Amphitheater Northwest

This music venue has better acoustics than the Rose Garden/​Moda Center or the Memorial Coliseum at least when the outdoor area is open. It holds 18,000.
I did not try the food or drink. They have free water fountains. The bathrooms were very clean and designed to handle the crowd.
People are taking the reports about parking on site seriously by avoiding it. We did.
For our sold-​out show, the on-​site parking, which holds 7000, was not full. The Salmon Creek Park & Ride C Tran shuttle is the recommended way to get there. At about 470 spots, it becomes filled more than an hour before a sold-​out show. It took about an hour to go through the line at the park and ride, board the bus and reach the gate at the venue. Fortunately the weather was perfect. The bus costs $ 2 cash, exact change, to the venue, and there is no charge returning. C Tran staff was great. The bus delivers you to a large beverage tent adjacent to the venue.
Outbound they set up a serpentine queue in the tent, which should keep you dry if it’s raining.
The venue does reward carpooling 4 to a car.
The venue is well run, security is polite, professional and organized. It was Crowd Management Services — CMS.
There are two large video screens beside the stage and several outside for the lawn seating.
The good acoustics inside are due to the wide fan shape of the side walls. But that also means that the sight angles, if you are close to the side walls and the stage, are a challenge. Since all the tickets in the side sections are priced similarly, get in on the early ticket sale.
Each performer is going to have a different sound and lighting system. The particular show we saw sounded excellent, in school I did that, so I had my own ideas for improvements in the mix — usually less compression! I used to be critical of the Martin motorized lights, but now I’m a believer, and LED lighting is super fast, on, off and color changes.
I was fortunate to see The Cure. The crowd was far from Portland’s goth nights where everyone dresses to depress. Minimal black lips. So I would say, dress anyway you like for this venue! Plain clothes are fine. We did see one fan rockin’ a flouro orange wool peaky beanie and saddle shoes, A-​OK! Though I have plenty of black in my wardrobe, I don’t play with dark for fun, I’ve seen enough for real on international projects. Somehow I missed the goth phase and emo, I was listening to trip hop, industrial and 4AD at that time. But who can resist this band’s minor key anthems?
In the spirit of continuous improvement — the venue operators, a private company, need to negotiate legal overflow parking for the Park & Ride on concert nights with adjacent businesses. Add «filled» signs and people directing traffic. Second, C Tran needs to dim the lights in their returning shuttles. «Sexy times» and The Cure came up in conversation that eve. So after a romantic show, bright fluorescent lighting is not what you want! Right?
I always made fun of this venue, especially with the former Sleep Country branding. It is now branded Sunlight Supply, more sunlight supply here, great! But experiencing it, I’m now adding it to my highly recommended venues for very large shows with good acoustics.

I want to give it four stars but I admit there are a couple of big negatives.
I love seeing a show in such large venue designed specifically for music. The sound was very good but what you would expect for a large venue, there is nothing that made me think «wow, this is amazing». The seating (section 206) had excellent sight lines. I loved being under cover but still having the sense of being outdoors because of the open design of the venue.
The cons; it isn’t so much the parking as it is the parking lot on I-​5 at the exit. There is a work around but I don’t want others to know about it.
The concessions were ridiculously expensive. I don’t think the prices should be on par with the MODA center. It is out in the country, your parking sucks, and it is fairgrounds. Have the prices reflect that.
I will go to more concerts here. But I will keep the low expectations for traffic and parking.

Made the trek to the Ridgefield to see Kid Rock — excellent show, Foreigner opened and it was fantastic.
I had a seat in the 2^nd section and had a perfect view. The sound was great and getting in and out of the theater was no problem.
We utilized the Park and Ride option — $ 5 and about a 5 minuet ride to the amphitheater on a school bus. No wait for the bus.
You get dropped off outside the bar tent. In the tent you could have hard liqs and beer, just needed to finish the cocktails before hitting the general area. Beer was ok everywhere. Had a beer and went to check the rest of the vendors with food and beer. Lots of food options — beer was 9 bucks at all the places.
I have heard many many horror stories about trying to park and get out of this venue. Taking the park and ride route is the way to go — smooth in and out, no traffic hassle and only $ 5! why not do that? Plus — they drop you off conveniently at the bar — what more could you ask.

Worst venue I’ve ever been to. I will NEVER go back, no matter who is playing. I have been to tons of venues and concerts, and have never gone through the hell I went through here.
Sitting in my car in the lot super late at night, with my 11yr old daughter, surrounded by hundreds of cars filled with annoyed and angry people, not moving AT ALL for 2 ½ hours… that was longer than the opening band, and the main performers performances on stage, COMBINED!!! Total bullshit.

Go prepared to have your wallet absolutely gouged if you buy any type of concessions at all. You can’t even bring in your own water (unless you can manage to smuggle it), and that’s so they can charge you $ 3 for a cup of water — not even with a lid — just so that you can try to not die in the heat. They offer nice, big cups of lemonade for $ 5, but it’s not very good and mostly ice. The beer, cocktails, food: all ludicrously expensive. I can’t believe I spent five bucks on a soft pretzel, but I was starving!
The last time I went I was able to make use of the YES carpooling option, and we got out of there FAST by parking near the exit. Trust me, if you can get a group of at least four people, it’s the way to go! The next best option is the shuttle. Otherwise, be prepared to be stuck trying to exit the parking lots for hours!
I’ve never sprung for seats, but the lawn is pretty sweet. I take a low beach chair for comfort, but my daughters sit on a blanket. The stage is far away, but the screens help give a better look at the action. The sound has been good the times I’ve been there, but I guess that’s not always the case.
Overall, it’s not a bad venue, but like any outdoor theatre, it sucks if it’s really hot (99° last time I was there) or if it’s raining and you’re on the lawn. And their policy about water is just appalling; they shouldn’t be allowed to get away with that!

I love this place. I don’t know why people complain about the most mundane of issues. Yes, the parking blows. They pay minimum wage and get minimum effort from the «parking attendants» if you can call them that. Any large venue will have issues with parking. Be smart. Park nose OUT, not nose in. If you park nose in and complain that you can’t get out for an hour, then that’s on you. People are jerks and won’t do you any favors. Know that and plan accordingly.
The venue itself is great. The seats are older than dirt so they’re narrow and not comfortable, but you’re mostly standing during your musical event, right? I know I am! I did once attend my brother’s college graduation here and it was rather uncomfortable to stay parked for hours on end in those horrific seats. Plan accordingly. Alternatively, you can sit in the grass for a helluva lot cheaper! Bring a blanket to sit on and one to cover up with and you’re golden! Just make sure you arrive before the gates open so you get a good spot.
The sound systems depend largely on the bands performing. Low budget band probably has a low budget sound. Trust me, I’ve experienced enough shows here to know!
You can’t control the venue of your favorite band. If they’re playing here, prepare yourself for the worst and expect the best.

It’s been about 2 years since my first review what’s now called Amphitheater Northwest, time for an update. I’ve increased it by a star because they seem to have made slight improvements in some areas… but not in others. I keep coming back, so that says I’m not totally turned off.
Highlights:
1. WHATEVER YOU DO, TAKE THE C-​TRAN SHUTTLE OR GET A YES PARKING PASS (4+ people in your car). The shuttle is fast, it’s only $ 2 exact change round-​trip, and it will save you hours of frustrations at the end of the show. Seriously. I will not feel bad for you if you complain about it taking 3+ hours to leave the parking lot because you’ve read this and know better. The fact that they offer this well-​organized shuttle is the sole reason for the extra star.
2. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, as far as the reserved section goes. The lawn, while farther away, allows you to see shows at a relatively affordable price. It serves it’s purpose.
Lowlights:
1. Parking is terrible, but I’ve already covered that above.
2. Still very few food choices inside — stay away from the Hawaiian food booth. There wasn’t a person there that waited under 30 minutes for their food in the time we were around. You have two choices: a fajita-​type burrito thing, and a chicken plate with rice and/​or noodles. The chicken plate was dry and tasteless. No sauces, no flavor. Horribly slow service. Sleep Country needs to re-​think their partnership with them.
3. Yes, those people waiting in lines for wristbands are doing so for a reason. You need one to buy booze. And yes, they’ll still check your ID when you purchase; the bands are for staff to make sure those wandering with said booze have a wristband and can therefore do so.
You’ve been warned. Now go and enjoy the show.

WORST VENUE EVER!!! HORRIBLE doesn’t even describe how bad this place is to get out of. I would never come back. It took us over an hour and a half to leave the parking lot, no exaggeration!!! No matter who came to perform I refuse to go through that again.

The only redeeming quality is that it sounds great. Aside from that, they encourage drunk driving since drinking yourself silly in your stationary car is the only way to handle the fact that leaving the parking lot takes forever. Also, I’m all for employing high schoolers during the summer, except when it messes with us adults, and putting 16 year olds in charge of running the parking lot at a massive concert (Zac Brown Band) is a cruel joke played on us good folks who have better things to do than poison our livers in the Amphitheater Northwest’s atrociously designed parking lot – I want that poisoning done in a bar damnit.

Getting to the event using Park & Ride was Ok and quick but getting back… 5 buses, who filled quickly, left for Vancouver and there are like 500 people in line waiting for them to come back. I think I’ve had it with this place! Never again.

Lots of complaining about this venue. We actually have box seats here and look forward to the concerts every year. Gotta learn the tricks to get in and out fast folks. I drive past everyone waiting to get in every concert and do the same on the way out. I don’t think we miss a major concert in the Portland Metro area. The Moda Center can be just as bad to get out of if you don’t know where to park and how to get out fast. Yes Prices for food and beverages are high but it is the same anywhere you go for a concert or a sporting event. It is a night out people. Take the good with the bad and figure out the quick in and out programs or just ride the shuttle if it bothers you. Will agree with the jokes that they call security guards. Hint when they say something to you just keep walking they are powerless. Now the sheriffs dept is a different story. Haha

Went to see Courtney Love and Lana Del Rey. I was a bit discouraged because of comments about having issues leaving, so I left the concert about 10 minutes early (as did many others) and had no problem getting out. Was a bit annoyed that Courtney came out an hour late, only because it was a partially outdoor venue so it was cold, the waiting music sounded like something you hear in an elevator or while you’re waiting on hold on the phone. They don’t allow hard alcohol into the venue, I only beer and wine. Sat in section 103 row J, a lot closer to the stage than I expected. We were seats 16&17 and the ushers said we had to enter from the center, well our seats were practically at the end of the row so we had to squeeze by everyone when we could have entered our seats much easier if we had entered from the end like we had tried. And we weren’t the only people from that row that they made do that. Ushers need to learn the seating better.

I honestly had never heard about this venue good or bad. So yesterday was the first time I have attended anything there… I pray it will be the last. We get there 2 hours before show time and parking was still a joke. Apparently they hand a pile of volunteer teenagers glow wands with no directions at all. They put out pylons to supposedly direct traffic but it seems to just block everything up. When we went to leave (and we chose thankfully to do so before the show ended with a lot of other people) we ended up driving around in circles thanks to the morons directing traffic. I am amazed we ever got out of there!
I have been to a lot of outdoor venues and this one is a joke… because of the layout — forget sitting in the lawn because no matter where you sit you really do not have a great view. The screens are kind of nice but don’t expect to really «see» the show.
No outside food or drink and I was charged… no joke.$ 3.00 for a small CUP of water because they will not sell bottles of water. Since you have to go 2 hours early to stand a chance of no spending the night trying to park and they started the show about an hour later than listed — that left me with 6 hours on a cup of water. They have a pile of crappy over priced food and beer you can chose from.
See whatever band you plan on seeing ANYWHERE but here.

No, thanks.
Parking situation: left among the first half of the crowd, didn’t leave the parking lot for almost 2 hours. Pure insanity.

Wish I would have known about the shuttles. It took us an hour and forty minutes to get out of the lot after the show! No exaggeration. The inept flaggers were sitting there with their thumbs up their behinds. Kinda ruined the concert experience.
Food is really expensive too.
Three stars for clean lawn and bathrooms.

The Pavillion seating section 204, row P, seat 23 on the aisle directly in line with the stage. Excellent view of performers even though not sitting in the front sections these seats were great. The flip down football stadium seats were roomy for a big guy and easily flipped up for standing. The rows from the stage back were well spaced. The floor is a nice easy gradiant that allows each seat to see the stage well. Even with a big girl with big hair sitting directly in front of me. Very cool little cup holder for my drink attached to the seat in front of me allowed both hands free to eat. Concessions at this show were nothing special. Waited in lines 10 people long, took less than 10 minutes. Large slice of pizza $ 6, glass of Bare-​Foot yuck wine $ 7.50. Beer line was 20 – 30 people long but moved very fast and efficiently. Dutch Bros Coffee was the longest line by far. Saw somebody with wraps and hotdogs. There were 3 places for food across the venue so we stuck with pizza. Tons of water fountains, empty waterbottles allowed. Restroom blocks and Concessions are all outside the Pavillion. You must have a band obtained at the stand if you want to buy drinks. By 9:30 the wind picked up and blew in from behind. Allot of people brought throws wrapped around themselves. However, be warned NO BAGS ALLOWED just purses so it’s what you have on you. The air was drifting with smoke but its legal in Washington so I guess that explains it. Just more found here and didn’t seem to be policed at all.
Most important Tip is TAKE THE SHUTTLE!!! Dead EASY! Pulled up to Salmon Creek Park & Ride, parked my car, paid $ 5, security checked right there, stepped on bus, arrived at venue 10 minutes, no need for security line since already checked, we walked right in at a dedicated entrance. Leaving the venue walked back to same location for shuttle and there was a dedicated exit line less than 100ft from exit to bus, People not taking shuttle had much harder time leaving the venue. Back to my car and driving home within 30 minutes of leaving my seat.
I would pay the extra and get the seats and be sure to take the shuttle. It makes the whole experience so much better. The venue is actually well set up.

What a cool little venue… Went there for Zac Brown. Sat on the lawn. Had to avoid puke and people pissing on the back walls from way too much alcohol. Fall risk and liability from the lack of Alcohol Enforcement; perhaps it is the MO there. I know you can’t bust everyone, but maybe a little education to the servers is in order.
Plus, WTH is with forcing people to go south on I5 from the venue when I am heading north. Sorry to the guy laying cones out, but I am not driving south on 5 to try and find somewhere to turnaround at 1130 at night with a 2.5 hour drive home… Poor logistics…

Great place to go see a concert. I’ve been to several concerts here over the years and have always purchased lawn seating. This is open admission so getting there early to get the best spots is a good idea. The lawn is huge though and I think even not up close in the lawn section would be fun. There is also a large covered seating area (tickets are much more expensive). I really like the whole experience of seeing a concert on the lawn. It’s a much more laid-​back, party atmosphere. People watching is great!
Most recent concert we attended was Kiss and Def Leppard. Concert was great — and packed. Acoustics were ok, not great. Lots of big screens so that you can actually see the band — stage is too far away when sitting on the lawn to really see them.
Food/​beverage vendors: everything is pretty spendy if you want to eat or drink here. $ 9 for chicken strips and fries and I think $ 10.50 for cheeseburger and fries. If you drink, beer is $ 10 – 12.
Huge negative for this venue: parking. Primarily traffic flow leaving the concert. It has improved over the years, but it still took over an hour just to get out of the parking lot! I really think that if they could figure out the traffic flow issues, the venue would be a much more enjoyable experience. They used to have VIP parking passes that you could purchase for, I think, $ 25. If they still have them available, definitely think it is worth the extra money to exit the venue more quickly. I also saw some posts about 4 or more person carpool special privileges. I didn’t know about that before the concert, but will definitely look into that for next time. Also, they need better signage so that people know which lanes they need to be in to go north or south on the freeway since they don’t let you change lanes up by the freeway entrance intersection.
Overall, a good concert experience, that almost gets completely ruined by the effort it takes to exit this venue.

Wow.
Let me begin by saying that we only went here to see the opening band tonight, which was American Authors. We were not interested in seeing One Republic or The Script. We purchased seats a few months ago and had been extremely excited for this show.
We were on our way out to Ridgefield after enjoying a meal at Jerusalem Café, and Claire began reading reviews about the amphitheatre. I thought little of it because really, what’s to rate at an amphitheater? Apparently a lot.
Upon reaching the area, the traffic, an hour beforehand came to a dead stop clear out on the freeway from the amphitheater. People get pretty nasty just approaching the venue. I already don’t like people. I like them even less when they have horrible attitudes. Arriving here, it was just about the most miserable black-​Friday nightmare getting through the parking area. Finally, we park out in the middle of nowhere. We begin walking to the amphitheater, and finally reach the door, only to find out that we need to go all the way back to the car to leave our camera behind because those aren’t allowed in the venue. Even though phones have cameras on them. Derp.
After relieving our bag of the camera, heading back through the lot, we hear the show begin and my favorite song is finished before even reaching the entrance. Then Claire’s favorite song came on, and finished before making it through the still excruciating line. By the time we got to our seats, they were about five songs in. The layout, the system, everything here is just god awful and we will NEVER come back. Since we were only here for American Authors, after the two songs we actually got to watch them perform, we figured at least SOME good should come of our tragic experience, and decided to leave, and searched for a couple on the lawn in the way back to give our tickets to so they could upgrade since our seats would be wasted once we left anyway.
This place takes ALL the fun out of seeing a show. I didn’t think it was possible to hate a venue. We’ve been to a great many of them, but this is the only one that made the experience miserable. I hated this place with every fiber of my being.

Like Ray L. said, I too was expecting a terrible experience at the Sleep Country Amphitheater due to the low ratings. But my experience here wasn’t terrible. In fact, it was fine.
I had never been to SCA previously, but my experience wasn’t bad. Finding the amphitheater itself was easy, just off of exit 9 on I-​5 and there’s signs leading you straight there. Getting tickets at will call was easy, having my bag checked upon entry wasn’t problematic, and the concourse wasn’t hard to navigate. Was a bit confusing as there are two paths leading to the lawn and seats, but the majority of the crowd went to the left after entry, so I followed suit. There were several kiosk-​like things to get wristbands for those who wanted to buy alcohol… places to buy food… and actual bathrooms (not honey buckets)!
If you’re sitting in the 100 level, you have to walk ALL the way to the farthest corner to enter. I thought it was strange that in section 102, row A isn’t necessarily the first row. There’s another smaller row in front of A, which is row PB. I’m assuming it means a pit row? But row PA was not in sight. Thought that was a little weird. Although my row B wasn’t really the second row, I had no problem viewing the stage.
The staff inside were friendly and helpful, and weren’t gruff and unlikable like at other venues. Even the usher standing in front of the stage made conversation with myself and other attendees prior to the show. Only bummer was that SCA apparently doesn’t allow video taping (although John Mayer — who I saw that night — allows video and even audio recording at his shows). Usher dude politely told me that videos weren’t allowed and asked me to stop filming. He wasn’t rude about it, which was cool, even though I was a rebel and shot a few more videos anyways (oh no, put me in jail, I’m so bad). Usher dude was even nice enough to let me scootch over to the first row after people left early. Yay.
Sound seemed good, but again, I can’t say anything for people in the 200 level or lawn. When you’re two rows away from the stage, hell, everything looks and sounds wonderful!
Apparently the parking situation here sucks. Then again, I can’t speak on behalf of the parking situation, as I was dropped off and picked up in a designated area directly across the grass from the box office. They do offer a YES parking option (don’t know much about it, it’s on their website), and a shuttle service for $ 2 round-​trip from a nearby park-​and-​ride, which is what I would have done if I wasn’t dropped off. Of course there’s traffic after a show, since thousands of people are trying to leave a plot of land with only 3 – 4 lanes available to exit. I was out of there in less than 30 minutes.
I enjoyed this place. Mostly because of my kick-​ass seats and a phenomenal show thanks to John Mayer. Besides that, Sleep Country Amphitheater wasn’t a bad venue. I’d come back for a show again sometime. And not park my car there so I don’t pull my hair out like the other reviewers ;)