Many of the musicians booked here have been favorites of mine but I wondered about the quality of the sound, how much weather was a factor in terms of personal comfort and if it was a worthy venue for an excellent concert experience.
Nearly 10 years old, this concert venue can accommodate 19,500 people and is said to be the premier outdoor  in Florida.
Parking is free (the price is built into the ticket cost) but be aware that the open space surrounding the Florida State Fairgrounds may require quite a hike to reach the entrance which would not be much fun in extreme heat or heavy rain. And that can mean finding your car in the unmarked lot after dark may take some time and effort to sort out where your vehicle is among the haphazard rows.
A sort of midway set up outside of the main area features lots of food and drink for sale so lines are generally not long. The night of my recent visit was highlighted by the presence of the popular food truck, Taco Bus, which offers great food at a seriously affordable price.
Weather can be a factor here since it is open-air, but covered, venue so prepare for heat, rain or cold as needed.
The sound is good from the seats but those who have camped far from the stage on the grass seem less than satisfied with the sound quality.
This place sees a steady stream of acts for all ages and all musical tastes, Dave Matthews to Bob Dylan and Blake Shelton to Black Sabbath.
For a pre- or post-concert toast or overnight accommodations, the Hard Rock Hotel is located just across I-4. Just allow a lot of time to get park, hike to the entrance, make your way through the midway and, eventually settle into your seat to enjoy the show.
Have been here twice now to see Rush. Â Both times the sound was just so-so. Â I saw Rush twice on the Snakes an Arrows tour - both here and in Orlando in the old O-rena. Â The sound was surprisingly much better at the inside venue. Â So for sound alone I can't give a good rating. Â Even the Rock The Universe bands that play outside at Universal Studios Orlando typically have a better sound mix than what I experienced here both times.
Parking was free, so that is good. Â But getting out quickly after the show is not going to happen. Â I learned from last time so we hung out in the parking lot for about an hour after the show this time until the traffic thinned out. Â This really would not have been an option if the weather was bad. Â I can see this place becoming a mud pit when it rains.
Overall an OK experience, Â but just can't get past the poor sound. Â I hope they play in Orlando next time in the new Amway Center.
Why 2 stars? Because I've re-examined it, and I hate this place.
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I used to enjoy the Amp, now I kind of hope I am never there again.
I can take the heat, really. I've lived in Texas and Florida for 99% of my life, so my tolerance for being hot is as high as anyone's. And being hot, is something that will definitely occur when attending this outdoor concert venue. But what I cannot tolerate is the parking situation, which deserves to be on every worst-of list in the country. It is seriously the most epic, awful set-up you could ever imagine.
I arrived for the Dave Matthews concert this year about an hour before the show was supposed to begin. I ended up making it to my seat with only a few minutes to spare before DMB started their performance. Why did it take so long? Because the line to park was backed up around 500 yards beyond the entrance to the fairgrounds. We ended up being sent to an alternative lot that literally was a one mile walk to my seat. I understand that this parking is free, but I would MUCH rather pay for parking in the same zip code as the venue I am attending. I would also love to not have to leave my house more than two hours before a concert starts so that I don't have to sit in a line of hundreds of cars for an hour.
I apologize for the angry tone of this review, but something has to be done about this before next summer's concert season. For now, I will start thinking about puppies and hopefully I'll cheer up.
I love music. I love going to concerts. I hate this theatre. It was terrible. Project Revolution 2008. Featured My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday and Linkin Park. My Chem was good, TBS was fucking fantastic and then it started to heat lightning so they made us folks on the grass leave, they let everyone sit in the seats stay. So we all left and I had a friend in the seats, an hour letter Linkin Park came out to perform for them and had an encore performance. I was pissed.
Review Source:I have seen several shows here. Overall it is a great venue. Lots of parking and bathrooms. The bad thing is getting into the place. It takes an hour from the exit to the entrance. They really need to work this out. It is ridiculous and puts a bad taste in your mouth, prior to a show.
Review Source:Pretty good sound quality for an outside theatre.  Bathrooms are huge and I've never had to wait on line.  Summer shows are rough here since you are outside in Florida! I saw the same Judas Priest show another reviewer saw here and I don't  know why he thinks the sound was bad.  I thought it was fine.  But some people are never happy ;-)
Review Source:Although I think this amphitheater couldn't have a tackier name, I guess if you pay for it than you can name it whatever the #3!! you want! Other than that, it's really really hot if you go to a show in the (long FL) summer but the parking is convenient, everyone tail-gates beforehand and it's a nice and clean facility. The stage is pretty big and the huge jumbo-tron screens on either side of the stage makes sure you can see even from the nose bleeds or lawn seats.
Tip: Girls hit the bathroom early. I don't know but something freaked me out about the maze like set up of the bathroom. Anyways, you might as well go when it's still relatively clean and the TP and soaps are still stocked up.
Tip 2: Tail gate before the show because you know things can get pretty expensive inside!
3 days grace, bullet for my valentine, seether, a7x
Invited to a concert I decided to check it out. VIP perks doubt it DO NOT buy they aren't worth it. Upon entrance we were told food would be served complimentary and it wasn't on top of that the food was on the cold end of warm.
As far as the venue itself it was okay to bad the performers were bad. Nice open field for a side stage with a few more activities other than concert related. It was hot so there could have been more coverage from the heat. The main stage and seating was excellent of course you have your usual "oh I thought this was my seat" people. Exiting was a hassle and would suggest they do something to enlarge it or have more staff to point out the most reasonable exit. It's to the left when viewing the main stage by the way.
I'm not big on Tampa but seeing how I've yet to go to Busch Gardens I may return when there are performers of my liking at the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre. Thanks.
I have been going here for a few years now to see tons of different shows and festivals ever since it was  Ford Amphitheater. It's a pretty good amphitheater. Great parking lot for tailgating, it's huge, also has permanent port-a-potties that are key when tailgating (unless you are a dude, u guys are so lucky). But that does mean it's quite a walk to the entrance and usually a bitch to get out after a huge show lets out.
The vendors inside are quite expensive but that is expected at entertainment venues everywhere. The bartenders are usually really nice though. There are a good amount of bathrooms so the lines are hardly long.
I have enjoyed shows from the pit, the seats and the lawn, everywhere is a good seat for sure. I do love me some pit though. Being in FL you have to be ready for the rainstorms too, not much coverage around if you are not in the pit/seats.
Overall, I do dig the venue quite a bit!
The Amphitheater has so much potential due to it's awesome acoustics, but this is why the venue falls flat in my opinion:
1. Parking: the parking lot is not paved so when it rains so you have to push your car out of the mud or pay the tow truck (that conveniently circles the lot during rain).
2. Bathrooms: outdoor porta-potties. Â Do I need to go into further explanation?
3. Lawn seating: I loved the idea of sitting on a beach blanket while listening to music until it rained during the concert. Â Worst time ever! To make matters worse a bunch of drunk guys who didn't want to walk to the bathrooms were all peeing outside off of the hill... Eww!!!
4. Concert Schedule: The majority of the concerts are held during the summer when it's in the high 90s and guaranteed to rain every day at 4pm. Â Who wants to sweat it out or stand in the rain?
20 thousand can get into this weirdly named amphitheatre (1-800-AX-Gary Amphitheatre, until the name license runs out in 2013). Â So 18,998 other people came with us on a sultry August night, with the pale blue & pink of sunset crowding any chance of rain on the nicely elevated venue. Â Nice place!
It's near the Fairgrounds and clealy seen from I-4. Â Exit for Rt 301 because it takes you right to the parking entrance. Â Couldnt believe parking was free for the big time headliner, Rascal Flatts. Â Rows of cars and pickups lined up with plenty of room for tailgaters. Â Fastest exit Ive ever experienced, too, Â Then I realized, of course! - half the drivers exiting were either Nascar wannabes or weekend dragsters with great spatial and accelerator talents.
Some blue port-a-potties were placed on the grassy parking fields, but most bathroom lines were for the permanent facilities instide the theatre gates.  Add about 20 degrees to the 92 degree outside heat and you've got a good sense of what the inside of  these concrete bathrooms were like.  I can say that they were clean, however.
Note to Country concert girl people: Â I don't recommend telling your bff to find you by the beer concession and that you're wearing cowboy boots and daisy dukes. Â You will not be found. Â There are probably 18,500 people matching all or part of that description.
I love country concerts because no matter how many 24 oz Bud Lights you consume, you won't get the perfromer names screwed up. Â I mean unless you're enough of a fan to know first from last names, Eastin Corbin could be either way. Â That theory doesnt work for groups though. Â Flatt Rascalls. Â Nope.
Tampa's Amphitheatre's got all the eqmt for moving stairs, strobes, smoke, and large scale video. Â Lionnel Ritchey was announced as a surprise guest, and daaammm, it was only a life sized virtual projection into the midde of the group. Â Not cool. Â I don't like Wii stunts when Im paying three digits for seats close to the stage and the real deal.
I thought the sound was great.  It drowned out the three big fans in front of us who were  rockin in about 6 seats (all occupied btw).
Security was abundant but cheerful. Â I'd go here again.
Best place in Tampa to see a live show outdoors. I have had a great time with good friends every time I go. The food and drinks are expensive but there is a Winghouse literally 20 feet from the parking lot. The parking lot is grass and dirt and you may have to walk if you don't get there early. Prices depend on the show. I have seen anyone from John Mayer to Tim McGraw in the venue.
Review Source:I generally go to a few concerts a summer here- only because it's where they are held- not because I like the venue. Â Actually, it's fine if you cough up the dough to sit under the pavillion and they do occasionally offer deals to trade up to pavillion seats from your lawn seats for $10 or $20, whcih is nice. Â The lawn, however, is another story. Â Twice last summer there were major issues with the sound system- at the Tim McGraw concert, I'm pretty sure the speakers on the side of the lawn I was sitting on weren't even on and the lawn was SO over-sold and loud, I seriously could hardly hear the vocals for the opening act (Lady Antebellum). Â They turned it up some for the main show, but still, it was NOT what you'd expect for a concert. Â Also, at the Montgomery Gentry show, the sound for the vocals went out again, however since it was everywhere (not just the lawn) they took a break until they could fix it. Â Also (and this isn't really the Amp's fault) the crowd on the lawn often is WAY out of control- I've seen multiple fights, people puking all over themselves and general nastiness. Â Also, if you're going to a Friday night show, traffic is often a NIGHTMARE!
Review Source:Great venue for concert-going. Â The lawn seats make a great place to relax and enjoy a concert (like Jimmy Buffett, as I've done for the last 7 years (sans his '08 omission)).
Quick pros: fun and relaxing atmosphere, venue managed very well, great port-o-let placement and very clean in the parking lot for tailgating, free parking with concert ticket, trees and grass for tailgating, nice open-air venue.
Quick cons: the video screens for the lawn need some serious updating, drink prices inside are a bit gougey ($10 for domestic beer, really?).
Quick tips: if going into the concert, have someone(s) head over half an hour before the gates open with blankets and chairs. Â Soon as gates open, rush to the bottom of the lawn along the rope, away from the aisles, to avoid later having others standing in front of you.
Overall a great venue for tailgating and concert-going!
I really, really enjoy this venue. Â I've heard complaints about the acoustics but for heaven's sake, it's an outdoor venue so of course you won't get the same sound quality as you would an indoor venue. Â But the beauty of this place is that it is an outdoor venue, constructed for the soul purpose of being a place to enjoy performances outdoors. Â
Previously called the Ford Amphitheatre and now known as probably one of the dumbest names I've ever heard for a place (1-800-Ask Gary Amphitheatre), this place offers two seating options. Â You can pay more and sit under the actual pavilion in the standard stadium seating closer to the stage, or you can pay for general admission and sit on the lawn (bring your own blanket type thing). Â I can say I have sat in both and have enjoyed both experiences equally. Â
To me, nothing is nicer than sitting under the stars on a beautiful Florida night listening to some kick ass music! Â Now on the other side of that coin, being that we do live in Florida, sometimes rain is a factor. Â That's when it's nice to be under the pavilion and not have to deal with the crowds closing in on you (after all you have your own individual seat).
I will also say the last show I went to (Kings of Leon), I was greeted by staff at the entrance that had an option to upgrade from lawn to pavilion seats for $10, which was a nice option, but I've only ever experienced that at this one show. Â
For those that worry about not being close to the action of the stage or not being able to see too well, most of the shows I have ever been to broadcast the main performance on the various big screens. Â
In terms of concessions, they are a little pricey, but they offer some pretty cool food and beverage choices. Â
Parking is easy and always manned pretty well. Â It's also cool to pull up and see the tailgaters hanging in the adjacent parking field/ area . Â
I really wish they had a venue like this in Orlando.
This is an awesome place to see a concert. I wish Orlando had a venue like this. The awesome part is it's outside and the sound is really good. That's the downside too. It can get pretty hot and it does rain. If you want to be guaranteed a dry seat-get a reserved seat (not on the lawn).
They have a variety of drinks (beer, wine, sangria, frozen) Also, if you get paperless ticketing go to the box office and have them print your ticket right away. A lot of people (including myself) had problems and had to go through security and the ticket line twice :( Also, be prepared to WALK the parking is far away from the actual venue.
If your favorite artist is playing there...GO!!! It's a really fun venue and you won't be disappointed.
I really like the seating here, well under the canopy at least. Â We saw Depeche Mode and the show was amazing- think the stage show of U2, but with much better music. Â The food and beverage vendors are in abundance and there are tons of bathrooms. Â So, I think this place is pretty great for an outdoor venue, especially when there is a breeze and no rain.
When driving here, please note than the entrance is on MLK and the best exit is on 301.
The only problem is the long walk to the actual venue from the grass only parking areas. Â Walking through the wet field for two miles made me shoes explode and then walking back with only socks and trying to avoid broken glass was a pain. Â Also, it is very easy to lose your car here.
Because Central Florida can brag about great weather just about every day, we have the benefit of offering outdoor concerts to diehard fans. Â And although Orlando doesn't have a special venue for this type of show, Tampa does. Â
So about 80 miles away, Orlando citizens can drive to the Ford Amphitheatre to see their favorite musical group or artist. Â Recently, Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer played and tickets were hard to come by. Â Last year, Jimmy Buffett came and played two nights in a row because the demand was so high.
For me and my friends, tail gating is an important facet of making a concert an all around great time. Â Therefore it's important to note that there are plenty of parking spaces for this purpose. Â Traffic is directed to park in neat rows with a decent amount of room to sit back, relax, and prepare for the experience about to be had once inside. Â They have strategic areas for our favorite bathroom alternative, the port-a-potty. Â Lines can be fairly long for these once the concert's start time approaches, so be mindful of the liquids you consume if waiting isn't for you.
The actual venue itself isn't terribly large, yet it's not small either. Â It's a medium-sized space with covered seats, and grassy hills for those with blankets. Â As with most concert halls and auditoriums, there are TVS so you don't have to strain your eyes too much. Â
Overall, I would recommend this venue to anyone who might be considering purchasing tickets. Â It was a very fun and well-kept amphitheater. Â And it happens to be just across the way from the Hard Rock Casino if you want to make a weekend out of your short trip there.
The first show that I saw at this amphitheater was Dave Matthews, where the tickets were practically front row and sweet smoke could be smelled everywhere. Â It actually poured rain during that show which I think the kids on the grassy knoll enjoyed, but I was extremely grateful for the covered pavilion that kept me, the big screens, and all that equipment dry. Â I also remember seeing the Linkin Park Revolution tour at the Ford Amphitheater--hands down the best concert show ever, up until the part when I got crushed in the front row and had the bouncers pull me out to safety. Â Security is only slightly annoying with the way they keep checking your ticket to make sure you are in the appropriate section, but I guess that's just their job. Â A plus of this venue is the three different seating options that make just about any show as great as you hoped for or just affordable enough for you to go. Â Each section makes for a good time and each promises a different experience for each concert goer. Â The lawn seats are still good seats, while also adding the extra dimension of blanket seating. Â Whichever you choose, remember it's completely outdoors, so you will get hot, you will sweat, and you will be exhausted when you leave!
Review Source:
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