Shrine Nightclub - Mashantucket, Connecticut

Julie Balboni

It was crowded and hot as expected, what I didn't expect was the waters to cost $5.50 for an 8oz bottle. $5.50. And they said they "didn't have" cups of tap water. A vodka soda was about $15 for 1 shot worth of well vodka.

We ended up at the very back because we couldn't push our way up so we couldn't even see Steve Aoki. To their credit, there were TVs near the back so we could still enjoy the backdrop visuals.

It was loud of course but we didn't have to yell. But again, we were at the very back.

The bouncers and entrance was fine, there was almost no security. I saw people with backpacks and they didn't even try to check them. We did see security walking around which was good.

Overall, I wouldn't go back. The price of the wager and lack of free water is a deal breaker for me. I expect crowds and heat, but that was just insane. Not worth it, in my opinion.

Larry Morton

Dj daryus costa rock the place I would recommend anyone to go there especially when he’s playing. He knows how to work the crowd playing new stuff in old stuff.

Charles

Steve Aoki is amazing, and I absolutely love his DJ skills. He never disappoints. Unfortunately, the venue did. Like many reviews mentioned, it was overpriced and packed beyond capacity. This place clearly prioritizes profit over the experience and safety of its patrons. It was extremely hot inside, the dress code wasn’t enforced, security didn’t check anyone, and people were smoking in the bathrooms, which was disgusting.

My friends and I went to see Steve Aoki and ended up getting a table with bottles, spending over $1,500, including an 18% tip for our waiter. While the waiter was pleasant and kind, she didn’t actually assist us. We poured our own drinks and were given a very limited number of cups. Other patrons were complaining about the price of water, and it’s shocking they didn’t provide water, especially given how hot and overcrowded it was.

The most concerning issue occurred when we decided to share our leftover liquor with others in the club. My buddy went to pour drinks for some guests, and a bartender/staff member aggressively came around the bar, trying to snatch the bottle out of his hands. He yelled disrespectfully, demanded the bottles back, and even pushed my friend away from the bar. His approach was unprofessional and hostile. Thankfully, other staff members stepped in to de-escalate the situation, but the original staff member remained aggressive. My friend stayed calm and explained to the other staff that this behavior was unacceptable, especially considering how much money we had spent.

It’s clear that this venue likely takes unfinished bottles from paying customers and reuses them for future events. That’s not okay. While I expect potential backlash or a generic message from the venue asking me to “reach out,” I doubt they’ll actually address these concerns. This place is all about profit, not the people. Be cautious, set a spending limit, and manage your expectations if you decide to attend. And yes, like other reviews mention, many DJs play the same songs, and the main event often doesn’t even last an hour.

Chris Best

Steve Aoki’s performance at The Shrine was everything I expected – high-energy, heavy drops, and non-stop crowd engagement. When he finally hit the stage at 12 AM, the place exploded. His set was electric, and Aoki’s signature energy had the crowd going wild.

But honestly, the overall experience at The Shrine left a lot to be desired. The venue felt dangerously overpacked – it was tight, unbearably hot, and moving through the crowd felt impossible at times. It was clear The Shrine prioritized profit over safety by cramming in as many people as possible. I’ve been to packed shows before, but this felt excessive to the point where it started to affect the vibe.

To make things worse, the staff didn’t handle the crowd well. At one point, my friend got aggressively confronted by security just for sharing drinks with a couple of people nearby. There was no warning – they immediately escalated the situation, which felt unnecessary given how chaotic the environment already was.

Aoki absolutely delivered, but The Shrine’s mismanagement and focus on maximizing ticket sales at the expense of comfort and safety made the night harder to enjoy. If the venue can balance crowd control with the experience they’re selling, events like this could be incredible for all the right reasons.

Josh Pelletier

Never go to a "show" here. They pack the place well over capacity which is a major fire hazard.
It's also a bait and switch at this club. They tell you the show starts at 9 but the artist doesn't come out until 1am and leaves 15 minutes later. 50 cent did maybe 4 half songs and just walked off stage without saying anything. Left the crowd angry and confused.
Look at past reviews for this club. They all say the same thing. Avoid wasting money on this place. Nothing but a scam.

Olivia Cardone

We went to see Steve Aoki and it got to the point the people around me got worn out and bored… some guy in front of me started playing games on his phone. The guest dj seemed to be having fun tho.

UPDATE: by the time Steve had arrived my friend and I were worn out by the many beat drops from the previous dj. We needed up having to leave halfway through his set 🙁 we were both looking forward to see him

A M

Talk about a fire hazard. If it ever had a fire, People would literally burn alive. There were no immediate exits visible. I plan on calling the local fire department to let them know. They completely overbook it to the point that you can't even stand comfortably because so many people are squished in and trying to walk by and spilling drinks everywhere and were drunk and stupid. I went to see 50 Cent, walked in at 9:00 and he didn't go on till almost 1:00, the djs before him were trash playing the same songs over and over and they were the most garbage songs, everybody was pissed off and tired by the time he came out, and he did about five songs for maybe 30 minutes and then left, it was the biggest bullshit I've ever paid for. This club sucks! The dance floor is tiny, esp for a show. Don't go here. Save your money and life cuz like I said, if that place ever had a fire, you would be screwed. Way to only care about money and not people's lives!

Marissa Petrichko

last night was the second time i tried to attend this club and it was most definitely the last. me and my 3 friends went to see 50 cent and never even caught a glimpse of him!!! we entered at 9pm and left at 12:30am! and the safety in this place is nonexistent. you couldn’t even move last night! took forever to get to the exit that was 30ft from me! i absolutely hated this place. i tried to give them another shot with 50 cent because my Dj Pauly D experience on oct 11,2024 was the exact same. thought it could have been the night, but no it’s the club. do not go here! wasted $270 on tickets to not even see the guy. one star cuz i can’t put zero!