By Ford Smutz

On June 4, 2025, the long-anticipated Allianz Amphitheater opened in downtown Richmond. 

With the initial project plan beginning in late November 2023, and construction in early 2024, the anticipation of the amphitheater had been building for a long while. The young amphitheater features a fixed seating area with exactly 2,500 fixed seats, a pit area for up to 800 people, and an extensive lawn that can fit upwards of 4,200 fans. In total, the venue can fit approximately 7,500 people for a show. 

Since the initial construction, the amphitheater has reduced its lawn space, as well as adding air conditioning to the bathrooms due to complaints from concertgoers. Behind the lawn of the amphitheater, there is a large grass hill that is off limits to the public, and many fans think it could be a great extension of the venue. Fans who do not want to buy tickets tend to gather on the streets next to and behind the venue, Brown’s Island Way and 2nd Street, to listen for free, but this area tends to fill up quickly. 

The riverfront area has a deep history, as the amphitheater is placed right in the Tredegar area, once home to Tredegar Iron Works, an iron and forging mill built on the James River in 1837. With Tredegar in mind, the designers of the amphitheater decided to implement elements of its history into the design of the venue.

There are uplit masonry ruins, which are preserved historical stone and brick that are embedded directly into the hill. Along with preservation of historical elements, the designers also decided to reuse and transform some elements, such as making the original carpenter shop from the industrial site into an artist dressing room. Allianz Amphitheater’s exceptional location is displayed through the landscape behind the venue: especially when it starts to get dark outside, the skyline of Richmond lights up behind the amphitheater and provides an excellent scene. Along with the city skyline, the CSX train viaduct is extremely close to the venue, and freight trains ride by during concerts and can be heard during shows. 

Allianz with Richmond’s skyline on the left.

Both Ticketmaster and Live Nation sell all of the tickets for Allianz Amphitheater. Allianz is owned by both Live Nation and Coran Capshaw’s Red Light Ventures. Live Nation Entertainment owns Ticketmaster, the world’s largest ticket platform for live events. In general, the market for concert business and ticket sales is largely monopolized by these two companies. According to The Guardian, Ticketmaster and Live Nation combine for 86% of the concert market and 73% of the overall market, including sports. Because of this circumstance in the ticket market, tickets are getting increasingly more expensive and harder to get your hands on than ever before. One memorable instance of this ticket scarcity in recent years was the debacle surrounding Taylor Swift tickets in 2022. 

Since the initial opening, Allianz Amphitheater has had two extremely successful concert seasons. Through the two summers, the amphitheater has seen over 200,000 visitors, over half of which have traveled from outside of Richmond. So far, Allianz Amphitheater has seen popular bands and artists, including Widespread Panic, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews Band, Goose, and two Phish shows just last week. Many of these names, including Phish, Widespread Panic, Dave Matthews, and Stapleton, do not visit small amphitheaters and venues like Allianz that often, making tickets for the such performances especially desirable. Last fall, I saw Widespread Panic on September 13 and Goose on October 3. Both of these jam bands provide exceptional light shows and extended jams on many of their songs. Ben Crowl (‘28) agreed, saying, “It’s been a great place to go and watch some of my favorite bands play.” Crowl has seen Widespread Panic and Clay Street Unit at Allianz.

Sunset at Allianz, with the CSX train viaduct in the back.

I have also attended a few smaller shows at the amphitheater, and I have gotten the chance to sit at every area: the pit, the seats, and the lawn. From my experience, all three areas have been incredible, but the pit has been my favorite viewing area by far. The pit at Allianz Amphitheater has easily been the most spacious and easy-viewing pit that I have been in, compared to Jiffy Lube Live Amphitheater in Bristow, Virginia and Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach. On the other hand, the lawn at Allianz is not sloped enough, which does not allow for easy viewing if you are in the back. 

Another drawback with the amphitheater are the expensive food and drink offerings. A majority of the food starts at $15 and can reach upwards of $30, depending on where and what you get. Lucas Villalona (‘28), who attended a Widespread Panic concert, noted these expensive prices and even thinks “you should come without the intent of eating there.” Allianz made no changes to the food or drink prices when they renovated the lawn and bathroom this spring. Parking at Allianz Amphitheater is scarce. Ticketmaster offers tickets for two lots that are a short walk from the amphitheater, but the tickets for the parking usually get sold out fast. Because of this situation, the only available parking spots end up being public street parking or downtown pay garages or lots. Many concertgoers avoid parking altogether and opt for Uber rides instead.  

Overall, however, Allianz Amphitheater has been a great addition to Richmond, where many people, the youth in particular, have been able to go and connect through live music. 

All photos by Ford Smutz.