Ak-Chin Pavilion
Ak-Chin Pavilion[1] (originally known as the Desert Sky Pavilion) is an amphitheater located in Phoenix, Arizona, which seats 8,106 under a pavilion roof and an additional 12,000 on a hillside behind the main stands.[2] It opened on November 11, 1990 (Billy Joel was the venue's inaugural performer).[3] The naming rights sponsor is the Ak-Chin Indian Community (the venue is not located on tribal land). With a total capacity of 20,000, its capacity is higher than Talking Stick Resort Arena and Gila River Arena. The amphitheater's season starts in April and closes in October.
![]() An empty parking lot outside the venue | |
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Former names | Desert Sky Pavilion (1988–96; 2013) Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion (1996–2001) Cricket Pavilion (2001–06) Cricket Wireless Pavilion (2006–10) Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion (2010–13) |
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Location | 2121 N 83rd Ave Phoenix, AZ 85035 |
Owner | Live Nation Entertainment |
Capacity | 20,106 |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1988 |
Opened | November 11, 1990 |
About
The U.S. syndicated game show Wheel of Fortune taped two weeks in January 1997 and airing across the country in February 1997. This taping session is most notable for the retirement of the old trilon-based puzzleboard, the new electronic puzzleboard would make its debut the next week back at the show's home base at Sony Pictures Studios.[4]
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The lawn at the amphitheater contains several video screens.
The amphitheater has been used to hold many famous concerts and tours, especially in the summer months of July and August, it has hosted Nine Inch Nails, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Metallica, The Vote for Change Tour, The Vans Warped Tour, The Gigantour, Lollapalooza, Lilith Fair, Crüe Fest, Ozzfest and Projekt Revolution. It has hosted the Phoenix date of the annual Mayhem Festival since the tour's inception in July 2008.
Fall Out Boy recorded their live album, Live in Phoenix, at the amphitheatre on June 22, 2007.[5]
Green Day recorded their song, "Cigarettes and Valentines", for their live album, Awesome as Fuck, here.
Fall Out Boy & Paramore brought their co-headlining tour, MONUMENTOUR to The Pavilion on August 8, 2014 with New Politics as the opening act. Lana Del Rey, accompanied by Courtney Love, brought her Endless Summer Tour to The Pavilion on May 14, 2015.
See also
References
- Morago, Kristina (June 21, 2013). "Ak-Chin secures naming rights to Desert Sky Pavilion". Maricopa Monitor. Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
- Desert Sky Pavilion
- "Joel `Starts The Fire' For Pavilion". Deseretnews.com. November 11, 1990. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2W-BlXCKYM&ab_channel=MrGSfan
- 'Beat It' Cover Bolsters Fall Out Boy CD/DVD Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2011.