Everything We Know About Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
BY THE RVAX TEAM
This week marks the grand opening of the highly anticipated Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront. Its (free!) Sunset Soundcheck show kicked things off on Wednesday, June 4, and we went to get a look ourselves of the beautiful new space downtown — and it made quite the first impression.
One big thing that stood out to us: Depending on the show(s) you attend during this inaugural season, the venue offers standing room, reserved seating, box seats, and lawn space, and (admittedly to our pleasant surprise) it became quickly clear that there really isn’t a bad seat in the house; even if your partic show is packed to the gills (at 7,500 max capacity), we think you’ll have a great view of goings-on no matter where you’re taking in the sights and sounds.
And there’s way more insight where that came from. Read on for everything else to know before you go this summer.
Some key highlights
Parking: The thing is, the new space is Downtown, so you’ll want to keep that in mind when you’re thinking through how to time your arrival. But the other thing is, we’re not in DC, so you’ll likely also find that this sitch isn’t all that tricky to figure out.
The amphitheater’s site offers this handy parking map if you decide to go that route, and there are also onsite bike racks at the Main Entrance on 5th St (and elsewhere nearby). Or, if you feel like getting in a few steps to start your outing, there’s a rideshare drop-off and pick-up point at the 7th St roundabout near Tredegar St, which’ll put you about a five-minute walk from the gate.
Getting in: There’s one entrance, and it’s on 5th St, between Byrd St and Tredegar St.
Food & bev options: As are most (all?) things these days, it gets a little pricey when you’re out for a bite and a drink, but to our delight, Allianz Amphitheater is partnering with local vendors to offer concessions inside the venue, meaning if you so choose, you can at least spend your dollars on the likes of Timber Pizza Co. and more rotating options when you go.
Another highlight in this department? The venue offers wine by the bottle (including from Blenheim Vineyards!), along with beer, soda, water, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Dates & times: For its 2025 season, the amphitheater is hosting 32 shows, now through October, including Dave Matthews Band, Mumford & Sons, Simple Plan, and a helluva lot more. Tickets (generally) start at $30, and if you note a headliner listed you’d like to see live, snag your seats now; lots of shows are already sold out on the venue’s site itself.
Other tidbits: Something else we noticed — and loved — when we were checking things out IRL is that, while you can bring small blankets along with you if you’re sitting on the lawn, the venue offers lawn chairs for rent if you’d like a little more comfort. And speaking of the lawn, as Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, “The amp is using a turf management program developed by Virginia Tech to ensure the lawn is soft, green, and comfortable. ‘It’s like giving the lawn the ‘Masters’ treatment,’ organizers said.”
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