A roof over the seats
Most Florida amphitheaters leave you to the sky. Pompano's does not. A tensile fabric roof covers the entire seating area, so the afternoon storm that would soak a lawn crowd somewhere else just drums on the canopy here. The sides stay open to the air, and the venue says shows go on rain or shine unless conditions turn unsafe. That alone makes it a different summer night out.
How The Amp came together
The City of Pompano Beach opened the amphitheater in 1993, and the city's own shorthand for it is The Amp. It closed to concerts in early 2020 for a $3.5 million renovation that added the roof along with upgraded stage lighting and restrooms, a better ticket booth and a refreshed concession stand. It reopened in February 2022 with Styx, and Don Felder, once lead guitarist of the Eagles, opened the show. AEG Presents handles the booking.
Seats, not lawn
The Amp has almost 3,000 seats on an elevated layout, and there is no lawn. Some shows add general admission standing room, and festivals can spread onto the grounds, which hold about 7,000 more people. Classic rock has been the backbone, with Sammy Hagar, Styx, Pat Benatar, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Willie Nelson, UB40 and Boyz II Men all on the list of past acts. See more rock shows around the state.
Getting there and parking
The box office sits at the main entrance across from the city aquatic center, and parking in the venue's lots is free. Accessible spaces go first come, first served, so arrive early if you need one. The beach is close enough for an early dinner on the water before the show.
What to bring
Leave the folding chair at home, since this is a seated venue and chairs are not allowed. Seat cushions are allowed if you like a softer night. Florida heat does not care about the roof, so bring water money and dress light, then check your ticket for start times and the bag rules. Farther north, Sunset Cove Amphitheater west of Boca is the lawn alternative, and the Fort Lauderdale listings cover the rest of Broward.
