MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre is Tampa’s main outdoor concert venue for touring acts, sitting on the Florida State Fairgrounds just off Interstate 4 at 4802 US Highway 301 North. Since opening in July 2004, it has hosted rock, country, pop, hip-hop and Christian tours under a bowl-style layout that pairs reserved seating near the stage with a big open lawn behind it.
This guide covers what first-time visitors actually need: how the seating and lawn work, how parking is handled, what you can and can’t bring through the gates, and the venue’s unusually tangled naming history — because if you’ve seen this place called by more than one name, you’re not imagining it. Here’s all of them, in order.
Quick Answer
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre is a roughly 20,000-capacity outdoor venue at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, with about 9,900 reserved seats and about 10,000 lawn spots. It has carried four names since 2004: Ford Amphitheatre, 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Live Nation Amphitheatre, and its current name, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre.
Parking is sold separately from tickets, only clear bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ (or small clutches up to 6″ x 9″) are allowed, and lawn chairs, outside food, coolers and umbrellas are not permitted inside.
🎤 Coming Up at MidFlorida Amphitheatre Tampa
Stats at a Glance
Location: 4802 US Highway 301 North, Tampa, Florida, on the Florida State Fairgrounds near I-4. Type: outdoor amphitheater. Opened: July 2004. Capacity: about 20,000 (approximately 9,900 reserved seats and 10,000 on the lawn).
Owner: Florida State Fair Authority. Operator: Live Nation. Named for: MidFlorida Credit Union, which took over the naming rights in 2013, succeeding a brief 2013 run as the Live Nation Amphitheatre.
Every Name This Venue Has Had
People often ask what this amphitheater used to be called, and the honest answer is that it has had four names in just over two decades. Here is all of them, in order: Ford Amphitheatre (opened July 2004), 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre (2010 to 2012), Live Nation Amphitheatre (a short-lived 2013 placeholder name), and MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre (2013 to present).
It opened as the Ford Amphitheatre in July 2004, with an inaugural show featuring Michael W. Smith, David Crowder and headliner MercyMe. It kept that name until 2010, when a personal injury law firm bought the naming rights and renamed it the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre — a change widely mocked locally, with an online poll at the time finding most respondents disliked it.
After that deal ended, the venue briefly operated under the generic Live Nation Amphitheatre name in 2013 before MidFlorida Credit Union took over the naming rights later that same year. It has carried the MidFlorida name ever since, still operated by Live Nation on land owned by the Florida State Fair Authority. Because the venue has changed names so many times, you’ll still see all of them referenced on old tickets, maps, setlist archives and news articles — so if you’re trying to match an older reference to the current venue, Ford Amphitheatre, 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Live Nation Amphitheatre and MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre all point to the exact same building.
Seating: Reserved Seats vs. the Lawn
The amphitheater uses a bowl-style layout. Roughly 9,900 reserved seats sit closest to the stage, and the rest of the crowd, roughly 10,000 people, spreads out on the sloped lawn behind them. Reserved seats guarantee a specific spot and a better view; lawn tickets are cheaper and more relaxed, but sightlines depend on how early you arrive and how packed the show is.
For lawn shows, arrive early enough to claim a spot with a clear view of the stage or video screens. Blankets are generally welcome on the lawn, but standard lawn chairs are not allowed in — the venue has offered rental chairs for lawn seating in the past, so check current availability before you go. Because the venue is outdoors in Florida, expect heat, humidity and the occasional summer storm delay; the venue has offered free water refill stations and complimentary sunscreen at times, so bring a refillable bottle and a hat regardless.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets and Parking
Tickets for most shows are sold through Ticketmaster and the venue’s own site, with pricing tiers running from lawn admission up through reserved seats and premium options. Prices vary widely by artist, date and seat location, so always check the listing for your specific show rather than relying on a general price range. The box office generally opens on show days only, in the afternoon.
Parking is sold separately from concert tickets and can typically be bought online in advance or at the gate, with buying ahead usually the cheaper route. Lots open about two hours before gates, and the venue sells Premier or VIP parking for easier entry and exit. Accessible parking is available on a first-come basis with a valid state-issued placard. Gate times, parking prices and event-specific rules change from show to show, so use the official MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre visitor page as your source of truth for the show you’re attending.
Bag Policy and What You Can Bring
The amphitheater enforces a clear-bag policy. Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags are allowed up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, and small clutch bags need not be clear but can’t exceed 6″ x 9″. All bags are searched at entry.
Guests can bring one factory-sealed water bottle of up to one gallon, as well as empty refillable plastic bottles. The venue’s published rules ban weapons, outside alcohol, illegal drugs, glass containers, cans, coolers, outside food, umbrellas, laser pointers, selfie sticks, drones, fireworks, glow sticks, aerosols, strollers and professional cameras (including cameras with detachable lenses). Animals are not allowed except service animals, and smoking is limited to designated areas on the Plaza and the Lawn. Individual events can add restrictions, so double-check before your show.
Concerts on the Fairgrounds
Because the amphitheater sits on the fairgrounds in East Tampa near I-4, it draws crowds from across the Tampa Bay area and hosts a full season of touring concerts across genres. Since it sits near residential neighborhoods, operators built a noise-reduction wall and require acts to stay within set decibel limits during shows — one reason the venue works well for an outdoor concert without disturbing nearby homes.
Water on your back and hidden zip pockets against your body. Built for long festival days in crowds.
Charges fast enough to top up your phone between the opener and the headliner.
Many venues let empty soft flasks through security. Refill inside and roll it up when it's empty.
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre name history and visitor guide FAQs
What are all the names MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre has had?
Four: Ford Amphitheatre (2004-2010), 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre (2010-2012), a brief 2013 run as Live Nation Amphitheatre, and MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre (2013-present). All of them refer to the same venue at 4802 US Highway 301 North in Tampa.
When did MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre open?
The venue opened in July 2004 under its original name, the Ford Amphitheatre, with Michael W. Smith, David Crowder and headliner MercyMe performing the inaugural show.
Where is MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre?
It’s at 4802 US Highway 301 North in Tampa, Florida, on the Florida State Fairgrounds next to Interstate 4.
What was the amphitheater called before MidFlorida Credit Union?
Right before MidFlorida took over naming rights in 2013, it briefly carried the generic Live Nation Amphitheatre name. Before that, it was the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre from 2010 to 2012, and originally the Ford Amphitheatre from 2004 to 2010.
How many people does MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre hold?
About 20,000 total: roughly 9,900 reserved seats closer to the stage and roughly 10,000 lawn spots behind them.
Can you bring a bag into MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre?
Yes, but only a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, or a small non-clear clutch no larger than 6″ x 9″. All bags are searched at the gate.
Is parking included with a MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre ticket?
No, parking is sold separately from concert tickets, either online in advance or at the gate, and lots open roughly two hours before gates.
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