Sprinkles did not damper the spirits of concertgoers decked out in bright rain jackets with umbrellas in tow as they eagerly made their way inside Ford Amphitheater for its grand opening.
While Tuesday’s soft launch went smoothly, some changes appeared to be made to better the guest experience ahead of OneRepublic’s first of three shows Friday night.
While cellphone service was spotty Tuesday evening, carriers in the area amplified local tower service Friday night, according to media spokesperson Chloe Hoeft.
While food may have run out Tuesday, guests saw an increase of food trucks and tents selling food typical to what one would see at a county fair: hot dogs, kettle corn, nachos and even funnel cakes. Beer and water tents surrounded the venue’s interior, with lines appearing to move quickly.
Even more police and security presence were observed Friday, with the opening night drawing nearly double the number of guests that came Tuesday. Law enforcement was out helping direct traffic, which some guests said was “simple and easy.”
“We had no problem; no issues,” Tricia Wissinger said after finding her seat. “Really, it was great.”
Concertgoers were from all over Colorado Friday, with some even traveling for three hours each way from Fort Collins to catch the show.
“It’s nice to have a small venue,” said Joshua Mcgehee of Fort Collins. “The intimacy makes it worth it.”
Even Colorado Gov. Jared Polis made his way down to Colorado Springs Friday night and was seen sitting in a suite with JW Roth as security surrounded the pair.
With the new, 8,000-seat Ford Amphitheater, concertgoers can choose between a variety of seating options. From sitting near the back on blankets on the turf, to enjoying the warm of fire pits in the suites.
Diehard concertgoers like Abigail Rivera from Colorado Springs, who has seen 15 concerts elsewhere this year so far are thrilled about the accessibility the Ford brings to the city.
“It’s bringing live music to Colorado Springs, because we get a random concert here and there, but we very rarely get really big shows,” Rivera said while waiting in line.
Gates did not officially open until 6 p.m., but guests were lining up by 4:45.
While the weather was not ideal, attendees came prepared with rain jackets, blankets, wool socks and more. The venue handed out ponchos at each entrance.
Most of the rain appeared to have passed well before the first notes of music were heard, with only slight sprinkles ahead of the opening act taking the stage.
Magic Giant took the stage right at 7:30 p.m. and was met with high energy from the crowd. Concertgoers were seen taking photos with the Front Range in the background and enjoying the sense of community the new venue seems to bring. One even seemed to think the view at Ford was better than the one at Red Rocks Amphitheatre outside Denver.
“At Red Rocks, everything just looks like a rock,” Daxton Kimsey said. “This one looks more like the beautiful mountain ranges of Colorado.”
OneRepublic took the stage shortly after Magic Giant wrapped up at 8:45 p.m. As it was a sold-out show, the stands were packed as the first official night of Ford Amphitheater kicked off.
