MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre Information
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre is an outdoor venue that is owned by the Florida State Fair Authority and operated by Live Nation, one of the US’ biggest event promoters. The venue first opened to the public on July 25, 2004 underneath its original name, Ford Amphitheatre. It is located at East Lake-Orient Park Florida which is just around the corner from Tampa. Specifically, it can be found on the Florida State Fairgrounds adjacent to Interstate 4 in the eastern side of town. For the latest information on artists touching down at the amphitheatre this year, head over to the events page for detailed listings and information.
Former Names
The MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre was previously called Ford Amphitheatre, 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre and Live Nation Amphitheatre.
Capacity
The venue’s 20,000 capacity really adds to the experience for many patrons that attend concerts and festivals. The amphitheatre easily accommodates these crowds, with a mixture of indoor and outdoor seating arrangements. Those who enjoy watching their favorite artists in the sun can sit on the lawn and those who prefer an up-close-and-personal experience are able to sit closer to the stage. For more details on this, head over to the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre Seating Chart page
Due to its huge capacity, some of the biggest artists in the world have chosen to perform at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre! Artists play to some of the wildest crowds, reveling in the atmosphere the venue brings. Aerosmith, Alice in Chains, Backstreet Boys, Brad Paisley, Bob Dylan, Boston, Blink-182, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Brown, Coldplay, Creed and Dave Matthews Band are just some of the bands that opt to play live showcases at the venue.
About the venue
The venue was opened by Christian artists Michael W Smith, David Crowder, and Mercy Me. It was later renamed the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre after the naming rights were purchased by the lawyer referral service from 2010 – 2012. The name wasn’t received well however, with 95% “I Hate It” or “I think it’s pretty lame” responses on an online poll in the St. Petersburg Times.
So in 2013, it was announced that Live Nation chose not to renew the naming rights for the facility. It was known as Live Nation Amphitheatre then until May 15, 2013, when MidFlorida Credit Union, a Florida-based financial institution acquired the naming rights for three years
Over its lifetime, the venue has played host to many concerts, tour dates, and music festivals. It also has an annual tradition of hosting 97X’s Next Big Thing, an all day rock festival, on the first Sunday of every December. This festival mainly features alternative rock bands.
What’s It Like At The Amphitheater
But what is it like to be a part of the crowd? Because that’s what really counts if you want to spend your time listening to amazing music.
According to user review, this is an excellent venue with plenty of restrooms and drink stations so you can relax in comfort during the show. Because of decibel limits the music is just right for most listeners, and the type of bands and musicians that come to play are some of the most sensational artists of their genres. This means that if you like music that doesn’t hurt your ears, then they got you covered.
The venue also offers a positive vibe with some visitors making it a point to catch several shows at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre every year. It’s earned its stripes as a noteworthy concert venue and the best music lovers in Florida reward them with regular patronage. In fact, the venue has a habit of winning new fans with every concert series, especially if you check out some of the special festivals and events they have on the annual calendar.