Tim McGraw fully understood the significance of the occasion.

"We're used to playing big arenas and stadiums in front of 20,000-30,000 people," the country superstar told 3,000 fans at Saturday's sold-out grand opening of the Treasure Island Casino Event Center in Red Wing, Minn. "This reminds us of 15 years ago, when we were honky-tonking a little bit."

Judging by the boisterous reaction, every fan might have given McGraw's 95-minute performance a thumbs up. But what did concertgoers think of the Event Center, part of a $50 million expansion at the casino that includes 230 new hotel rooms (all nonsmoking, as is the event center) and a 24-lane bowling alley?

"I've seen lots of concerts at Treasure Island before, and I had a better experience [Saturday]," said Emily Redman, 22, of Apple Valley. "It's an intimate, neat atmosphere. I'd definitely come back."

Toni Spilde, 32, and her husband, Chad, 36, drove eight hours to Red Wing from Halma, Minn., and she couldn't stop gushing after the concert. "It was so close, it was surreal," said Spilde, who left their three children -- ages 1 to 12 -- at the farm. "There's not a bad seat in there. It's a beautiful, beautiful place."

Although Liz Zolondek, 27, of Minneapolis, questioned whether it was worth $230 to be eight rows away from the stage, she called the new room "better than I expected. It's got good, clear sound -- and it's not too loud. He's singing to you; it's more personal."

From his seat in the last row in the bleachers, Jim Albertson, 50, of Stillwater, was happy. "I don't have to stand up to see," he said, pointing out how everyone on the floor was standing. "My wife would rather be down there. I'm not a big-crowd person. It's all good. I'm coming back for Ron White," the comedian who'll play there Friday and Saturday.

Even McGraw's band raved. "It's excellent," acoustic guitarist Bob Miner said after the show. "It's set up well. Great dressing rooms. They did it right."

Some hardcore concertgoers were less enthusiastic about the Event Center, which is not only a concert venue but a space for boxing matches, trade shows, receptions and other events.

After dancing in the space in front of the bleachers, Jon Phelps, 39, St. Paul, said he expected more -- something special. "They built the same old thing," said Phelps, who goes to at least 25 concerts annually.

With its sconces high on the walls, the rectangular room feels like an overgrown hotel ballroom or a dressed-up school gym, with an ad-hoc lobby.

Julie Paine, 44, of St. Croix Beach, felt there was too much congestion in the too-small lobby area with its bar, souvenir table and security/ticket takers. She found the seats -- portable banquet chairs on the floor, plastic fold-down seats on the bleachers -- uncomfortable and the carpeting unattractive (it looks like a peacock seen through a kaleidoscope).

"They go after A-list stars like Tim McGraw and Martina McBride, but it feels like a B-list room," said Paine, who calls herself a Vegas-show junkie.

This veteran critic would echo those complaints. Treasure Island also needs signage to direct people to the Event Center and then more prominent signs -- or more ushers --in the inside entryway to guide concertgoers to specific sections.

The two video screens were not operating Saturday because the cameras had just arrived that day, a casino spokesman said, and hadn't been tested. The video setup will be working by this weekend.

But McGraw himself may have suggested that fans don't need in-your-face intimacy. "You see us this close," he joked, "and you may never want to see us again."

Jon Bream • 612-673-1719

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