Several additions to the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre have greeted guests as the new season of concerts began earlier this month. Among those is the debut of The Backyard, a new open-air lounge in the south side concessions area that features an exclusive menu, lawn games and live entertainment.
“The genesis of The Backyard is really just creating an outdoor ‘hang out’ space and still a premium area, but doesn’t have the stoginess you might think of for a VIP experience,” said Sean O’Connell, vice president of regional operations for Live Nation. “We have a bar that’s set up to look like a cookout. We have a big screen so customers won’t miss a minute of our performers on stage. And we have a menu offering classic barbecue, specialty cocktails and local brews.”
The amphitheatre has also upgraded its food options, including Mosh Burger, Rebel Hen chicken tenders and Ziggy’s Magic Pizza. O’Connell said fans can enjoy non-alcoholic options like ColdRush Shaved Ice and Riffresher iced drinks, plus ice Jolene Coffee and crowd favorites Koko’s Bavarian and CVT Soft Serve Ice Cream. There’s even $2 hot dogs and snacks starting at $3.
There will be close to 40 shows at Utah First Amp this year (still a couple more that could be added in the next few weeks). O’Connell said the venue continues to see its number of acts grow because it's proven very popular with performers.
“A lot of those bands that would otherwise be playing in stadiums know that when they come to Utah, they’re going to have the experience with the fans that makes them want to come back,” he said. “And fans get an experience they can’t necessarily get in a stadium.” This year, both Hozier and Chris Stapleton are doing back-to-back shows for their respective dates and Utah First Amp.
The amphitheatre has seating for about 20,000 fans, including the lawn areas. So far, the Mumford & Sons show on June 14 was a complete sellout, and Stick Figure on June 15 had a near capacity crowd. The large video screens on either side of the stage area, coupled with strong video production, help every attendee see performers up close.
Utah First Amp also modified the seating area, offering open-air suites for up to eight guests, flexible box seats for four to eight guests, and the Rock Box VIP lounge that seats up to 16 guests. Premier memberships offer access to every show, along with dedicated parking and private venue access.
“We really are giving our guests a lot of options to make sure they have a great experience at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre,” O’Connell said. “There’s something for every musical taste coming this year.”
More info is available at UtahFirstAmp. com.