American funnyman Nate Bargatze will be taking the stage this weekend for a Vancouver stop on his Be Funny Tour.
Dubbed the "nicest man in stand-up" by the Atlantic magazine, Bargatze has carved out a huge fanbase via stand-up shows and podcasts over the past two decades, though his star has risen quickly over the past five years, with three major streaming specials since 2019 (two on Netflix and one on Amazon Prime).
Notably, on Oct. 28, he hosted Saturday Night Live, a gig normally given to Hollywood stars (with some music and sports celebrities mixed in) and rarely given to people who are primarily stand-up comedians (he has no significant acting credits).
Bargatze's Vancouver performance will be on Sunday, Jan. 28 at Rogers Arena with doors opening at 7 p.m. according to the venue.
Throughout the tour, Bargatze has had an inconsistent group of opening acts (up to four) with some comedians showing up at several shows and others (notably Jimmy Fallon) only doing one. No opening acts have been announced by the tour organizers or venue for Vancouver.
Tickets
Tickets are still available for the show, which will see the lower bowl of Rogers Arena used (the accessible area of the upper bowl is open as well).
While seats directly in front of the stage have sold out, seats throughout the rest of the arena are open, with prices (after fees) ranging from $70.50 to $171.10.
It should be noted that the stage is in the middle of the arena (where centre ice would be at a Canucks game) with comedians visible from all angles.
Transportation
TransLink picket lines and strikes have been put on hold for now, so the usual Sunday evening public transit options will be open in general.
Hullo will not be running a special late-night ferry for people coming for the show from Vancouver Island.
Restrictions
A few things aren't allowed in Rogers Arena for the show. Notably, some bags won't be permitted; all bags need to be under 35.5 cm by 35.5 cm by 15.2 cm. For reference, 35.5 cm is just a bit over 13 inches.
Rogers Arena is also a smoke-free zone, as far as cigarettes and cannabis are concerned. The band may have smoke machines.
Other common sense items are to be left at home as well, like skateboards, selfie sticks, and outside food and drinks.
Cashless Venue
Rogers Arena has gone cashless.
"Concession, retail stands, & hospitality will exclusively accept contactless forms of payment," states the venue's website.
Fan Service
Rogers Arena has a fan service number to text if there are any issues during the show: 604-765-3267.
Concertgoers can text their issue and their location (seat number and row along with the section) and get help.
