TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Tickets

Given all the hype leading up to the opening ceremonies, we expected much more. We arrived at the appointed time and had to wait over an hour for the ceremonies to begin. While the Cirque du Soleil performers did an excellent job, the scale of the show was too small for the venue, taking place on one small stage in the centre. Without any commentary most of the symbolism of the show was lost. The promised "celebrities" didn't really materialize, and even Serena Ryder's theme song for the games was only shown on video. We had seen enough by the time the speeches started so we left and unfortunately missed out on the fireworks at the CN Tower - it would have been great to have had the dome open and the fireworks more incorporated into the ceremonies. Ok entertainment, but not the spectacle that was promised.

It was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. I wondered how Cirque was going to `fill` the Rogers Centre but they certainly pulled it off. Absolutely awesome night!!!

It was a fantastic show and a great experience for my kids and me.

PROS: Cirque du Soleil performance was excellently produced and performed.. Video & music production was excellent. Competitor parade was well coordinated and fun to watch, since it was within our view. CONS: Seated centre stage and about 29 rows back, we had excellent position to watch this event. However, the artists were too far away from the audience and the screens in place to provide additional views were too small and badly managed. The first 75 minutes leading up to the main event was completely amateur, having no relevance to the proceedings. The choice of countries represented by the dance groups omitted huge swathes of the main Canadian population; in conversation with others this has caused offence. No programme or similar handout was provided to inform the audience of the schedule of events/proceedings. Cirque du Soleil content was light on the innovation, specifically around acrobatics, etc. Watching a group of people running around with what looked like table lamps had no appeal. SUMMARY: Disappointing and we, with many others, left before the official opening speeches. I had recorded this event on TV and viewed when I got home; It was a far better experience and did not cost me $460 for 2 people in the second tier seats.

I was so proud of Toronto and Canada. The event was impeccable. Sound, lighting, organization, everything brilliantly done. Happy I went!

Our tickets said the event started at 6:45 but actually didn't start with the opening ceremonies until 8. I could have missed the CBC hosts and comedians that I couldn't hear anyway. The rest was great but the speeches should have been at the beginning as a lot of people left during them which I thought was rude. Cirque desoleil was awesome and the marching in of the athletes especially Canada, of course was very moving.

Very confusing. Absolutely no explanation of what was going on or being presented. They wanted me to pay $15 for a program to a show i paid $350.00 to attend. Absolutely amateurish and poorly executed. By the time it was over, half of the audience had already left in disappointment. We were forced to buy tickets without a seating chart and they basically filled the 500 section of Rogers center and a large portion of the 200 were empty for the show. Who knows if you actually got the tickets you paid for. What a missed opportunity. People around me were playing games on their phone and surfing the net. That says it all.

Fantastic show! Wonderfully executed! Felt proud to be a Canadian! But why was the dome not open? People in the Rogers Centre could not see the fireworkers??

It took awhile to get started, but once it did it was unforgettable. I've seen Cirque du Soleil numerous times but nothing prepared me for this. Going from their usual small stage to a gigantic space offered them an opportunity to redefine the term EPIC. And boy did they ever. As for the athletes, when they came in country by country you couldn't help but be swept up in the moment. Exciting, moving, memorable.

Show was ok but venue terrible. I will not return. A can of beer $10.50 one slice of pizza $17.50 plus taxes barefoot rot gut wine $12.50 water afraid to ask. The biggest rip off in Toronto. 20 minuet line ups at almost all food/drink stands. Lack of elevators crowded and line ups we had to walk .

First of all, loved, loved, loved it! Things to improve: 1) Need to put a time limit on speeches (you have to have them, but it brings down the energy); 2) Needed to have a more well-known musician featured; 3) Roof should have been open for the fire works! Other than that the whole show and Cirque de Soleil was spectacular!

I had a wonderful time at the opening but I would have eliminated the pre opening show. The hosts did what they could but it was really an advertisement for the CBC. There was nothing really entertaining about it and most of the audience was totally bored. The children in the audience did not even understand what was going on. we also could not hear them properly. The main event was well planned and ran beautifully from start to finish. I had wished the roof had been open and a large amount of fireworks had ended the show but only so much could be done with it closed. Missed the CN Tower fireworks entirely but they looked great on TV. Unfortunately with TV and media we tend to compare our shows with extravaganzas from other countries (mainly the U.S.) but we are getting better at it and it was so encouraging to see as I really love my country. Thanks Canada. Inside TV`s neede to big bigger with better placement

I was not happy with location of seats , As i have to look at the monitors all the time to see the centre of the stage . I know i did not have a choice if seats , but i paid $230.00 a seat for total $460.00, The cheaper seats had a better view of the stage . the only good thing about where we were was that we got to be right next to the atheletes . Our seats were 130DR seat 5 & 6 . I would have been better to wait and buy my tickets a month before . I Thought being first in would have been better but not so

It was very exciting and everyone in our area was bobbing heads and moving to the music. It was a lot of fun.

An awesome show put up by Cirque De Soliel. Thanks to PanAm games organizing committee for bringing this together.

After months of hype and wanting to relive the passion and excitement of Vancouver's Opening ceremony I found myself falling asleep at the opening of the Pan Am games. The pre-entertainment before the show began was pointless. I was in row 9, paid top dollar to be up close - and all for what....a flood light shining in my face, the props too small and far too much going on in the stage. Hard to follow. Such a disappointment folks

Couldn't be more proud of Toronto! The show was world class, the performers and volunteers got the crowd up and moving.

Opening ceremonies were amazing. What Cirque can do on a big stage is truly magical. The parade of athletes was handled extremely well, and was a joy to experience. When Canada came in, I thought the riff was going to come off the place. If I was going to criticize it would be on three fronts: First the warm up hour was ok but could have been half that time. Commentators and Patchy ok, comedians not so much. It's a long time from 6.15 to 8.00 pm when the real cerimonies started. Second, where our seats were (100 level) we had arc lights blazing directly at us for two hours. Very hard on eyes. Third, every Cirque show we have been to has a voice over who explains the show, briefly, as it unfolds. If you did not buy the program and read it cover to cover before everything began, you had no idea what was happening and what the meaning was behind the show as its sections unfolded. Still, thrilled we could be there.

When you think about all canada has to offer and y contrast it with the cirque show we received it was pretty terrible. Oh there were highlights, BASE jumping was cool and seeing our athletes. But realistically, the show itself was a cirque du soleil show like any other. While I appreciate a portion of the show being dedicated to cirque the entire show being this way was a complete wasted opportunity. What about our musical history? And th rest of Canadian culture? The London Olympic opening was amazing because they drew on all of the history of the UK. Vancouver opening was good because of the variety. This frankly was a waste of money. Further they told us to come early and to download apps so we could take part in the light show and then told us nothing about it at the pre show event?? So we arrived as instructed 75 minutes pre show for a horrible and boring pre show. All in all a complete waste of the 710.00 I spent for the two tickets my wife and I purchased. And where was Wayne Gretzky????

My entire family enjoyed the experience. Great way to be a part of the Pan Am games.