Open Air Theatre – San Diego State University

It took me three years to discover this hidden music venue. I guess I just don’t spend a lot of time on college campuses anymore. Now that I know about it, I’m happy that it is hidden, as the place isn’t a complete shit show like most other amphitheaters.
Just because the theater is on a college campus doesn’t mean that you will be the only person older than 21. I saw Death Cab a few months ago, and most of the crowd was in their 30s. It is a laid back environment, and you don’t have to get there super early in order to wait in lines, etc. Just arrive a few minutes before the show and you should be fine.
The concessions were similar to what you would see at a college football game (nachos, hot dogs), so I would recommend eating before you arrive. They did have local beer on tap, but at event pricing.
From what I could tell, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. We were in the BB section, and I was surprised how close we were to the stage. I don’t think it is necessary to pay a premium to be any closer than that section. I would probably avoid the general admission/​standing section in the back, but even that would have a fine view.
Most events tend to be in the Sept/​Oct time frame, so come fall, I recommend taking a look at their event calendar. I know i’ll be back.

Great venue for a concert! I visited SDSU for the Of Monsters and Men concert. The acoustics were amazing! For being such a packed place, we had a clear view to the band. Their light show went along with the music perfectly. My only complaint is how gross the bathrooms are. They are dirty, the lines are long and the Porta potties are few in number. Beers are $ 8 and the selections are limited.

What a perfect venue to come to on a hot fall night! The sound quality and lighting is great here. I wish I would have splurged to get tickets closer to the stage rather than in the third tier. I would have enjoyed the show a lot more.
If you want to enjoy the music but don’t want to pay for the show, follow the lead of the college students and bring blankets and lay in the grass outside the venue.

LOVE THIS VENUE!
Went here for Duran Duran, who were fantastic! What raised the bar of seeing them was the venue. It’s in the middle of the campus, you could walk by it an possibly not even see it. It only holds about 4,600 people. The sound is great (srsly). Not a bad seat anywhere. They must’ve upgraded the back section that people complained about bench seating because now there are seats.
Yes, the beer lines suck, but it was all of maybe 5 – 7 minutes… they rip through it. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Yes, the parking is $ 15…it a concert in a major city with limited parking because of the campus, deal with it. We walked all of 5 minutes to get inside. The area was safe and well lit with lots of campus security walking around.
The place is basically a mini version of the Greek in LA, but a MUCH better experience overall, great sight lines everywhere, and a spot on sound system. If you want to eat, there’s Chipotle, The Den (cheap college version of Denny’s… nice folks there), Habit Burger. Fine dining might be somewhere else, but it was fun for us geezers to see a show on campus and enjoy a good evening.

Came to this venue for the very first time to see Iration!
Kind of lame that you have to pay $ 15 for parking.
Plus the parking lot is across the street so you have to do a bit of walking.
Park across the street in the parking structure, then walk across the bridge, and into the school grounds.
Entering the venue was quick and painless.
You can show your ticket through a hard copy ticket, print out, or on your phone.
They do have securities checking your purses and your belongings before you enter.
Although there are two alcohol vendors, the lines are stupid long.
I recommend buying two drinks per person so you don’t have to wait in the long lines again.
They do have actual restrooms and portable potties, but yes expect long lines to use the bathrooms too.
Space is very tight here, whether its upstairs or downstairs, or between the seats.
Although I do really like that no matter where you sit or stand, you will have a good view of the stage with nothing blocking your view.
They do have cup holds on every chair, but its attached behind the chair in front of you instead of on your arm rest. Which i dont like because I feel like people might drop something in your up as they walk by or something might fall in.
But overall, its a good venue.

I had a love affair with Paramore last night, May 22, 2015. I had never been to an outdoor concert before. I was a little nervous, as I did not know what to expect.
The Cal Coast Credit Union «Open Air Theater» did not disappoint me in my first outdoor concert experience. I have been to 11 concerts before Paramore. I was sort of irritated that it was raining at the beginning, but as the night went on I was so happy it was raining. I would rather have rain than hot sun.
The wait outside of the gates was beautiful. The rain had not yet started. The SDSU campus is amazing! There was always something to look at. I was not bored waiting in line for an hour. One great thing is that their student union building was open, so if you had to go to the restroom you could walk right in and go.
The gates unlocked and they spilt up the girls and guys for security check. The security check was swift. The people in the red shirts are not bad at all. They are just old and cannot keep up with the youngsters. That is the only reason why they were crabby.
The venue was great! The C.C.C.U. donated 3.5 million dollars for updates. No more concrete benches in the back section. Each person had their own, individual seat. I was in section CC, row H, seat 21 and my BF was in seat 22. Aisle seats! And full view of the stage. The seats themselves were comfortable enough for the short amount of time I was actually seated. I do wish the seats were more colorful, instead of an icky green color… but oh well.
I had to use the restroom before Paramore performed. The restroom was clean, except for the cobb webs and dead spiders. They do need to get port-​a-​potties though. 6 or 7 stalls is not enough for us girls. There was a line. I thought I was going to miss Paramore’s opening song.
The sound system was good. The lighting was good. Overall the stage itself was good.
Paramore was amazing! I had not seen them since they opened for No Doubt back in ’09. They MELTED my face! First concert where I woke up with a sore throat!
I will be back for a concert at the Open Air Theater though. Beautiful theater!
P. S. Word of advice… do not try to rush the stage if your tickets are not in the front sections of AAA — EEE. You will get kicked out and sent back to your seat. I did not try to rush the stage, but the people next to me and my BF did. They just ended up being upset the rest of the concert. Also, try to get seats in sections BBB — DDD, BB — CC, and B — E. If you get seats in the other sections you may have a partial view of the stage.

This is a very intimate theater where every seat is a perfect seat. It’s easy to get too and has excellent sound. I enjoyed my time listening to Bryan Adams and rocking out with the crowd. It was cold but not unbearable, more reason to snuggle up with my wife. I’ll be back for more concerts if my favorite artists come here. My only knack is the lack of restrooms as lines did get long!

I’ve been to this venue twice, both times with perfect outdoor conditions. More often than not, the San Diego weather will not let you down. Sitting higher up on the benches isn’t too bad, as you’ll get a great view of the stage anywhere. The steps seem steep, but shouldn’t be a problem to climb or descend. I do think that exits are limited to the top (or I just don’t know of any other paths besides disabled ramps).
I enjoyed the shows I went to, but during the last one, I had an issue with my seat. Because I had a seat in the lower level, I was given a wristband, allowing me to stand in the pit during the show. I wanted to sit down after a few songs in the set so I walked back up to my seat, only to find that someone else was occupying it. I brought it the attention of an usher who scrutinized my wristband and ticket, questioned me multiple times, and ultimately shrugged at my request for him to investigate/​resolve the issue. While I was upset, I didn’t confront the person who stole my seat since it was obvious the staff weren’t interested in backing up their honest, paying patrons in case the confrontation made a bad turn, and just went back to the pit for the remainder of the evening. I also didn’t want to be that person who everyone would say made a scene in the middle of a good show.
Other things: the acoustics are okay. Apparently, though, I learned from a student that this venue stands directly beside a campus library. What genius came up with the idea to juxtapose these two structures?
One major tip for non-​students: get there early. Depending on where you’re coming from, the campus can be a challenge to navigate to get to the parking lots ($ 15 – 20). The lots designated on the website give you a 7 – 12 minute walking time to the theatre. However, if you plan on taking the trolley, the station at the border of the lawn that separates the venue from the street. Just keep the last departure time in mind.
If a favorite band or artist of mine were to play at this theatre, I’d consider going, but after my sour experience with the apathetic and unhelpful staff, I would have to be a big fan to come back.

Got to see Arctic Monkeys here in August.
Bought the cheap GA tickets but our view and the sound were still awesome.
Tip– get there early and you can snag a good spot above the top row.
They have a great beer and food selection from multiple stands. Never had to wait too long for the restroom.
Overall great layout, my only complaint would be no monitor screens for the cheap seats.
The pit is cool as well not too crowded and everyone there was super friendly. No pushing or elbows to the ribs.

Truly probably my favorite venue in San Diego — the outdoor setting is great, it’s not too large and the acoustics are sensational here!!! I just wish more artists would play here!

I wanted to write a review for this theater because it was my first time going and I had no idea what to expect for my first time. So noobies, make note! Here are some tips!
If you buy standing room, you’re literally going to be standing near the bathrooms in the very back. It’s not like a lawn like other arenas.
If you buy a seat, you’re really going to be sitting on a concrete bench. This wasn’t too bad for us because my friend bought a «seat» a few rows below us and was able to move up with us because it’s flexible.
The front seemed to have actual seats, and it looked like there was a standing pit in the very front.
There weren’t very many choices for concessions, which makes my review a 3.5 instead of 4. They only had beer and wine, but that’s expected. Prices weren’t TOO outrageous, we spent $ 7 of a bag of kettle corn.
The acoustics were ok, not as good as some other venues but not as bad either, hence the 3 stars.
Parking was convenient (and $ 15) and the people helping out were able to lead the way pretty well.
If you do end up going to a show here, have fun!

I’ve seen two concerts here and have enjoyed every experience. It’s a smaller venue, so even if you are in the back section it will feel like you have a good seat.
I would give this venue 5 stars, if there were more bathrooms. There are only three stalls for the men and three for the women. The event organizers have done a better job this year bringing in additional portable toilets, but given the amount of people that attend concerts here, they should be more prepared.

Out of all the concert venues I have so far gone to (that would be the old Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, the old San Diego Sports Arena, the former Cox Arena, RIMAC center — which isn’t really a concert venue — the Embarcadero and Humphreys By the Bay — as you can see I haven’t tried a lot of the smaller venues), this one ranks close to the top.
The main negative of this location is the concrete bleachers (as your behind may end up falling asleep) If you don’t like this, I would suggest not coming here. but it does allow room for people to walk through comfortably.
Other than that, the acoustics here are really great, and it is a smaller more intimate venue than some of the other concert venues in town for bigger artists.
They offer good alcohol here and small selection of food. Also since it is located in SDSU, they have places to eat on campus such as The Habit and Chipotle if you need to grab a quick bite before heading over (literally steps away) to the Open Air Theatre.
I came here to see The Fray and John Legend, and both were quite enjoyable.

The good thing about this venue is that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to see your performer. All the seats are close enough to enjoy your show/​concert.
The lower half are actual seats and the upper half are concrete bleachers. I’ve been in both sections and they’re both worth it. If you’re sitting on the concrete I recommend a blanket, you can set it down or use it to cover up if there’s a breeze. And the bleachers have enough space to stand up and move to the beat or even walk through without having to swipe other people on your way to the stairs.
It’s located on the SDSU campus. There’s parking all over so there’s no reason for not being able to find one unless you’re lost lost is. It’s a dollar an hour so $ 2 or $ 3 bucks is all you really need for parking.
As for the ambience, you’ll definitely be able to feel the music. Overall this is one of the better outside venues in San Diego!

I’ve been here several times for concerts over the years. I like that this is an outdoors venue, so you don’t get really hot like other venues (i.e. HOB). It’s not as intimate as the smaller venues but also not huge like Sleep Train in Chula Vista. Since it’s on a slant, you can see from practically anywhere. However, you only will have seats in the first two sections. The very top sections are like concrete bleacher benches.
They now offer beers ranging from Coors Light ($ 8) to Green Flash and Karl Strauss ($ 9). There were two different beer stations the last time I went (one by the bathrooms and one towards the middle). Both the line for beer and bathrooms can get quite long, so be prepared to wait.
Hold on to your ticket if you leave your seat, because some security will ask to check it each time you try to get to the lower sections!

We came here to watch the Fray and I didn’t really know what to expect since I have never been to this outdoor theater. But I was pleasantly surprised by the this venue. The ticket price was reasonable (had a groupon deal), and the seats were pretty good with a clear view of the stage! The sound effect was good and they were selling Stone brewery’s beer. :). Worth a try if you find some good deals for the tickets!

To have an open air theatre in the center of your college campus is pretty cool if you ask me. It has been there for a while now so Its not the most up to date but I always enjoy myself there. There aren’t too many seats so you are more than likely to have a great view. But this is a great outdoor venue with great sound for an outdoor ampitheater.

Pros–
The venue had great acoustics! My ears were ringing even the next morning!
The crowd was great! fun fun fun atmosphere!
Tickets were purchased with ease– no problems
One of my favorite bands –Rebelution– was playing here Sat and boy did we have fun!
Finished at a reasonable time 11pm
Open air S.D. weather!
Cons–
LONG LONG LONG lines for beer. at least 20min
LONG LONG lines for the rest room at least 15min
LONG walk back up to the top for restroom and beverages…
Overall I had a blast! I’ve seen them live quite a few different venues and this ranks up there with one of the better ones! Super close, Section AAA, with out a bunch of sweaty college drunks bumping you around in a heavy crowd. People respected the seating and it was nice to take a seat and rest in between artists. My only hiccup was the in ability to handle the crowd. A few more restrooms and a few more beer spots and this would have been a perfect show!
I will be returning!

I thought I loved this venue but I was wrong.
After being confused by parking and making our way here, I saw a line of 100 people long to get a beer. OK, guess I can skip a beer and just hit the bathroom.
Oh, the line for the bathrooms are just as long! Yup, 15 minutes just to take a piss. Missed the intro of the first Postal Service song.
Made my way to my 3^rd row seat, and security tried to tell me I was in row 10, seat 6 even though I was in row 6, seat 10. Found my seat and after a couple of songs realized I was in the wrong row 6, seat 10. I was in EEE but I paid for DDD. Oh well, it looks like someone was in my seat so I didn’t want to be the dick that said «Hey, that’s mine.»
This place has been around forever, you’d think they’d have their act together by now. Oh well, I still have memories of seeing Green Day there in ’94, I guess.

I had not been to a show here in a few years and kind of forgot about this gem.
Friday night wife and I went to see She and Him and I was kindly reminded of how good the overall sound is here.
Its a fun venue, no obstructed views since it is a theater. They have bathrooms halfway down the seats so you don’t have to climb all the way to the top if ya need to go.
Catch a show in the Summer since its nice and cool in the evening under the stars.
Not much on the food aspect but they serve a few different beers including Red Trolley!
I am excited to see Postal Service here next month!