Isleta Amphitheater Information
Isleta Amphitheater is an outdoor music venue located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As part of the Live Nation family of entertainment venues, it is a thrilling venue that hosts many top-notch concerts, tour dates, special events, and live shows per year. And to date, it continues to be one of the hottest outdoor venues in New Mexico.
Isleta Amphitheater offers guests a rare opportunity to watch their favorite artists in the great outdoors. Evening performances are just as atmospheric as day festivals, with a curtain of twinkling stars framing the main stage. Simply hire a lawn chair, switch off from stress, and tune in to some of the globe’s most celebrated beats.
We’re not exaggerating when we say many of the world’s most talented musicians want to perform here. Despite having an impressive 15,000-seat capacity, the venue feels casual and cool, like a giant open-air living room. Plus, amphitheaters are renowned for excellent acoustics, as the bandshell structures amplify sound waves far and wide.
The line-ups are always exceptional and expected to sell out. Notable performers include Santana, Goo Goo Dolls, Janet Jackson, John Mayer, The Cure, Imagine Dragons, Limp Bizkit, Alice Cooper, and Foo Fighters, to name a few.
On top of live music for the public, the venue can also be booked for a private concert, corporate event, fundraiser, or graduation. The attentive guest service team takes care of all the details, from menus to seating plans, so you can relax and fully enjoy the experience.
History
Isleta Amphitheater has had many metamorphoses since its conception in February 2000. Originally known as the Mesa del Sol Amphitheater, the venue was supposed to be one of the main attractions of the Mesa del Sol – an incomplete 16,000-acre planned community in Albuquerque.
The amphitheater’s popularity soon outpaced development, so the local newspaper purchased naming rights and dubbed the venue ABQ Journal Pavilion, or Journal Pavilion for short. While the seating area and facilities weren’t quite so grand, artists and bands from across the country still dazzled guests to the backdrop of dusty New Mexico summers.
A decade later, in 2010, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Albuquerque purchased naming rights and transformed the venue for the third and fourth time – firstly to The Pavilion and finally to Isleta Amphitheater in 2013.
Over the years, hundreds of legendary performers have flocked to the main stage, including Santana, Tyler Childers, Pierce the Veil, Styx, Creed, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, and more. Alongside major concert tours, the amphitheater also hosts all-day festivals, fairs and private concerts.
What’s It Like at the Amphitheatre?
You might be wondering what it’s like to enjoy a show at Isleta Amphitheatre. You might also be asking what makes it stand out compared to other New Mexico venues.
First, you have to consider that it is part of the Live Nation family of venues. So it has the backing of one of the country’s biggest event promoters, which guarantees stunning shows from top-rated artists and musicians as well as clean and spacious facilities. And because of this impressive backing, the staff selected for the venue are skilled in treating customers and guests well. You’ll feel welcome from the time you arrive all the way until you’re ready to go home.
But what about the general vibe?
Isleta Amphitheatre is known for its energetic audiences and the electrifying energy they bring to every show. Guests show up and can’t help but smile at the big energy that runs from wall to wall during the event. And that energy seems to make performers and visiting bands ramp up to the best shows of their careers. At the very least, the positive energy in the air tends to lead to some of the most fun and enjoyable events you could see in the concert season.
On top of this, the venue has plenty of parking, lots of great food and beverage options, and some of the best scenic views around making it a top-notch five-star experience.