Pacific Amphitheatre Information

The Pacific Amphitheatre based in Costa Mesa, Orange County California, is a venue that was originally designed to add a quality stage for musical performances in the county. It was built and opened in July 1983 on the site of the model railroad building of the Orange County fairgrounds and had the honor of bringing Barry Manilow as their first performer. The amphitheater was designed with a massive 18,765 capacity space including a “lawn” area, that drew in crowds from across the country and all over the world. The Pacific Amphitheatre also drew national television attention, which led to a live nationwide broadcast by ABC Rock Radio of the Jefferson Starship on June 30, 1984. The venue was even awarded the honor of hosting Marvin Gaye’s final concert appearance before his untimely death. It was clear to the entertainment industry, that the venue was the go-to place to build up and create music stars and sensations.

But trouble threatened the venue during the late 80s and early 90s due to the amphitheater’s unfortunate location. It had been built surrounded by several residential developments and had received numerous noise complaints at the time. Pacific Amphitheatre was finally closed down in the early 1990s. The venue was unused for almost a decade and many fans of the venue wondered if it would ever be used again. But little did residents know that negotiations were in effect behind the scenes that led to the reopening of the venue in 2003. From that point forward, the Amphitheatre would continue to see use as part of the Orange County State Fair, when residents would be far more accepting of noise and crowds. As part of its efforts to create smaller shows with more intimate followings, the lawn area was largely left unused, reducing the effective capacity from 18,765 to a more manageable 8,500. After renovations and light improvements were added in 2015, the venue capacity was further reduced to the 8,000 seats it currently offers.

Although Pacific Amphitheatre still sees use as a wonderful location for high-quality plays and performances, it also serves the community that surrounds it by playing host to the commencement for nearby Orange Coast College. Even though the stage opens up alongside the annual county fair, it still stands as the highlight of the year for fans of music from Orange County, surrounding cities, and many fans across the world.

The Pacific Amphitheatre is located at 100 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, CA 92626, and – as mentioned – is found on the OC Fair & Event Center grounds. 

The history of the venue begins in July 1983, when it first opened. The amphitheater was built on the site of the model railroad building on the OC fairgrounds. The purpose of the development was to create a quality space for musical performances in Orange County. 

The venue received a great deal of attention when it first opened, as world-renowned singer Barry Manilow was the first performer to take the stage. With a large capacity stage, including an informal lawn area, it attracted thousands of people. 

The Pacific Amphitheatre became even more popular when American rock band Jefferson Starship had a live performance broadcast by ABC Rock Radio Network on June 30th, 1984. 

Issues with local residents

Despite the popularity of the venue, it faced troubles and threats of closure in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This was because of the amphitheater’s location, as the area it was built in was surrounded by various, dense residential developments.

Because of this, the amphitheater received numerous noise complaints from the local residents. This led to it officially closing down in 1995. 

Almost a decade later – in 2003 – the Pacific Amphitheatre reopened after years of speculation. The reopening was only made possible through conjunction with the annual Orange County Fair. 

An agreement was also set up between the residents and the venue, allowing it to continue operation within strict sound monitoring regulations and reduced capacity. 

Renovations

The Pacific Amphitheatre went through significant renovations in 2013. A new lobby entrance was created from inside the fairgrounds, and the existing berm of the venue was reshaped. 

Capacity was reduced from 18,675 to around 8,200 as per the agreement with residents. The lawn area was mostly unused with the capacity downgrade, making things more manageable. 

In 2015, a few more renovations were undertaken, and the capacity was reduced once again to 8,042. Improvements to the lighting system were also added. 

Notable performances

Some particularly noteworthy performers who have held shows at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa include Whitney Houston, Selena Gomez, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, and Frank Sinatra. 

Marvin Gaye also hosted his last concert appearance at the Pacific. He performed on August 14th, 1983 as part of the “Sexual Healing” tour. Gaye was only 44 when he was killed in a tragic shooting accident less than a year later, on April 1st, 1984. His untimely death meant that his August 14th show at the venue was his final on-stage performance.

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See the below pages for further information on the The Pacific Amphitheatre:

Pacific Amphitheatre Parking:
Read about parking options and rules at the Pacific Amphitheatre.

Ticket Policies:
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Pacific Amphitheatre Seating Chart:
View the The Pacific Amphitheatre seating chart and read information on the various seating options.