iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre facts for kids

iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Entrance to the venue (c.2015)
Full name	iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre at the South Florida Fairgrounds
Former names	Coral Sky Amphitheatre (1996–2000; 2002–03; 2015, 2017–2020) Mars Music Amphitheatre (2000–02) Sound Advice Amphitheatre (2003–08) Cruzan Amphitheatre (2008–15) Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre (2015–17)
Address	601-7 Sansburys Way West Palm Beach, FL 33411-3660
Location	South Florida Fairgrounds
Owner	South Florida Fair & Palm Beach County Expositions, Inc.
Operator	Live Nation
Capacity	20,000
Construction
Opened	April 26, 1996 (1996-04-26)
Construction cost	$10 million ($19.2 million in 2022 dollars )

The iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre is a huge outdoor music place in West Palm Beach, Florida. It has space for 20,000 people! About 8,000 seats are covered, and another 12,000 spots are on the grassy lawn. This modern amphitheatre is mostly used for awesome concerts and other fun shows. It's owned by the South Florida Fairgrounds. Sometimes, for certain concerts like heavy metal shows, the backstage area becomes the main stage!

History of the Amphitheatre's Name

The iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre first opened its doors on April 26, 1996. It has had many different names over the years. In fact, it holds the record for the most name changes for an amphitheatre in the United States!

When it first opened, it was called the Coral Sky Amphitheatre. This name was chosen because the seats face west, giving concert-goers a beautiful view of the sunset.

In 2000, its name changed to Mars Music Amphitheatre after a music store chain became a sponsor. However, that company later faced financial trouble. So, in 2002, the venue went back to being called the Coral Sky Amphitheatre.

Then, in 2003, a new sponsor called Sound Advice took over. The venue was renamed Sound Advice Amphitheatre. This name lasted until 2008, when it changed again to Cruzan Amphitheatre because of a new deal with Cruzan Rum.

In 2015, the venue briefly returned to its original name, Coral Sky Amphitheatre, while looking for a new sponsor. Soon after, Perfect Vodka became the sponsor, and it was called the Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre. But this name also changed back to Coral Sky Amphitheatre in 2017. Finally, in 2020, it became the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre after a sponsorship deal with iTHINK Financial Credit Union.

Famous Performances and Events

Because of the warm weather in Palm Beach, many big concert tours that would normally play in indoor arenas in other cities often come to the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre. This means it can host concerts all year long!

Many popular music festivals and tours have stopped here. These include The Buzz Bake Sale, Lilith Fair, Ozzfest, and The Vans Warped Tour.

Some famous bands and artists have also played memorable shows at the amphitheatre:

• In 1996, the band Phish played a show here. Parts of this concert were later released as a DVD called "Coral Sky."
• The Spice Girls started the U.S. part of their "Spiceworld Tour" here in 1998. This was just two weeks after Geri Halliwell had left the group.
• In 2003, Tori Amos performed the last concert of her "Scarlet's Walk" tour. This show was filmed and released as a DVD called "Welcome to Sunny Florida."
• In 2015, Lana Del Rey played her final concert of "The Endless Summer Tour" here. She performed songs like "Honeymoon" for the first time.
• In 2017, the band Muse played with 30 Seconds to Mars and Pvris.
• Also in 2017, the band Train performed for their "Play that Song" world tour. Natasha Bedingfield and O.A.R. also played that night.
• The Dave Matthews Band has played at the amphitheatre more than 30 times since 1996! They often play two-night shows almost every year since 2002.

See also

• List of contemporary amphitheatres
• Live Nation