone away.

Age Policy

Stir Cove is an all-ages venue, but anyone under 16 has to be with an adult 18 or older.

Weather, Cancellations, and Refunds

Every show here is rain or shine, so buying a ticket means committing to whatever the sky does that night. The one exception is lightning, and even then, canceling comes down to a mutual call between Harrah's management and the artist. If the show gets stopped by weather after the artist has already played 30 minutes, you're not owed a refund. Refunds that are owed go back automatically, either to the card used for a phone or online purchase or to the card used for an on-site credit purchase, the next business day. Paid cash on-site? Bring your ticket and receipt back for a refund. Complimentary tickets don't get refunded at all.

Accessibility and Accommodations

Accessible seating needs no special ticket, as covered in Seating and Capacity above. Need a sign language interpreter? Email stirconcertcove@caesars.com to request one. Service animals are welcome, as long as they stay on a leash or harness.

Smoking

The Iowa Smoke Free Air Act has banned smoking inside Stir Cove since July 1, 2008. This rule, along with the weather, cancellation, and refund policies above, comes from an older venue listing — confirm the current specifics with the box office at 712.329.6000, option 2, before you count on them.

Food, Drinks, and Amenities

Food and beverage vendors run concessions inside the venue, and there's an ATM on-site if you need cash for them. Outside food and drinks aren't allowed in, so concessions are the plan once you're through the gate.

Where to Eat and Drink Nearby

Harrah's has on-site dining on the casino property. Call 712.329.6000 to check which restaurants are open before you plan a meal around one.

Tips for a First Visit

The gate is strict about bags, so leave anything but a clear tote, a small clutch, or a one-gallon freezer bag at home. Dress for the weather rather than betting against it: every show is rain or shine, and only lightning cancels one, which still takes a joint call between Harrah's and the artist. Need accessible seating or a sign language interpreter? Seating needs no special ticket, but the interpreter request has to go in by email before the show.

Grab your ticket, pack a clear bag, and let the weather do whatever it's going to do; the show happens either way.