Azura Amphitheater Information

Azura Amphitheater is formerly known as the Providence Medical Center Amphitheater. It is an incredible open-air amphitheater located in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The venue is commonly known by its shorter name of “Sandstone” and is owned by the unified government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City. The venue shares its grounds with the Kansas City Renaissance Festival and National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame and is right next to the Wyandotte County Park. As you can imagine, being this close to so many recreational venues, locations, and sites, places the Amphitheater at the center of the county’s creativity and live performance arts.

The Azura Amphitheater has built its reputation on consistently delivering high-quality entertainment experiences to guests from across the region. It specializes in hosting prominent touring artists across multiple genres, from rock and country to pop and alternative music. The amphitheater’s design also creates a welcoming atmosphere, ensuring you feel connected to the performance, no matter where you sit.

The amphitheater’s layout features fixed seating and open lawn areas, giving you several options to match your preferences, budget, and accessibility needs. You can take advantage of numerous amenities designed to enhance your experience at the venue, including the concession stands throughout the facility offering a variety of classic concert fare options and local favorites. The venue also maintains clean restroom facilities with adequate capacity to serve large crowds efficiently.

The open-air amphitheater’s location in Bonner Springs provides easy access from multiple major highways, making it convenient for visitors from Kansas City and the surrounding communities. This facility sits within a larger entertainment complex that includes other attractions, so you’ll find that the surrounding area offers ample parking lot space and handles large crowds efficiently.

Fans will often find merchandise stands at the venue to purchase artist-specific items and venue memorabilia. These retail locations typically open when the gates open, so be sure to leave enough time for pre-show browsing. Some merchandising vendors may accept cash, but you’ll want to bring a credit card or debit card for most other purchases at this largely cashless concert venue.

The Amphitheater’s Legacy of Memorable Performances

The amphitheater opened its doors in 1984 as Sandstone Center for the Performing Arts, marking the beginning of a long tradition of world-class entertainment in Bonner Springs. You’re visiting a venue that has undergone several name changes over the decades, reflecting different sponsorship partnerships. However, it has maintained its core mission of delivering exceptional live music and evolved significantly since its early days to incorporate continuous improvements.

The venue has hosted performances by some of the biggest names in music history, with numerous artists having graced this stage over the past four decades. The amphitheater has become famous for attracting major touring acts to the city year after year, establishing itself as a must-play venue for artists performing in the Midwest. Since it has cemented its place in Kansas City’s cultural landscape, you can find stories from longtime concertgoers who recall unforgettable performances that are now part of local music lore. 

While adapting to changing musical tastes and audience preferences, the venue has maintained its high standards for production quality and guest satisfaction. It underwent significant renovations and upgrades to modernize its infrastructure, and you benefit from these investments every time you attend a show. Enhanced sound systems, improved sightlines, and updated amenities keep this venue competitive against newer facilities while preserving the character that longtime fans appreciate.

You’ll notice that the venue maintains its outdoor character while incorporating comfort features that weren’t priorities in earlier decades. This balance between open-air authenticity and modern convenience defines the current amphitheater experience. The management team understands that today’s guests expect certain amenities without sacrificing the special atmosphere that only outdoor venues can provide.

Azura Amphitheater History

The venue was designed by Bird Engineering with an original opening planned for 1984 as the Sandstone Center for the Performing Arts. It was later renamed Verizon Wireless Amphitheater after Verizon purchased the naming rights in 2002 with a seven-year contract. During this time, the venue was managed by Houston-based Clear Channel Entertainment and later passed management duties to LA-based Live Nation. Despite the name and varied management companies, locals stuck to calling the venue “Sandstone”.

Later, in September 2007, Live Nation announced that it would let the managing contract expire on December 31 of that year. The following year, the unified government commission ratified a pact with local promoter Chris Fritz’s New West Presentations to operate the venue through the end of 2009 with a two-year option to renew, and a name reversion to Sandstone.

Seating Arrangement

While the original venue had 6,700 reserved seating and a general lawn admission seating area, renovation plans were made to remove most of the reserved seating to make it a closer general admission section.

The change in configuration was designed to let fans get closer to the performers and reduce security costs that the previously larger reserved seating section required. The venue also added an upgraded VIP club and upgraded sound and video systems to keep more fans close to the action, even if they were in the general admission lawn seating space.

If you love outdoor venues but hate being far from the action, then Azura Amphitheater, aka Sandstone, has you covered

For more information on the Azura Amphitheater see the pages below:

Azura Amphitheater Parking:
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Ticket Policies:
For ticket guarantees, ticket verification and refund policies.

Azura Amphitheater Seating Chart:
For Azura Amphitheater seating map and seating information.