FORD AMPHITHEATRE'S DEBUT // All in all, a successful test drive

Copyright Times Publishing Co. Jul 24, 2004

By 7:15 p.m. the stage had been blessed. The audience had joined in group prayer and all systems were go for Friday's opening night at the outdoor Ford Amphitheatre.

The concert, headlined by Christian pop singer Michael W. Smith and the Christian pop band MercyMe, was not the venue's official grand opening concert. That's Tuesday's Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago double bill.

But Friday's concert, which drew 8,500, was big enough to test out the venue, ironing out kinks for next week's roster of big shows, including performances by The Cure, Dave Matthews Band, Rush and Kiss.

As fans danced and testified to Smith's energetic style, amphitheater attendants and volunteers did their best to keep things flowing smoothly.

As with any opening night, not everything worked. But for the most part, the amphitheater delivered on its promise to be the Tampa Bay area's premiere concert venue.

The hits

The amphitheater earned its bragging rights about state-of-the art sound.

In every corner, the music sounded pure and clear. CD quality? From my seat, in the 200 level, row J, the sound was excellent. Venturing back to the lawn section, the quality was a tad fuzzier, but still better than any venue I've experienced.

Sightlines, too, were grand. The venue's fan-like design and the increasing slope of the seats means you could sit behind Shaquille O'Neal and still have a chance at seeing the band onstage

From the lawn, naturally, the folks onstage look much smaller, but again, it's a much better view than any I've experienced elsewhere, not much different than at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center or Ruth Eckerd Hall, which seat 1,200 to 2,500, not the amphitheater's 20,000.

For folks in wheelchairs, there's space. Designated areas exist in the front areas on each seating tier. However, Michelle Evonosky, 36, of Brandon, who is disabled and uses a wheelchair, initially had difficulty securing wheelchair-accessible tickets by telephone.

"Maybe they just didn't think about it that much when they were planning," said Evonosky, who has attended concerts at the St. Pete Times Forum and Raymond James Stadium. She said she was surprised the staff had no arrangements for seating for her friend Deb Gatewood, 47, of Valrico. Eventually, an staff member brought her a folding chair.

Despite the glitches, Evonosky said she was treated well, they were thrilled with their seats, and the way the women's restrooms were designed to accommodate wheelchairs.

The misses

Guess what? An outdoor venue means during daylight those sleek 20- by 30-foot video screens don't give off much image. Don't expect to view your favorite stars during the day at the Curiosa Festival on Sunday. Or at the Projekt Revolution concert. Or Ozzfest.

Sure, that high-tech architecture and the NASA-designed roof keeps out sun rays and inspires cross-ventilation, lowering the temperature beneath nearly 15 degrees, but facts are facts: An July outdoor concert in Florida is still HOT.

How's this for urban planning in a country environ? A nearby dairy farm provided one feature never mentioned in the amphitheater's advertising. If you hang out by the ticket office long enough, occasional northly breezes bring the distinct odor of manure.

BEFORE YOU GO

The Ford Amphitheatre's Web site, www.fordamp.com, has lots of information for concertgoers. Here are a few tips:

Shows go on, rain or shine, unless there's a big storm that could pose a safety threat. If in doubt, call (813) 740-2446. Not all covered seats will remain dry during heavy rains, and those on the lawn will definitely get wet. Ponchos are available for purchase

Do not bring lawn chairs. At specific concerts, chairs of regulated size and height (so as to not block anyone's view) will be available for rent.

Do not bring food, beverages, signs, banners, laser pointers, weapons, fireworks and pets (except for service animals).

Items permitted at some shows, depending on the artist: cameras, recorders, umbrellas, and blankets. Check before you bring these items.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.

ASFI's Project References

The Ford Ampitheatre, Tampa Florida

ASFI was awarded this contract based on the functionality and the aesthetically pleasing appearace of its design features for the amphiteathre located directly off I-4 at the Tampa Fairgrounds. This delta beam and steel truss fabric clad structure covers a stage and seating area of over 110,000 sq. ft.