The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (GRFA) in Vail, Colorado, is a spectacular outdoor venue that hosts a variety of cultural and entertainment events each summer. Operated by the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation (VVF), the GRFA offers an intimate setting with breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. From internationally renowned festivals to community events, the GRFA is a versatile space for all.
Overview of the Venue
This spectacular, intimate outdoor venue can host ~2,600 guests. The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater audience space can host up to 2,800 guests within the pavilion and lawn seating areas.
The venue is divided into lawn and pavilion seating with a breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains.
Each summer, the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater plays host to an array of cultural and entertainment offerings, ranging from internationally renowned dance and classical music presentations, courtesy of the Vail Dance Festival and the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, to the free weekly concerts of the Hot Summer Nights series.
We have some of the biggest touring acts play at our intimate amphitheater, but we also consider ourselves a community venue hosting memorials, high school graduations, and so much more.
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View of the audience at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Source: vvf.org
Seating Options
Just like any other outdoor venue, the Gerald Ford Amphitheater boasts of plenty of space and seating areas to choose from! Please note that the venue tends to fill up quickly, so if you want the best seats, we recommend arriving early.
The area is divided into four numbered sections. The pavilion has seats that cover around 1,265 of the seating in the venue.
Seating on the lawn is offered on a first come first serve basis. Expansive grassy hillside Lawn seating is available on a first come, first served basis.
Section 2 and 3 seating offers the best view of the show but all seating should have a great view of the on-stage performance. Rows are numbered alphabetically starting with the rows nearest to the stage. Row A being the closest seats possible to the stage.
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Lawn Seating
Lawn seating is available on a first come-first served basis. Lawn seating available on a first come-first served basis. The lawn area is popular throughout the summer as you can bring your own picnic and set up a space that is truly yours for the entire day!
To better serve our audiences, the venue does prohibit lawn chairs that are over 5" off the ground. Chairs over this limit inhibit the sightlines for fellow patrons in the lawn seating area. Low-profile lawn chairs are available at the GRFA to rent for $10.
Lawn seating at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Source: YouTube
Reserved Seating
For most shows, seating is general admission. But some shows may have reserved seating.
Reserved pavilion tickets will go on sale in person only at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater Box Office on July 1 at 8AM.
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Accessibility
The Amp provides reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities, including those with limited mobility. The GRFA provides reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities, including those with limited mobility. The Amp offers a range of options for those with accessibility needs so that they can enjoy an event at the venue in comfort.
Per the American Disability Act (ADA), the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater is accessible to individuals with disabilities. The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater is fully ADA compliant and provides special accommodations for those with limited mobility. ADA Accessible seats are available.
Under the pavilion roof, reserved seating in Section 1 Row L and Section 4 Row O feature wheelchair-accessible and accessible seats. ADA seating is available in Section 1 Row L and Section 4 Row O in all reserved seating zones and prices.
You can find lawn general admission accessible seating is available behind Section 2 of the pavilion; Lawn ADA tickets are required for this section. A limited number of ADA General Admission Lawn seats are available for sale behind Section 2. You must have a designated ADA lawn seat ticket to sit in this area.
Accessible seats can also be purchased for the lawn area. They can be found behind section 2 of the pavilion. You can also call the box office at 970- 845- 8497.
By purchasing an ADA seat, you are stating that you require an ADA seat. If purchased fraudulently, you may be subject to relocation. The fraudulent purchase of accessible seating could lead to relocation or investigation of the ticket buyer.
If you have already purchased tickets and now require accessible accommodations, please contact the box office at 970.845.8497 to inquire about an exchange.
During events at the venue, accessible parking is available in the Ford Park Parking Lot. Another accessible option is the Vail Athletic Field Parking Lot. Both of these parking lots are managed and owned by the Town of Vail.
As well as this, there are also accessible free event buses available that run to and from the Ford Park parking lot during events. There are also courtesy golf cart shuttle services that go to the venue from both parking lots. Wheelchair-accessible golf carts can be requested.
Wheelchairs are not available for rent. Wheelchairs cannot be rented at the venue.
There are accessible restrooms available at both of the entrances to the Gerald R Ford Amphitheater. There is also a private family restroom on site, located in the main entrance lobby.
An I-MAG screen is available for those with admission tickets on the lawn. These screens feature important messages and magnified live videos for those with sight problems.
Guests who have service animals can bring them into the venue. However, only service animals that are defined under the 2010 ADA Guidelines are permitted. If a service animal is inside the venue, they must be tethered or leashed at all times. The only exception to this rule is if leashing the animal interferes with their work. Any service animal that interferes with other attendees could cause the guest in question to be relocated.
Getting There & Parking
Take exit 176 off I-70. Head south toward the ski mountain, into the main Vail roundabout. Exit the roundabout so you are heading east on South Frontage Road. The Vail Parking structure will be a short distance up on the right, where summer parking is free.
From the structure, exit to the east. Walk northeast toward the softball fields until you see the paved walkway into the park on your right. Follow that path straight down to the Amphitheater.
Golf carts run frequently between the top of the path and the venue prior to and following shows. You can also take the Gore Creek Trail directly to the venue.
From Ford Park parking lot, look for the bike path at the southeast end of the tennis courts.
From the Vail Village or Lionshead parking structures, guests may hop on a free bus to get to The Amp. There are a couple of bus routes to choose from including Golf Course, East Vail, or Intown.
Limited paid parking is available at Ford Park, located northeast of the Amphitheater on the Frontage Road, and at the Soccer Field, located southeast of the Amphitheater on Vail Valley Drive. Check the parking availability HERE.
Free parking is available in the summer at the Vail Village and Lionshead Village parking structures when entering after 3pm (until 4am). Both structures are a short walk or shuttle ride to the venue.
The Eagle Valley Transportation Authority now offers fare-free service routes from Vail to Eagle with increased route frequency.
Coming with a group to the Ford Park or Vail Athletic Fields/Soccer Lot? The FOUR + FOR FREE carpool program offers free parking to those who arrive with four or more in a vehicle!
Tickets
Tickets & programming are subject to change. One ticket per person. Children over the age of two must have a ticket. Additional fees may apply to any purchase.
All tickets sales are final. ALL TICKET SALES ARE FINAL. NO REFUNDS.
If you are unable to locate your tickets, please contact the box office to reprint them. Please note a reprint voids all previous tickets.
vaildance.org, vvf.org and ticketsvail.com are the only official online ticketing providers for all performances at the GRFA. Tickets purchased from other sources may be more expensive, invalid and/or ineligible for box office assistance.
The Box Office opens early June every year.
Digital Tickets
Digital Tickets will appear in your Digital Wallet in April. Please refer to your order confirmation for details.
AXS Mobile ID is a digital ticketing technology that provides the flexibility and convenience of safely and securely managing tickets online or in the AXS mobile app. It is the preferred admission method for the venue. It eliminates paper tickets and allows you to enter the venue with your AXS Mobile ID and manage your tickets digitally.
AXS Mobile ID allows for convenience, flexibility, and security. Fans can manage tickets digitally, transfer or sell tickets when needed (if applicable), and remain assured that all tickets are authentic and secure.
Upon purchasing tickets, your AXS tickets will be automatically added to your existing AXS account. If you do not have an AXS account, you will be instructed to create one during your purchase.
Quick Pass
Your Quick Pass allows you to bypass the general entry line upon arrival to the venue. *Note: Quick Pass requires a separate event ticket for entry. Quick Pass is NOT early entry and does NOT compete with artist-driven VIP programs.
Ticket Transfers
A ticket transfer allows you to digitally give each guest in your party their own ticket via AXS Mobile ID. With seat transfers, you no longer need to worry about delivering the paper tickets to them in advance or meeting them outside of the gates to walk in together. There is no fee for transferring seats and you are allowed unlimited transfers.
Click the Transfer button next to the event in your AXS account. Select the tickets to transfer and enter the recipientâs information. On the review page, click the Transfer button to send the tickets. Review your transfer history within the AXS app by clicking on MY EVENTS and selecting TRANSFERRED.
Official Resale
AXS Official Resale is the safe and easy way to buy and sell tickets with other fans. When fans have tickets they canât use, they list them for other fans to buy. Buyers get 100% valid and authentic tickets delivered straight to their AXS accounts, and sellers get paid by direct deposit.
Click the Sell button next to the event in your AXS Account. Select the tickets to sell, and then set your price and selling options. On the Review page, click the List Tickets button to finish. The tickets will be delivered to the buyer automatically.
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