The Zoo Amphitheatre

Saw Rick Springfield and Loverboy. Great concert. Plenty of room for everyone to spread out. No chairs, drinks or food permitted in… If you really like the group spend the extra $$ and get seats up close with the area roped off for the people who paid extra $$. I guess there is some areas where parking is free but we park closer by for $ 10. Would much rather go here than a big concert where the group looks likes ants.

I was at the Zoo Amphitheater this past weekend for the Fall Out Boy & Paramore concert. Having never been there, I mentally prepared myself for packed, sweaty bodies and portapotties.
To my delight, none of that happened! This place was made for concerts. A gently sloped lawn made it easy to see the stage from anywhere. There were bathrooms in all corners of the amphitheater with a decent amount of stalls (8 – 10 per bathroom) and real sinks to wash your hands in! There were also food and drink stalls scattered around if you got hungry.
Parking also isn’t as horrible as I anticipated (and it’s free!). You can park in zoo and science center parking lot and walk basically around the corner (the walk isn’t too bad).
Next time a concert comes, I won’t be so hesitant to go.

This is a decent venue for a fun outdoor concert. I’ve been to a few shows here (Maroon 5 and Train a few years ago, and Fall Out Boy and Paramore just this past weekend) and I’ve always had a good time. It’s not very big so there’s really not a bad spot in the house, and tickets are usually pretty inexpensive considering concert ticket prices at larger venues like the Chesapeake Arena or the BOK Center in Tulsa. Usually, it’s lesser-​known or outdated acts (although I saw Maroon 5 and Train here during Maroon 5’s prime), but it’s always a good time if you’re a fan of the artist!

The zoo amphitheater is a a good outdoor venue that hosts a steady stream of concerts. The venue generally does not have assigned seating so get there a little early to ensure that you can grab a spot that you like. There is section in the front center that has chairs and assigned seating. Buy tickets early if that is something that interests you. I prefer the general admission seats.
There are several food and beer stands around the perimeter of the venue. The food is good and priced the same as the movies or other concert venues. The beer stand on the north side in the middle tends to have shorter and faster lines from my experience.

I love outdoor amphiteatres and Zoo is one of my long time favorites.
The first concert I saw here in 2010 was the Mayhem Festival featuring the likes of Rob Zombie, Korn, Five Finger Death Punch, Lamb Of God, Hatebreed and more. The actual outdoor ampitheatre was constructed in the 1930’s with major renovations done in the 1970’s. What I love about Zoo is that it is like stepping back in time. Due to real estate and construction costs (amongst other factors) you don’t see very many outdoor ampitheatres especially now.
Many of the concerts at the Zoo give you VIP option. I went to Mayhem on a VIP ticket meaning you get the better bathrooms located next to the stage plus up front pit viewing and side stage viewing. They have of course large grassy fields around the stage where you can bring a blanket or lawn chairs. No pets, no ice chests and no outside food or drink allowed.
Though an older venue you cannot beat watching a band play in a large field under the stars. For that I give Zoo 5 stars.