The only stars at Ford Amphitheater Friday night were the ones on stage.
Half an hour before pop rock band OneRepublic pumped out its opening chords, a shroud of fog completely covered Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains, though the rains never came. There would be no gorgeous Colorado sunset for the grand opening of what was originally called Sunset Amphitheater. But no matter. The sold out crowd was all smiles and good vibes for their night out on the town, even as thunderstorms repeatedly taunted them.
OneRepublic and Magic Giant also performed Saturday and is scheduled for a third show Sunday.
“We’ve been to a lot of Red Rocks concerts,” said Black Forest resident David Stanley, who set up for the night on the artificial turf in the lawn section with his daughter and her boyfriend. “This is so much easier. It was super easy to get to. And the fact that the businesses have all come together to open their parking lots — that addresses the parking problem. I can’t imagine what it’ll look like when they have a clear sunset. It’s going to be gorgeous.”
Fans cheer for OneRepublic during the opening night of the Ford Amphitheater Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Colorado Springs. OneRepublic plays two more shows, Saturday and Sunday night. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
But Stanley got there early, right around when the gates opened at 6 p.m. Other concertgoers who arrived about 45 minutes later thought it would be fine to park for free in the Bass Pro Shops parking lot, but the spots were all sucked up by then. They were redirected to the parking lot at Compassion International, where they found plentiful parking and a shuttle that quickly got them to the amphitheater.
“I hope it brings in good talent,” said Springs resident Kevin Bobbe.
“I’m already excited about the names they have coming. I was really excited about OneRepublic,” said his wife, Sam Bobbe. “It’s like a smaller Fiddler’s Green. There’s no competing with Red Rocks, but you also don’t want to duplicate something. It would be great if this was its own cool thing.”
As Austin Bisnow and Brian “Zang” Zaghi of the Los Angeles-based alt-rock band Magic Giant played their infectious tunes and kick danced their way across the stage, wearing the heck out of their kelly green and denim jumpsuits, respectively, concertgoers unrolled blankets and claimed their space on the lawn: “The same rule applies as at a pool if you see a towel,” one woman told her friend.
Corn dogs, funnel cakes, fries and burgers decorated paper plates and Josh & John’s Ice Cream offered dairy treats out of its bright red VW “Scoop Bus.” Premium canned beers were $13.50 a pop, canned cocktails $12.50 and Smartwater $8.50.
Residents at the Polaris Junction apartment complex, a corn dog’s throw from the venue, congregated on their decks, taking in the opening night festivities.
Kim Roland stood on the lawn, patiently waiting for the reason she’d hopped a flight from New York to Colorado: OneRepublic. Oh, and her brother lives in Westminster, but mostly it was the guys.
“I came for the concert,” said Roland, cloaked in a see-through rain poncho and holding an umbrella. “They’re from here. That adds to it. It’ll be special.”
Her brother, Chris Rossi, and his wife, Lindsay Rossi, and other family members made a day of the concert, coming down to the Springs early to traipse through Garden of the Gods, have dinner at a Mexican restaurant near the venue, and book a nearby hotel room.
“It’s a new venue in Colorado,” Lindsay said. “We had to see it.”
“I love it so far,” Chris said. “It reminds us of Fiddler’s Green, with grass up top. There aren’t fire pits at Fiddler’s though.”
Indeed. As the skies grew dark the fires in the privately-owned VIP fire pit suites glowed across the mid-concourse of the venue. Communing near the flames were a few famous Colorado faces: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade and former Springs Mayor John Suthers, whose name decorates an upper concourse. They stood chatting with JW Roth, founder and CEO of Springs entertainment and hospitality company VENU, and the man who dreamed the venue into reality.
“Ford Amphitheater is gorgeous,” said Polis, who listened to OneRepublic on the drive to the venue. “It’s going to be such a great asset for Colorado Springs — attracting world class acts, activating the economy and culture. It’s part of Colorado’s great ecosystem of entertainment venues. We’re a concert hub, an entertainment hub. Driving more of that entertainment and culture into the Colorado Springs market is exciting for the whole state.”
And finally, the reason 8,000 people headed out into the abnormally chilly August night thundered onto stage with adrenaline-stoking, chest thumping booms. The lights flashed, the smoke rolled, and the band came alive on stage with lead singer Ryan Tedder standing on a platform bathed in a pool of light, opening with “What You Wanted” off their 2013 album “Native,” ready to show his hometown a good time. And the crowd said yes, please. As one unit the audience rose to its feet and never sat down again.
OneRepublic was founded more than two decades ago in Colorado Springs by Tedder and lead guitarist Zach Filkins, who met playing soccer at Colorado Springs Christian School. The group’s debut album, “Dreaming Out Loud,” dropped in 2007 and they’ve gone on to score loads of hits, including “Counting Stars,” “Apologize,” “Stop and Stare,” “If I Lose Myself” and “I Ain’t Worried,” a single from the soundtrack to the hit 2022 film “Top Gun: Maverick.”
“They’re obviously performers and they’re opening (the venue) for a reason,” said Monument resident Jessica Thompson, who showed up specifically for the band.
An automated camera rolled back and forth across the stage, capturing the musicians in their glory and broadcasting close-ups on large video screens on either side of the stage.
After a few rollicking songs Tedder spoke to the crowd, admitting his apprehensions about the weather: “I was not happy yesterday and today. I was tripping. I was following the storm tracker. But everybody gets to wear the Patagonia you didn’t get to wear last season. And now we’re up here playing and not breaking a sweat.”
And those fire pits are Tedder-approved: “Those with the fire pits — you’re giving us a great show from the stage.”
