Operator Live Nation Closed 30 October 2016 Capacity 16,085 Owner Irvine Company | Type Amphitheatre Opened 21 August 1981 Phone +1 949-855-8095 | |
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Former names Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre (1981-99; 2014-)
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (2000-14) Seating type Reserved seating, lawn seating Address 8808 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618, USA Similar Starplex Pavilion, Xfinity Center, PNC Bank Arts Center, Cynthia Woods Mitchell P, Klipsch Music Center | ||
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre (formerly known as Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre) was an amphitheatre located in Irvine, California. The establishment was built in 1980 by Irvine Meadows Partnership (with 4 local investors) and it opened in 1981. It was the largest amphitheatre in Orange County, with 10,418 reserved seats and 5,667 on the lawn. The architect was Gin Wong Associates of Los Angeles. The unique design of this venue is that it's built on a hillside so the seats have a steep slope toward the stage.
History
Since 1987, the establishment has been the summer home of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, as well as the annual KROQ Weenie Roast.
The amphitheatre was famous for hosting popular music festivals, which includes; Area2 Festival, Fishfest, Gigantour, Lilith Fair, Lollapalooza, Projekt Revolution and Uproar Festival, a benefit concert for the recently deceased Social Distortion guitarist Dennis Danell, Ozzy Osbourne recorded a performance at the venue on June 12, 1982, for home video release, though it has been available only in Japan to this point. Speak of the Devil was released on DVD on July 17, 2012 from Eagle Rock Entertainment.
Pop superstar Michael Jackson performed three concerts at the amphitheatre November 7-9, 1988 during his Bad Tour.
Oingo Boingo would play its annual Halloween concerts here from 1986 through 1991, and one final time in 1993, before moving the remaining 1994 and 1995 shows to Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Live Nation (formerly SFX Entertainment) bought the lease on the Amphitheatre in 1998.
The Smiths performed on August 28, 1986 on the band's The Queen is Dead tour.
The Grateful Dead performed at the amphitheatre 15 times from 1983 through 1989.
Prince and The New Power Generation performed at the amphitheatre during the Jam of the Year Tour on October 12, 1997. Miley Cyrus performed at the amphitheatre in October 2008 for the promotional show of the series Hannah Montana.
Fall Out Boy performed on March 26 on their Winter is Coming tour in 2016.
The Amphitheatre was renamed to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in April 2000. The 7 year sponsorship deal between Verizon Wireless and SFX Entertainment, then owner of the amphitheatre, was a multimillion-dollar contract. Verizon renewed this contract for another 7 years, extending it to 2014. It did not opt to renew a second time and the name reverted to its original "Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre" in 2015.
Gwen Stefani was the last performer for the venue on October 29 and 30, 2016.
The Amphitheatre's land lease expires in 2017. The Irvine Company opted not to renew it, and will instead build apartment buildings on the terrain, as occurred with nearby water park Wild Rivers, which closed in 2011. The city of Irvine is considering a replacement amphitheatre at the Orange County Great Park.
The amphitheater was demolished in November 2016.