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Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Active Life Amusement Parks Music Venues, Amusement Parks [Edit]
8808 Irvine Center DrIrvine, CA 92618
(949) 855-8095
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
183 reviews for Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Review Highlights
"Pacific Symphony Summer Concert Series."
(in 4 reviews)
"By far the best concert I've been to in a long time."
(in 90 reviews)
"I love sitting on the lawn and being with 'the people."
(in 84 reviews)
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183 reviews in English
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Review from Mohib Q.
Cerritos, CA
1/17/2012 1 photo
I came here a few weeks ago for a Social Distortion and Face to Face concert with some good friends, and enjoyed good acoustics and view from the lawn. While the crowd up front may have experienced decibels higher than they wished, the lawn noise turned out to be perfect. As expected, some punk rockers broke out their old-fashioned mosh pits and bullish looks, but fun was had by most people. Social Distortion put on a great concert, the police kept their distance, and patrons kept it cool. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and service from the amphitheater.
A few things to note:
1. It does get cold, so bring a jacket
2. The further back the seat, the more uphill you may be. Note the hill is steeper than what you may experience at the Hollywood Bowl (which is also a bigger venue).
3. This venue does have parking fees and a large lot. This lot does does unusually long to get out of. Directions to 5 or 405 freeways are not posted.
4. Venue is kept relatively clean.
5. Bathroom lines can get very, very long. -
Review from Steve S.
Norwalk, CA
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
My Girlfriend loved that it was outside and that she could smoke while watching teh show.
However, dear god that was a hike to get to the damn stadium!!!!!!
One more thing that I hated was not the fault of the venue, and I am NOT deducting any stars for is that I came here to see Social Distortion with Face to Face play recently.
Well, that's how the show was billed. However, after digging through a few sites, I found out who the opening bands were. Suedehead and The Avett Brothers.
Now, I never show up in time to see the opening bands. I am sure Suedehead is a great band with it's own following, but after giving them a listen online, eh... not really my style. Although I also like Country music, The Avett Brothers were too far on the Folk side for my tastes so I didn't have a problem missing them either.
So here I am, bringing my happy ass to the venue at around 7:15pm. Well, in the parking lot, it sure as shit sounds like Face to Face is playing. WTF? One of the headliners is ON at 7:15? After the mile long trot to get through the parking lot, the lines and the mountain that the seats were on, I get in just in time to see Face to Face walk off the stage. I don't know WHO planned the damn lineup, but who thought it was wise to reverse the order and put an opening band right up before the main headliner, and one of the headliners between the two opening bands?
Just as I thought, I really didn't care for The Avett Brothers (although the guy on the cello was nuts!)
Ok, rant over. -
Review from David C.
Stanton, CA
11/8/2011 3 Check-ins Here
3.5
This place is great when its hot (summer time) not so great in winter. I've been here several times n I usually have a good time. One big problem with this place is the rules...no water...no blankets...no fun. As usual everything is overpriced inside n the seating can sometimes get uncomfortable, but thats why we stand up right. The one good thing they HAD was free parking...however last time I came for the Social D concert they started charging $10 I believe -_- wellllll one more thing to add to the "problems w/this place list!!!" -
Review from Lily A.
I try to avoid Verizon Amphitheater just because I'm not a huge fan of the venue. But when I see a groupon for Incubus for just $20, I'm IN! I remember buying really cheap tickets to BTE here as well...and in this tough economy, I'm glad that Verizon gives out great deals to fuel my concert addiction.
My notes for the evening:
Usually you can bring blankets into the event for the lawn, but for some reason they were not allowing blankets or towels for the evening. So just forget the blanket and bring an extra jacket!
If you go early enough, you can always tailgate at the parking lot before entering the concert. And that evening I didn't have to pay parking! YEAH! I'm not sure why, but they weren't collecting money for parking.
Wear comfy shoes...because it is quite the hike from the parking lot up to the amphitheater. Especially if you have tickets for the lawn. A lot of uphill walking on asphalt and grass is not good for all the girls wearing high heels!
Food and drinks can be found on the grounds and restrooms are fairly clean.
As for Incubus...they were really good. I loved how great they sound. I don't own any Incubus albums, but I knew about 80% of their music, so it was fun to sing along. I was however surprised at all the empty seats, even with the groupon! So sad!Listed in: The County of Orange, Concert time! Who's playing?…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/20/2009
Last time I came here it was 1998...and it was called Irvine Meadows. Now it's Verizon, whatever… Read more »
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Review from Erica B.
Just got back from the Incubus concert. And while my fave band put on an AMAZING show, that did not change how disappointed I was with this venue.
This was my second time watching Incubus here because I love the cheap lawn seats - which is the only reason for the 3 stars. But WTF? No blankets or water bottles allowed?? OK, so I get the water bottles. The venue wants you to spend the $4.50. But why do they take your cap? So you're forced to drink it faster and buy another?? Mine spilled on the grass and $2.50 worth of bottled water GONE. But I still don't understand the NO BLANKET rule. No where on the venue website did it say NO BLANKETS allowed. So I bring my blanket because I'm about to sit on cold grass and then am told I have to walk back to my car.
I hate complaining about the free parking, since it's so rare. But Trina D got it right when she called it a clusterf*&k. I strategically parked near the exit aisle AND left before the end of the last encore song AND skipped the restroom AND hauled ass to my car, but still sat in traffic. It's because there are 7 lanes of traffic trying to merge into one narrow road that leads out.
LOVED the concert from the lawn, but the venue needs a civil engineer to draw up some new parking blueprints. A few more exits would be nice. Oh and stop taking the caps from the water bottles! And for goodness sake, allow the lawn ticket holders to bring their f'ing blankets!
TIPS: Get to the venue early and park strategically! And don't bring a blanket. -
Review from Deb T.
Pasadena, CA
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I saw Incubus, last Saturday, at this venue and, coincidentally, I saw theme here about two years ago. The band was amazing and the seats were nice. I really like how wide the isles are so when people try to get out, you don't really have to get up and move.
This place is small compared to the Hollywood Bowl so I was really excited I could see people and not little fuzzy dots. I totally forgot that you have to take the Oregon Trail to get to the stage, but, as you walk up, there is always vendors willing to sell you stuff. The product of the night was none other than beer and food. I also like the new service they offer where you can order your food and have it brought to your seat. Talk about convenient!
The part the sucked the most is the parking lot. My friend and I were stuck in this blasted thing for more than 45 minutes! Mind you, there is only one entrance and exit so we should have figured it would take all night to get out. Other than that, I highly recommend getting lodge seating since the view is great and worth the extra few dollars for a seat rather than the lawn -
Review from Tom R.
Whittier, CA
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
We went to the Chris Brown / T-Pain concert because Groupon was having an awesome deal for $35 a ticket and the tickets were pretty good.
I'm not a fan of this place at all...No organization from the staff (mainly the parking staff), the prices are very high for everything purchased in the venue. $14 for a "big" beer which was only 16oz. The best deal seemed to be my wife's margarita which was also $14 and it came with guitar cup you could take home.
We were coming from the Whittier / La Mirada area and it usually takes 25 minutes to get to the Amphitheater. It was a Saturday night so we left at 6pm figuring we'd be able to be casually late to the 7pm start. Traffic was flying until we got to where the 133 and 405 connected. From that point it took us nearly 1 hour and 45 mins to travel less than 2 miles...this was solely due to the lack of organization in the parking lot. So causally late turned into us arriving at 830pm and missing T-Pain. The problem- they failed to notify what line of traffic went to what until you got right to the gate. VIP parking and General admission had their own entrances which created a log jam because people were trying to get to the right entrance at the last second. It also took over an hour to exit the parking lot...kinda sad.
From the parking lot it's about a mile walk to the actual theater. We made sure we had on comfortable shoes because we read previous reviews that recommended we do so...Thanks Yelp for that pointer!
What I liked:
-The seats were fat man friendly and had a lot of knee space.
-The sound was good
-A lot of restrooms
What I Disliked:
-Parking!!!!
-Prices
-Distance of walk from the parking lot to the theater. -
Review from Kelley U.
Verizon Amphitheatre. I have a hard time saying this. This place will always be Irvine Meadows to me. I saw my first concert ever here, General Public, and have seen many other bands such as Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Elton John, B-52's, Violent Femmes, and Oingo Boingo here. Oh, how I loved the Oingo Boingo Halloween shows. It was a tradition for me for many years. I wax nostalgic when I am here.
To be really honest, this place has not changed much since Verizon took over. Seems like there are more concession stands now though. Concession stands that charge $14 for a 22 oz. beer, and $14 for a margarita and $10 for a funnel cake. We usually eat before we get here. You cannot bring outside food or drink inside, not even water. Also of note is that there was no re-entry on the 8-hour show I just attended. So people who came in RVs and thought they could go out and eat and drink and rest in their campers were SOL.
I just attended Jack FM's 6th show with Def Leppard and Heart headlining and Sir Mix A Lot, Everclear, Dramarama and Marcy Playground were also on the bill. Jack FM really screwed up this year by putting the four non-headliners on this crappy side stage. Other than that it was an awesome show. Sir Mix A Lot, Def Leppard and Heart were awesome.
I had lawn tickets. Of note, the lawn is a very long hike from the entrance and there is a very steep hill to get to it. Wear comfortable shoes and be aware if you are drinking a lot or partaking in other activities on the hill, it is an incline. We saw a lot of people eat it while dancing which provided for much entertainment. That also can be said about dancing in assigned seating. I have had drunk people fall backwards on top of me while dancing on chairs. Sound is not always so great on the lawn, but it is an outdoor venue. I enjoy being outside and seeing the lights of Orange County from the hill when it gets dark. It does get cold on the lawn when the sun goes down. Also remember, if you can't deal with pot smoke, the lawn is probably not for you. Unless you are at a Pacific Symphony concert here, there are a lot of joints being lit up on the lawn.
Lastly, the one thing I really have to say about this venue that isn't so great is their parking lot. Still the same crappy set up it was 20 years ago. One way in and one way out basically, which causes frustration, confusion, crazy driving, etc. So be prepared. Parking though is usually free with a ticket (which is pretty unheard of at any venue) unless you want to pay the extra for the premium parking -
Review from joey r.
Anaheim, CA
10/24/2011
$10 parking idk why everybodys saying its free?
You can drink/party in the parking lot, be aware theirs pigs on vehicles & on foot. They give out tickets
Security at the entrance really gets away with their ruthless
Harassment. They really are shit-stains.
I only found 2 restrooms in the whole amphitheater.
The lines are beyond extremely long.
Beer is $13, mix drinks I didn't bother to check the price.
If you smoke the herb than you"ll like this venue, everybody was puffing in the seats/lawn.
Traffic at the end of the show is a bitch. The parking people arnt their to provide traffic control. -
Review from Jessica G.
Garden Grove, CA
9/18/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Sigh. This place is perfect for those awesome mid-summer concerts. I've experienced some nice ones. I really do like this venue and think the sound is is pretty good considering that it is outdoors. Another good thing is that parking is free. Which is good because it's full of broken glass and pot holes that I would hate paying for. -_-
So what's the problem? all the gah-damn rules! Ugh. These greedy jerks don't allow you to bring ANYTHING in. No blankets, no bottled water, no backpacks...NO NOTHHHHIN'. All they want you to bring is your money! Why? Because they'll sell you $5 waters, $10 sandwiches and $15 drinks. Bitches be crazy! I always choose to eat a good meal before and leave some water bottles in the car for after the show.
Also, the security here is kinda screw-y. For KROQ's Weenie Roast I spent a good 10 mins in line because they had a rule that only female guards can search girls. And of course only like 2 lines had female guards. Other times like in the last concert I attended, they didn't check ANY ONE. Just quick glances through purses. o_O
Bottom line: I won't hesitate to go here if an artist I like plays, but I definitely dislike the jacked-up prices and greediness of this place. -
Review from Zoie H.
10/24/2011
This venue was a big miss for me. I came here for Rockstar Mayhem tour and was both back-stage and in the crowd.
All in all I found the venue to be super expensive (charging for water on a hot day, bleh!), super spread out (I think....those are bathrooms....or really big blue guys), and just not a fun place to be.
Parking was a real hassle with the whole one road in thing. We had a roadie in our van and so we got to park for free ("oh yeah...ugh...we're just dropping her off at the tour busses" lol morons! Does it really take 8 people to drop off a roadie?)
Backstage was a mess, even with a VIP pass, I found there to be little shade (oh yeah just chilling in the sand under a bus) and port-a-potties. (Great, so I can have the distinction of seeing Slayers unflushed waste. Awesome-fucking-ness.). It was so bad between the stages that at one point I ended up just going into the security office under the rouse of finding some feminine products when really I was stuffing my bag full of their toilet paper.
Getting into the pit was chaotic. My friend had fake pit tickets and was able to get in, because apparently scanning the tickets to make sure their valid is just so passe. There were way too many people in the pit / booths to make it enjoyable. The view from the lawn was non-existant.
Beer will cost you your first born, but it's probably super easy to smoke you-know-what here. I hardly saw security once I was inside. -
Review from Kevin T.
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Irvine Amphitheater is great for cheap lawn tickets. I've seen Muse and Incubus here, both times from the lawn section, and the sound and view is great! It gets pretty packed up there, so be sure to use the bathroom early... the guys bathroom had a ridiculous line about half an hour before Incubus started playing this past time I went.
And as for parking, it's definitely worth it to park near the exits if you can. It's a decent amount of walking to get to the actual amphitheater, and then some more walking if you have lawn tickets, but it's a nice stroll before and after the concert. After the concert, we were stuck for about 45 minutes in the parking lot before we found an exit that was actually moving! -
Review from Saina K.
Los Angeles, CA
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this place. Have come here a couple times for Jack FM concerts. Not really anything to complain about. Lawn is spacious and I always end up meeting cool people. The staff are nice too.
Yes, beers cost $9 and yes the bathroom lines are loooong but you'll see that at any venue.
One thing I did NOT like and why I don't give it 5 stars is: I saw a poor guy being pulled out of his car and searched in the parking lot (body search AND a car search) by 8 policemen/women - YES, EIGHT OF THEM all surrounding 1 poor middle-aged man from Arizona. I ended up going up to him later, to offer him a drink (who wouldn't want a drink after such outrageousness?!?) and he told me that he hadn't even lit up and was just enjoying a beer before going in.
They let him off but messed with his head for about 45 minutes. My friend and I were parked right next to him and saw it all. Ridiculous. Something needs to be done about those security people. They're party poopers and obviously have nothing better to do. -
Review from Novy D.
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
All the times I've been to this venue have been for a rock show. So there are a few things to keep in mind in terms of what to expect from the crowds and for those who have never been to this venue, the layout.
As for the venue and security itself there are some things I like and dislike about Verizon Amph. Security at the front gate seems a bit excessive especially for females. I've witnessed overly-grabby checks on attendees with looks of discomfort. Even a woman with a cast was questioned about it. She wasn't packing. I suppose some of us have to experience a bit of discomfort for the safety of all. I just wished they were so blatantly obvious about it.
Just when you've gone through the horrendous body search you still have to make your walk over to the actual venue. No worries, grab a beer or beverage before you do. It will take you 5-10 mins to do so. After passing the marquee, you finally come across the lower field where you find all the merch and food vendors and bathrooms.
This is where we ate a just-ok pulled pork sandwich and scored a zippo lighter from one of the cigarette stands. This is where I prefer to use the bathroom as it's less crowded. The downside? The god forsaken hill back up to our seats. Btw, all of the bathrooms are disgusting. Those located in this area seem less congested so a stall is guaranteed for your relief. You'll thank me after you've had all of those beers and you see the ridiculous lines at the restrooms in the upper levels.
Yes, you should be aware of that hill especially for those seated in that section of the amphitheater. Each and every visit we're walking up the stairs and bracing ourselves for a steep uphill trek to our seats. Again, avoid bathrooms here. The men line is longer than the women's. Yes, they have a line out the facility! As for the bonfires, if you've ever been at a rock concert you should not at all be surprised. If you've been to say, an R&B concert here, and bonfires are abound well- that's just stupid and those idiot need to be removed. As for rock shows, expect the bonfires, expect the beer to flow like water, expect to rock out and most importantly, have fun!
Note: VIP parking- $20. This means nothing except a parking space closer to the entrance. No limited spaces, no special treatment, no valet. Worth it, imo. -
Review from Jessica C.
Burbank, CA
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came for Epicenter 2011 and I always have a easy fun experience..
I have a handicap placard , got it years ago for better USC tailgate parking and I didn't know that they just continue to send it to you yearly.
On a side note.. I never use it EXCEPT when I can get free valet or parking as you can at this amphitheater, you get to park right at the main entrance, you don't have to wait in line and they even escort you to the mini trams that drop you off at the entry way to the vendor location and food and restrooms.
The wait after the concert is not worth it, so just take the hike back down the mountain to your car.
I have always gotten great seats here so I can't complain about that, I can however complain about how overprice the food and especially booze is.. $12.00 for a Budweiser and for hard liquor the size of a dentist cup it's not even worth my time.. which I don't understand how so many people waste their money and get drunk here, which lead to the second issue.
Security... OMGOSS. If they even think your out of place , your out! They toss people out as much as yesterday's trash.
How can they not stop a moss pit from happening where people actually get hurt but find a drunk man or women and it takes them 3 to 4 security guards to kick them out..
This concerts don't run cheap and as much as they've already spent and just to be kicked out for having too good of a time. I'm not validating being drunk, I think it's a pointless, I just wish the security was making me feel more secure and less frightened of them. -
Review from Nikki M.
10/1/2011
I have seen some of my favorite concerts over the years here. It's nice to have at least one really good music venue in Orange County, it saves a drive to LA or Hollywood, and the parking is FREE! Parking is on the property, so you don't need to drive around looking for a random lot, I love that. The biggest complaint by most people is the traffic when trying to exit the venue, but I still prefer it over Hollywood traffic.
It's nice and breezy if you attend a festival or regular concert here in the Spring. The acoustics here are great. I think I've sat in the lodge for every single concert here (and I've probably seen over 20), so I can't comment on any part of the venue except the lodge. The property is huge and is full of rolling hills and various food vendors up by the theater.
My top pick music venue in Orange County.Listed in: Concert Venues in the OC and…
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Review from Laina A.
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
A small group of us just went to Jack FM's 6th show yesterday to see Heart and Def Leppard, and others. It is quite a walk as people mention. There are idiotic drunk people running into you, my left side smelled like Chablis. The lines for bathrooms, especially for women of course, are hideous. What are some doing in there? There are a few types of food to choose from which are okay and overpriced.
All in all, this is a really good place to see a concert with beautiful views. 1 word of advice, I will never again do lawn seating, you shouldn't either. Pay the money and sit in an actual seat. WHY you ask? Apparently, the people who were not willing to pay more money for actual seats, are using their money saved on drinking! The most drunks are on the lawn, which is a fairly steep hill section, with drunks weaving in and out, spilling their overpriced crappy bear and watered down drinks on you. -
Review from Katherine O.
Anaheim, CA
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ok, I read the reviews and obviously, I didn't take them seriously enough. Yes, free parking. The walk to the lawn isn't that bad. The lawn, however, is super steep. Like, we saw a lot of drunk people falling and rolling down the lawn. And the worst, worst part was the lack of bathrooms. It took almost an hour to get through the bathroom line... there were like 4 lines all coming out of the woman's bathroom, and people were lining up to go in through the exit. I saw so many people going to the bathroom on the lawn, on the hills, girls in the men's bathroom... disaster. Do not drink at any concerts here because you don't want to have to deal with the bathroom.
And don't even get me started on the parking. It took over an hour to leave. -
Review from allyson e.
Los Angeles, CA
9/19/2011 2 photos
SO beautiful!! i came here to watch a concert about a month ago. i loved it!
Parking was free.
Beautiful view.
and it was almost like a mini fair...with boths and food stands everywhere....i thought it was cool its just too bad i didnt get here earlier to enjoy and really look around.
also there was a bunch of bottles and cans in the parking lot. it seems like people really go all out and just chill, bbq, and drink in the lot. very cool!
ps. Dont be afraid to get wasted, it seems like everyone else in this venue was pissed drunk, esp the white bitches....party!! -
Review from Eder P.
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best Venue I've ever been too.
Came here for Epicenter 2011.
They have a field where local merchants sell things (over-priced, of course) and they also sell food and beer (over-priced, of course)
The real dra here is the stage. The pit area is small so people with seats don't feel like they're in the nose-bleed section. People up front have a very up-close and personal experience.
I had orchestra seating and by far the best seating I ever had... next to the pit. -
Review from Lisa S.
7/25/2011
Row WW, you failed me completely. If we were a couple, I'd break up with you and throw you out on the curb with all your crappy belongings. If you were a refundable purchase, I'd return you in a heartbeat. You are just completely sad and not up to par.
Of all the stadium seating in the Verizon Ampitheatre, the loge-section WW row is the worst. Never buy seating here. It is the only row that is not part of the "stadium" design. Consequently, you cannot see anything in front of you, especially if, like me, you find yourself seated behind a behemoth family, the seven members of which are somewhere between 6'5" and 7' tall. OMG. Were these people raised on hormone induced Mc Donald's beef???? Wait, scratch that. I grew up eating that and only made it to 5'5". I think my growth was more in the horizontal direction....
If you are planning on seeing an "Asian" concert or something appealing to shorter cultures, by all means, sit wherever you please. But if you're coming to listen to music that draws in freakishly tall Caucasians or others, steer clear of this row, because it's a waste of money.
We tried standing on the chairs to actually get a view, and we were told to get down by roaming staff. LAME!
Also, $14 drinks? Geez Louise! $6 water? Wtf?? That's just nuts.
On the way in, I saw people chilling in the parking lot. Since it's free, I think I'll do that next time and listen to the concert from there. -
Review from Joana S.
Mission Viejo, CA
8/29/2011
Came here last friday for the Lil Wayne concert. I read some of the reviews before going and i have to say most of the people here are on point with their reviews.
I made sure that i wore the comfiest shoes i could find. Which most of the yelpers suggested but even that didnt help. Its was a freakin walk to get to the theatre. Felt like we were gonna visit someone in a secluded jail. lol We got the lawn tickets which we had no problem with not until we saw how to get up there. Ugh, let me warn you....ITS A HIKE to get up there. I felt bad for the other girls who were wearing heels and some who couldnt handle it and was stoppin and holdin on to the rails to catch some break and air. They really need to put an escalator like how Hollywood Bowl have one. So next time I think I might have to pay another $10 or more just to get the better seats in front and not go through that HIKE again.
Sound quality was OK but at some point the sound got too shrill that i have to cover my ears. Some people around us were complaining about it too. This place really need some serious fixing & renovations.
Didn't have any problem with the parking. We got the $20 VIP parking since i got a free giftcard from ticketmaster/livenation. So we just decided to grab one just to get out faster and not deal with the crazy traffic. Which we did. Took us only about 5 minutes to get out which was awesome.
Would have only given this place 1 star but since I had the BEST time at the concert, i gave another 2 for Lil Wayne & all the other artists who were freakin great. BEST CONCERT EVER minus the venue. lol -
Review from Suzanne M.
Irvine, CA
9/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I had an amazing experience! 10th row center Orch. It really doesn't get much better then this lol!! Saw Def Leopard with Heart. It was absolutely an experience you have to have at least once in your life. Luckily I have the opportunity to go more then once!
I have been coming to Verizon for years. Each and every experience has been exceptional. No matter where I have sat (exception the lawn) I have been able to enjoy the show. No matter where you sit, the sound is good and doesn't reverberate. Alcohol is pricey - I like to drink a little before hand (not to much)
Spoiled with VIP parking and minimal walking. -
Review from nguyen c.
Santa Ana, CA
Updated - 8/30/2011 21 Check-ins Here
It's nice to know that (majority of shows) your parking fee is INCLUDED in your ticket. If you wanna park closer, I would pay the $20 fee. In LA, regular parking is $20 fee (LAME).
The box office people are super helpful. I forgot my tickets at home and they didn't give me a hard time (ahem, Staples Center!).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/18/2011
I love this place. I actually don't mind the lengthy walk from the entrance to the venue. I'm smart… Read more »
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Review from Katie S.
Palm Desert, CA
7/25/2011
Decent venue, enjoyed the Journey/Foreigner concert ... the lighting and sound were great and if there is another concert there I will probably go BUT
-They stopped selling beer in the middle of the headliner - pshhht!
-Parking organization could be improved
We saw the parking nightmare coming, so, we came in late and left early which does not equal the greatest night when you hear Don't Stop Believin' from the parking lot. It's ok - we danced and sang there. My air guitar was mean that night ...... yeeeeeeaaaah!
Just a small town girl ... livin' in a lonely world ... took the midnight train goin' anywhere. -
Review from Denise A.
9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this venue, especially for summer concerts!! It is very open and spacious. I have been here for two KROQ Weenie Roasts '08 & '11). Once we sat in the terrace level and those seats were good, the stage was fairly viewable. The large screens make a huge difference! I would NEVER sit on the lawn for this event, too much drunken chaos, for sure!
This year I lucked out and got front row tickets and backstage passes and that is the way to do it. If you ever go backstage there is a discounted bar with drinks for about $4-$5 rather than the typical concert prices. Also there is usually some sort of "chill-out" area set up for the members of the bands, their friends, and families to relax and spend their down time.
On a side note: KROQ was informed that bringing food and water was okay, but once people arrived to the venue they were forced to donate their water and throw away their snacks. This venue is strict with their food and drink policy, if you want to verify what you can & cannot bring look on their website and/or call the venue itself and talk to an employee of the actual venue.
Parking:
Parking can be a pain in the ass, especially when it's time to leave at the end of a show. I live in Irvine so I usually get dropped off or take a taxi so I can enjoy my time and not worry about taking 1-2 hours just to get out of the parking lot. -
Review from Geoff R.
Anaheim, CA
12/3/2011
I've never liked big venues, but I did see Oingo Boingo's Farewell Show here back in '95. The venue sucks, but it was Boingo...so it that was awesome. I finally talked myself into going back in Oct. 2011 to see Social Distortion, which turned out to be a mistake because the venue sucked as much as ever! Giant stadium-type nose-bleed seating, crappy acoustics/sound, yellow-watery-piss-swill-passed-off-as-real-beer for a mere $12 a cup, mile-long lines for the john, tons of scenesters who don't know a good venue from a crappy one, a nightmarish traffic jam they call a "parking lot"...I mean, hey...what's not to hate about this place? The good news is that I hear they plan to bulldoze the place around 2014...the bad news: they are replacing it with more cookie-cutter, every-house-looks-the-same, yuppieville South OC track homes. I guess we just can't win, eh?
-
Review from Zach P.
8/3/2011
We recently came here to see the Journey/Foreigner concert. This place is a logistical nightmare, especially if you are seated on the lawn. Things started out well. We tailgated without any hassle from security or the Irvine PD (who had a mobile command center on sight). We were smart to get there early, so we did not have any traffic hassles and got a spot close to the entrance. Once we got inside, we rented a lawn chair for $5 (well worth it) and got a descent spot on the lawn.
Things went down hill from there. Once the concert started it got incredibly crowded. It looks like either the lawn section was oversold or people sneaked in.
The line for the men's restroom was ridiculous. It was about 15-20 minutes. I couldn't imagine what the women were going through. There is only one restroom for the entire upper section. After the first trip, I just went near the back fence along with everyone else. The beer lines were no different. The people working were ridiculously slow. Oh, and a shot glass of wine was $8.50.
To make matters worse. To get from the restroom back to the lawn was chaos. There was too many people trying to get through a small space and a riot almost broke out. It's one of the situations you never want to be in.
It's too bad too. It's a good location and the amphitheater itself has good sound. But in the end I'm not sure this place is worth it. -
Review from Aisha M.
Irvine, CA
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sound quality was quite poor.
Security was WAY too uptight and too 'friendly' during the checks.
Sound quality was beyond terrible. It was SO loud and you really couldn't hear even yourself. My ears feel like they were raped beyond belief.
The security was WAY too uptight and too 'friendly' during the checks. Kinda insane how much they got away with! -
Review from Veezy P.
6/6/2011
Nothing wrong with this Venue...for Fakkk's Sake it's Irvine come on peeps let them get a Little "Wild" once in a while and get the conservative sticks out of their asses!
The walk is a little long from the entrance but at least it makes you get a little excercise before pounding those 7-10 beers you will be purchasing.
Lawn is fun...they let you mosh and start fires no biggie (Irivine goes wild)
Orchestra, Terrace etc you have concession stands where you don't have to climb down the hill for refills
All in all it's fun...they could probably invest in more restrooms but eh all good just give yourself that 20 minute break in between, and if you want to keep it simple just Don't Break the SEAL! -
Review from Nikki G.
El Segundo, CA
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great place to see a show...
However be prepared and wear comfy shoes for steep hills to walk up and down.
I always pay for premium parking and it's worth it to me. -
Review from Angela D.
6/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went to the KROQ Weenie Roast held here. It was fun and lots of cool freebies. Wish I got to see Neon Trees but they were in the afternoon set and didn't get there until later.
Notes: The parking lot is pretty far from the actual main stage. The bathrooms are cluttered and dirty. -
Review from kody s.
Torrance, CA
9/18/2011
WORST VENUE in America.
I went to the Slightly Stoopid/Rebelution show last night and for the first time I can truly say that I will never be attending any form of anything at this venue ever again, they can't pay me enough.
Through no fault of the bands, it ended up being one of the most stressful and obnoxious nights to the date.
Six of us kicked off the night with being harassed and wrongfully accused of smuggling drugs and guns and god knows what else by the strolling parking police. This, mind you, happened immediately after we unclicked are seat belts and parked the car in the lot.
We get to the line and are told we had to leave all bags, blankets, snacks, sealed waters, and basically everything we brought to chill on the lawn with behind. I'm positive if I had brought my hula hoop it would have been considered a weapon, and I would have been placed under lock down....fortunately I left the "death hoop" in the car. When we asked what we could bring in we were told "nothing". Ridiculous.
Of course when we actually experienced security checks, we probably could've smuggled in an small aircraft and no one would have noticed, other than looking inside for a blanket.
The 90 grade hike up the mountain to our $30 lawn seats seemed to ease our minds as we began to run out of both energy and oxygen.
Traversing like billy goats to a decent spot on the cliffs we found the rest of our group and started to enjoy the muffled sounds coming from the tiny speakers below our section, apparently this was the band playing.
Despite the roller coaster of a trip, we began to enjoy the little things like the 15 and under crowd to our left who insisted that making animal calls and jungle noises was going to help the fact that we couldn't hear the band. Things were really on the up and up when we found we were in the midst of a fire war. They literally were allowing a fire spinner to start a bonfire, in the middle of the crowd, and then hurl flaming gasoline soaked socks around until they shredded and flew into the mob.
In hopes of trying to beat some of the concert traffic we started our trek backdown Mt. Everest and managed to make it home in one piece and with minimal burns.
What to Take From This:
- Never see a show here
- If you must see a show here, sit anywhere other than the lawn its WORTH IT
- If you get lawn tics, bring an ipod or live streaming device and your headphones so you can stream the concert and actually hear it.
- You can bring anything in, as long as it is on fire or flammable.
The one star is for utter amazement at how poorly run this venue is. -
Review from Sarah C.
Dana Point, CA
8/30/2011
People with the 1 and 2 star reviews crack me up. Their comments are pretty entertaining to say the least.
This is an OUTDOOR VENUE - Is the music going to be loud? Yes. Should you expect an overly large crowd? Yes. Will there be a long walk to your seats/lawn? Yes along with a big giant hill (So wear COMFY shoes). Are the bathroom lines super and I mean SUPER long? YES. Do stupid people get into fights? Yes. Are there drunk people everywhere? Yes.
This really shouldn't come as surprise to anyone, especially if you consider the band(s) you are going to be seeing. If you're there to have have a great time with your friends then you will have a great time, regardless of all the stuff going on around you. If you're going to observe every little detail of the venue and expect everything to be ran perfectly with THAT big of a crowd, then just don't go. Will you have a horrible time and then leave a lame review complaining about your horrible time. My suggestion: DO NOT BRING KIDS HERE, I would more than say that for any out doors ADULT concert, it's just not an appropriate place for children, unless they are going to see a KID'S concert.
I don't want to see this venue get shut down!! There wont be another outdoor venue for MILES and MILES outside of Orange County and I am NOT okay with that. -
Review from Ivan L.
Irvine, CA
10/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty dope and its a small venue which makes it even better! There is a bit of a walk you have to go through in order to get to the actual stadium but all in all its a clean event area and the acoustics aren't bad. Like most placed getting out of there at the end kind of sucks but it is what it is.
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Review from John D.
Monrovia, CA
8/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really good place to see a show. Security keeps good control of aisle and "seat standers". In pit/VIP they continuously monitor to make sure no one sneaks in to your seating area u paid more for. Not that I never did that, but now I can afford those seats so I want them to myself!!
Always a good experience here. Food not bad either. Kid Rock tonite... Hell yeah!!!
One word of CAUTION: do NOT buy seats in row WW. It is the back row of the section and is level with the seats in front of it so unless person in front of you is markedly shorter, you can't see crap! -
Review from J J.
Huntington Beach, CA
8/18/2011
Pros:
Easy to sneak alcohol in
Didn't have to pay for parking
Great view from anywhere
Cons:
Insane hill to walk up if you aren't seated in any of the lower tiers
Not enough restrooms at all!!!!! Crazy long lines all the time
Sound quality is not that great -
Review from Nadia Y.
6/28/2011
I have seen a good amount of bands here. Judas Priest, Primus, Roger Waters, Rush, Nine Inch Nails and many others..
For me the drive sucks, I have gotten stuck in the worst traffic trying to get to this venue. Food and drinks inside are over priced as usual. Bathrooms aren't always very clean.
Security isn't too hard on anyone, I haven't had many problems with them inside, but if you are one of those people who wants to drink beer or whatever outside of the venue, make sure you be careful. They will give you a ticket for that and I have seen them do it to a lot of people. :(
The seating is always good, I have never had any problems with it. The lawn can get a little rowdy depending on the show, so I try to avoid going up there lol. The sound is fairly good.
My only question is how is it every show over a span of more than 10 years, your parking is still absolute crap? You can't properly direct people to get in to park, and getting out is even WORSE. If you are parked at the way back of the parking lot, you are probably lucky cause you will get to exit first! lol.. -
Review from Richard C.
Laguna Hills, CA
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
The only place i like to go. Its close to home and I have fond memories here.
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Review from Trina L.
Alhambra, CA
3/10/2011
EHHHHHH..
not a big fan of this venue
stadium seating
but the seats are very steep so it feels like you're going to fall forward and tumble down
the acoustics aren't too good either
I know it's outside but sound quality is not too great
I saw No Doubt here, and I mean it's in the OC, their hometown...
but the venue's nothing special.
Not really worth it unless you really are dying to see a band play there but it's not that bad either.
Plus it is quite far from where I live as well, so ehh... kinda troublesome to drive all the way overthere.
