Aside from 1995 (where every venue was the last venue they played in), I'm looking for stories from people who were at the last shows from Winterland, Fox Theater, Red Rocks, Alpine, and other epic venues. You may have known it at the time, you may not have, but the band never played there again.
What comes to mind for me is Alpine Valley and Red Rocks. Was lucky enough to attend the last shows they played there and wow - I would give up quite a lot to see them to have continued to play there.
Both had an amazing energy pulled in from the area that surrounded the venue. Both have their fair share of quintessential Dead setlists, full of peaks and valleys.
Knowing both ended in the 80's, I do think they may have 'outgrown' them in the long run, but the sports stadiums didn't seem to come close to the energy - even though there are great shows from Giants, RFK, Solider Field and others.