Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre

I went here last night for Weezer and I would not plan on seeing another show here had I not already purchased Blink-​182 tickets. My fiancé and I were coming from Orlando so after I got off work I went home, changed, grabbed a quick meal and jumped on the road where I4 traffic made an hour drive into a 2 hour drive, thank goodness we didn’t care to see either opening act.
Once we got off I4 we were instantly confused. This area has nearly no signage and is a maze. Traffic was severally backed up and we were hardly moving. We were in line for nearly an hour to move less than a mile. As we got closer and closer to the venue it became clear what the issue was, the staff was CREATING traffic by the traffic cop CLEARING (20 – 30 cars at a time) the lanes coming from E Chelsea St and only taking 2 – 3 cars coming from Hillsborough Ave! Those cars were barely waiting while we had been waiting 45 – 60 minutes to get to this point. It was absolutely ridiculous. All the cars were then funneled though this «toll plaza» styled entrance where employees were asking us to upgrade from free to $ 35 VIP. We passed and were sent down the roads with no signage or employees to a dilapidated road and parking lot that was mostly dirt and holes. It was irritating going down this path because for all the backup outside, there were absolutely no other drivers near us, the back up was all for nothing… Or maybe they were trying to fool guests into paying $ 35. From the «toll plaza» to the spot we parked there was only one member of staff that stared at us like we were crazy when we asked where we should go and no signs or directions where to park leaving you to trust the crowds path to guide you to the entrance. Free parking is a bit of a hike, but when we saw the VIP lot we were shocked to see cars parked in ditches and that the lot did not seem to have any benefit other than saving you a walk, and it actually seemed as if the VIP lot was way harder to get out of at the end of the show. Once we went to enter I was shocked at how weak security was (especially as there was a night club massacre less than a week ago) and the entrance was very run down. We had lawn seats for this show, but the area seemed completely over sold and the staff just kept yelling at people like no matter where you were, you were in someone’s way. The show quality was okay, the screens were small and were either super zoomed in a person or way far away, so I was lucky we didn’t care so much for the show as we cared to relax and enjoy some tunes. When the show ended we rushed for our car and got out pretty quickly but when we looked from the highway, VIP parking was at a standstill and free parking was trickling out.
This venue needs some serious help, in terms of parking, the venue and with their organization which was not there at all. I plan on going to my next show hours early and then I do not plan on returning.

Be careful where you park. Waited 45 min to get into the lot only to have the attendant tell us that we were in the VIP parking. and had to pay $ 35.00 or leave to go to another line. In all of that time waiting we did look around to make sure that was the proper entrance. No signs any where stating VIP. There was a sign to direct parkers to another area who were there for a graduation event, but not for the concert we were attending. We didn’t want to miss any of the concert so we paid it feeling totally screwed. I wondered if the attendants were just telling people that, and pocketing the cash. There is no special treatment for VIP parking. No discounts on drinks or food. Apparently the walk is shorter but I don’t mind walking. The walkers got in free. It took just as long to get out. No one around to direct traffic out. There is no one you can talk to about it. I called and they gave me another number to call. That number was totally automated. You can not speak to a human being. There is no one there to at least apologize and assure us that they will try to fix that problem.
One more thing… Due to this being a rainy season and we were sitting in the lawn area, we asked if we could take our umbrellas in and they said no. When we got in we saw hundreds of people with umbrellas. Thank goodness it didn’t rain.

Hall & Oates were fabulous but the people who check tickets have no clue about the seats and what weed smells like. Trying to exit was a complete nightmare as we all just sit in our cars not moving. Very unorganized and will not be returning to this venue. 2 thumbs down! I can’t post till I give a star, I’m giving 1 star just so I can post this…

Just saw Hall & Oates here… Too bad I could barely hear them. I was in row Y, which didn’t seem too incredibly far back (considering it wasn’t the lawn) & it was as if they were whisper singing. We could hear the occasional sax solo here & there & some of those falsetto notes my boy Daryl was hitting. But, overall, I was so disappointed. I saw them back in December in Orlando, and they were amazing, so I know they weren’t the problem. It’s the sh*tty speakers here that don’t reach passed row 10 maybe. Also, the parking situation here is bullsh*t. Won’t be back unless I am dying to see an artist I adore whisper songs & strum ever so slightly on a guitar live. Oh sh*t, I forgot to mention that the two screens that I had to watch the show on were Nintendo DSi camera quality. Smh

I’ve toured with bands for years and have been to a lot of amphitheaters for both work and pleasure. This venue is hands down one of the worst.
We booked a room ‘across’ the street. Yes it’s across the street, but then you have to walk through a maze of crumbling asphalt, and decrepitated buildings to reach the venue. Probably a mile trek or more. It’s a depressing walk through the run down Florida fairgrounds.
Drinks. Wow. What a joke. 18 $ for a cocktail and 12 $ on up for a beer. Ridiculous. They have 100 employees each with a credit card skimmer/​iphone setup. I recommend paying with cash. Too easy for someone to rip off your credit/​debit card info.
If you have to sit on the lawn here, you have wasted your money. You can’t see very well past the first couple rows. The huge video monitors did not work for the entire show! The stage video screens, the ones the acts brought worked, but the ones to the side of the stage — the VENUE’s screens, did not work the entire show. So again, if you were far back, you could not see anything!
We sat in the reserve seats. 25 rows back. There must be some sound ordinance in place. The decibel level was so low, it didn’t feel like I was at a concert. Probably one of the quietest ‘rock’ concerts I’ve ever attended. You couldn’t feel the impact of the music. Really degraded the quality of the experience. I feel sorry for the band. Their performance suffered due to inadequate sound volume.
Now leaving the concert, what a joke! Completely unorganized. There is very little police presence or security. Pedestrians are playing frogger while crossing a 4 lane road with 50 mph traffic. I’m surprised there isn’t more injuries or fatalities occurring.
100 $ per ticket +188 $ for a hotel (barely a three star) + overpriced drinks + shit traffic = Never again.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

This is easily the worst concert venue I’ve ever visited. I have been to several shows here, and both were disappointing due to lousy sound systems and poor seating options.

Went to see Duran Duran and the monitors were not on,
we couldn’t see anything with so many bright lights also i believe there is a problem at the beverage booth with their alcohol, uhum… i believe they are using cheap alcohol and switching them in the good alcohol bottles, i know pinnacle and Bacardi when i taste it. Be aware

The Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheater is an awesome venue for watching a concert or live performance. Located on the grounds of the Florida State Fairgrounds, the venue is open to the elements but a good amount of it is covered and you can also find shading if need be. I have been for several events and always had a great time.
The layout of the concert venue is nice, however, one thing that annoys me is the parking situation. Not that other large concert venues have it down to a science but exiting after a concert is annoying. If it has rained, the parking and GA section concert venue gets very muddy as well. Keep in mind that when you plan your ensemble and footwear. Other than that the GA area is nice if you are attending a concert in a large group. Be sure to bring a blanket and chairs to be more comfortable of you don’t prefer standing the whole time or you are going to an all-​day music festival.
During certain shows or festivals there are a variety of vendors and booths set up. At the Big Guava Festival there were rides and other food and product vendors as well. In addition other stages were set up and some of the concert was indoors in an event venue (where the Junior League Holiday Market is held). I enjoyed viewing he concert there as well.
The drinks are pretty overpriced and if you are a liquor drinker you are better off economically splurging for a double. If you’re at a concert you should expect the high prices but be mindful of that going in.
All in all, a great music venue and I will return!

Growing up in Detroit area just down the street from DTE Energy Music Amphitheater (formerly Pine Knob Music Theater), outdoor summer concerts are a right a passage. MidFlorida is your typical outdoor amphitheater, very similar to others around the country. When it rains on the hill, your going to get dirty (I think), but I have only been down in the covered seats. I saw NIN here last year and it was a really good show. I am a fan and will surely attend more concerts here when the right big act comes into town. The one complaint that I have is that it seems like a really really long walk from the parking lot.

I highly and strongly encourage for you to check the weather before you buy tickets for anything here! Depending on the time of year the Florida weather can be quite daunting, and downright fucking disgusting really. If you go anywhere outside of the shade of the amphitheater be prepared to sweat it out.
Also since this is a strictly outside venue, there are no indoor bathrooms. You will have to pee in a port o potty, and if you get there when they’re not «fresh» before anyone else arrives it’s a nightmare. Pray to God that someone didn’t piss all over everything before you arrived, and for heavens sake don’t look into the port o potty bowl!
The parking lot here is also just as atrocious. Pot holes and uneven terrain abound. Drive slowly, stay alert, and watch out for pedestrians weaving through the traffic.
If you come here try to plan and come during the cooler months like late August-​January. You’ve been warned.

As far as big outdoor amphitheatres go, this one is pretty good. There is plenty of space and most of it is covered… huge bonus with all the rain we get in Florida. Since it’s at the Florida State Fairgrounds, there’s plenty of parking and some of it is even shaded. The location also creates flexibility in terms of outside vendors and smaller stages being set up, like for the BIg Guava Music Festival.
Prices are, of course, rapey for everything. $ 9 for a Bud Light? Sure… YOLO. $ 13 for a craft beer? Don’t mind if I do! Food choices are fairly standard and meager… your regular concert venue type fare: burgers and dogs, nachos, soft pretzels, etc. I’ve been twice and both times the food vendor areas that sounded more promising were not open.
The only real complaints I have are in regards to the staff. It’s not that they’re bad people or rude, it’s that they’re paid little and receive even less training and this really shows. They don’t know the difference between different ticket levels, they don’t know where any special parking is, they cannot direct you to the VIP areas, and they might not even know where the nearest restroom is.
Really easy to get to and from as it’s just off the highway and there are multiple entrances and exits.

Pros–
Lawn seats
Negatives–
Don’t bother buying seat tickets if you can’t score the first 10 rows, cause you basically will be watching your entertainment on the jumbotron, so save money and do lawn seats. It’s more relaxed, and same experience as the 300s for sure.
Parking sucks its like a 3 mile walk usually unless you are an early tailgater.
$ 10 beer, I guess that’s expected, but it’s still crap.

Went to the amphitheater for the first time last night. We were seeing the «Oddball Comedy Fest». The show was great but this venue needs some tweaks. The parking is way far away. It’s the standard lot for the fairgrounds and everyone has to walk all the way around to the amphitheater… this is odd, they could at least make a main walking path to keep the people away from the cars zipping around the lot. The concessions were very disappointing. We went to get a «wood fired pizza» at the intermission of the show and they were sold out??? What? This is the intermission? We then went over to the main concession stand and ordered popcorn… also sold out… wtf? I guess they are only here to sell $ 15 beers, seriously they are $ 15+++++++ and expect a cocktail to cost $ 17 – 20.
Was I the only one who got echo from the microphone all night? I thought this place was supposed to have amazing acoustics?
Step up your game amphitheater, we have lots of venue choices in town, and most are air conditioned.
The show was great, venue poor.

I hate this place so much! First, it is an outdoor concert venue. Outdoor concerts in Florida are lovely from in late October or November, maybe in February and March. However, most of the concerts are in the summertime. Florida is unbearably hot in the summer and it rains almost daily in the summer. Why people choose to perform here rather than at Amalie in Tampa or Amway in Orlando is beyond me. This place is hot, muggy, and miserable.
As I mentioned, it rains nearly everyday in the summer. This place makes you park in the grass… er mud. Yep, I’ve taken to calling this place MUD Florida because my car got stuck in the mud. There aren’t enough people directing traffic. You park in the grass which when it rains heavy becomes mud and the past 3 concerts I’ve been here for I’ve seen people getting their cars towed out of the mud. I boycotted the place for a year after I got stuck in the mud. Unfortunately, lots of good concerts come here, so I have given up my boycott, but I will only go if someone else is driving. I absolutely will not bring my car here and if you like yours I suggest you don’t either. If you have 4 wheel drive you are probably safe.
They do have tow trucks circling the parking lots, but when I got stuck a tow truck didn’t make it to me until 2.5 hours after the concert.
Finally, beyond the mud, the parking and getting off the exit and out of the parking lot is just a pain. Again, Amway and Amalie besides being nicer are just way more organized.

It’s really hard for me to review Midflorida and not necessarily the concert. Parking can be crazy depending on the event, the people who check you in can be rude depending on the event and your seats may suck or be awesome depending on how much you pay lol.
I’ve been here twice. Once for a Onerepublic concert which was awesome. Food and drinks were pricey (but seriously? who doesn’t expect concert prices to be inflated), parking was great (they had people directing parking quite wonderfully) and the people who check bags in were even nice.
I also came here for a J Cole Concert and parking was terrible, the people who directed traffic was confused, the people who check you in was indifferent (neither rude or friendly).
Please know that Amphitheatre is outside so be prepared to be hot during the day and cold at night so if the event will be during the night, bring a jacket. If it rains and you got the lawn tickets, I am warning you now that you are taking a risk. Also, bring lawn seats because they don’t supply them on the lawn.

Have been here numerous times but will never be back. A concert is supposed to be louder than the wisper of my cell phone but here it is not.
Each time we have been here the volume has gotten lower and we have debated not going back. I and a couple friends have simply had enough. Last straw was a Kid Rock concert that we sat on the lawn. This was a rock concert and somehow my cell phone ringtone was louder than the music.
I understand the place has not done this willingly but rather been forced to to so by neighboring residents. It is sad that political pressure has neutered this venue but regardless of the reason I cannot any longer waste my money here.
Thankfully CHVRCHES are going to be at janis landing and house of blues late October. Although I have never been to janis, it is almost certainly the better venue today. See you on Halloween Janis Live!

The sound quality here is not great but they bring some excellent acts. There is pavilion seating that is mostly covered and lawn seating. However in heavy rain parts/​edges of the pavilion seating would likely get wet. Theres was free parking in grass lots. There are lots of concession stands for fair type food and drinks. The traffic out of the venue isn’t too bad if you park in the grass lots since you are already pretty close to the exit but you should wear comfortable shoes because you’ll walk about 2 miles to the amphitheater.

My friend and I went to see Steely Dan at this venue after driving down from Gainesville. I’m so glad the reviews I read on Google to be highly inaccurate about this venue’s acoustics being «the worst acoustics I’ve ever heard» one person wrote. They’ve obviously never been to Lakeland civic center (my ears rang for days after seeing Deep Purple there). I’m extremely picky about sound and acoustics, the Group Steely Dan is probably even more so and might be one reason why the sound was better than any live performance I’ve ever seen. Aside from the $ 16 beer & $ 4.50 bottles of water I don’t have any gripes with this amphitheater nor any hesitation to try another concert there.

MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre is a great venue that can host 4 stages of bands playing concurrently and can handle a huge crowd. Came here for Big Guava Music Festival but have been here for a 97x Next Big Thing Concert and Jason Aldean concert in the past. Hanging out on the lawn is a nice way to relax. Having rides and food trucks is nice to mix things up. There are plenty of bathroom facilities with no need to wait in long lines for the bathroom or to get a drink like many other venues. Looking forward to several more concerts here in the months to come: Several more Florida Georgia Line, Def Leppard, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Buffet, Dave Matthews Band, Incubus, Sublime, Van Halen, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Zac Brown, Brad Paisley, Toby Keith. Comfort ⁸⁄₁₀ with designated seating, laying in grass is an option, AC in one hall but not the main one, Food and drink wait times are short 8/​10, bathrooms are not port of potties 10/​10, Visibility of events is good with stadium seating ¹⁰⁄₁₀

Just visited this venue for Big Guava Music Festival and saw The Strokes, Hozier, and Cold War Kids on this stage. There is plenty of seats and a giant pit for rock concerts, the acoustics are a little strange on the stage, but not bad my any means. The daytime shows were cool, but the lighting and nighttime concert was a much better experience in my opinion due to the way the sun shines in all over the concert in the day.

When the weather is right, there’s nothing like attending an outdoor concert. The opening band begins before sunset and the sky gets darker as you get drunker. Your favorite artist comes on just as you are nice and toasty and you have a magical night of rocking out in the open air.
Only caveat is that the weather must be right. Being uncomfortably hot and sweaty for the majority of the year is unavoidable in Florida. I sat in the last row under the pavilion for a summer concert and had plenty of ventilation, so that helped. It was much cooler as the sun set and the beer vendors weren’t too far away. Expect to get rained on if it rains regardless of where you are sitting, under the pavilion or not.
The two gripes I have about this venue are parking and food/​beverage costs. Getting in and out of this venue is surprisingly easy, even when the show is over. There are two main exits and they feed to a major road, so the traffic flows well enough. The parking situation is bad. It’s mostly grass, so if it rained that day or the night before, you run the risk of getting stuck if you park in muddy areas. To top it off, the parking lots are anywhere from .25 to .5 miles from the actual entrance. Ladies, don’t wear high heels!
The food and beverage costs are steep, and have been consistently high, no matter the event. My recommendation is to eat before you arrive and bring plenty of cash.
Other than those points, it is still an enjoyable venue. Clean overall, good events, and a nice sound system. This is one of the few concert venues in Tampa to see national artists perform, so enduring Florida temps will test how true of a fan you are. I’m just happy there’s an amphitheater so close to home to enjoy outdoor concerts.

Great concert venue in my opinion. I had a great time. Not a bad seat in the house. Lots of fun. Drinks are pricey but parking was free. Staff all seemed nice. I have 4 more concerts to go to this year at this venue and I am excited. OHHHH and they even upgraded our seats for free from lawn to the seating section since the turnout was less then expected due to an incoming storm. Best part is, no storm came and it was a beautiful night! It is also right by the casino which may be good or bad depending on your habits. ;)

Its the best place around to see a show. Outdoors under the shade so you can feel the breeze and see the sunset behind the Hard Rock hotel. Sound is great. Seating it always good. I’ve never sat on the lawn but I’ve sat all over the the place in the chairs it they were all good views. The only drawback is until its actually dark outside you don’t really get the full effect of stage lighting. And they kill you on beer prices but what stadium doesn’t right

I really like this venue!
Fresh air and sunset views. Rent a seat or bring your own and sit on the lawn but no matter where you sit, its a good seat. I usually get actual seats or fear of rain and for comfort, but also usually go for the cheap seats in the back and have never had a bad seat.
The complaints that stole a star.
1. More security is needed in the back seats. If you get up for one minute, someone from the lawn will sneak up and steal your seat. If you are with friends, someone has to always stay behind to guard the seats! Even if you manage to keep your paid for seats, chances of someone from the lawn sneaking up just to stand in front of you are high. Security does zero about this.
2. The line to park is awful! Traffic control that actually makes traffic worse.
3. Power is cut promptly at closing due to the complaining neighbors. I witnessed the sound turned off on Aerosmith while they were still talking and of course Aerosmith stormed off the stage upset.

I’ve been to the Ampitheater many times and I’ve always had great experiences here. The latest concert was at Jimmy Buffett. Folks were allowed tailgate and it was so much fun. Myself and 4 of my girls packed up a Van filled with libations, food, tent, chairs and a disposable grill and were outdone. When we arrived 4-​hours before the show, the party was in full swing with tiki bars, campers, blow up parrots and a host of other oddities. The lawn was really packed but we managed to squeeze our way to a spot and sat on our blankets and towels. I will not, however, sit on the lawn for summer concerts as the rain is unpredictable. During those months I opt for the cheapest seat I can get and always have a great time. Food and drinks are way overpriced hence the reason for a dropped star. If you’re going to Train, Styx or Kelly Clarkson in 2015… Perhaps I’ll see you there! :)

We had a great time kicking off the season at their first concert last night. The Steve Miller band and Journey were great. Food and drinks were pricey, as expected. Bring lots of cash… Last night we were told by many stands that the credit card machines weren’t working.
We took cabs to and/​from the venue, as we were staying at the Hard Rock. The taxi drop-​off and pick up needs to improve. Having to go to 301 and hail a cab doesn’t seem safe at all. Maybe a taxi line on the other side of the parking???

I have been to this Amphitheater twice to see Nine Inch Nails. The first concert a couple years was a bit of a disappointment overall, so when the announced they were playing there again on this tour I initially decided to skip it. Then I found out about a promotion for $ 20 lawn tickets and I had a change of heart.
My friend and I drove over from Orlando and arrived at 7. Our first surprise was that we weren’t charged for parking. Yay! There were parking attendants out and we were directed to a spot not too far from the entrance. Since it had been rainy all afternoon we brought ponchos, a huge umbrella, and a blanket to sit on. Luckily the rain pretty much cleared up by the time we arrived and we didn’t really need any of the rain gear. I wasn’t sure if we could bring chairs so we just packed a blanket, however we saw many people carrying in folding chairs.
Since we were early we were able to get a decent spot on the lawn. We found a spot behind a couple sitting on blanket. They didn’t look like the sort to get up and do a bunch of dancing, and we were right, so we managed to have an unobstructed (however a bit far away) view of the show. I’m pretty short and usually go for floor tickets for concerts, so I appreciated being able to see everything. There were also a couple large screens on columns at the back of the seating area so us lawn folks could see close-​ups of the band on those.
When the show ended we picked up the blanket and made a quick exit. I was shocked that we didn’t get stuck in traffic leaving. We were on 1 – 4 headed home within 5 minutes of the end of the show — it was unreal.
So, overall, I have to say this was a fantastic experience. Actually much better than my previous visit when I had seats. I think it was partly luck, but I was also really impressed with how smoothly the traffic went in the parking lot.

This venue is gorgeous because it’s up on a hill. Lots of open grass space for the lawn seats. The regular seats seem pretty new and are clean. The bathroom area is large, however theres only fans circulating air so it can get pretty hot in there pretty quickly.
The price for water is $ 4.50 for a regular bottle of water. Therefore, make sure to guzzle like a camel before you arrive. Quick tip: if you don’t want to pay obscene prices for a beverage and you happen to be the designated driver of your group… then visit the little shed that is labeled «guest services,» and inquire about the the designated driver program. You receive a complimentary soda.
If you want a good deal for upcoming concerts, make sure to look for red tshirt employees that work for live nation. They usually are located right at the entrance under a red tent. This tent can hook you up with upcoming promotional deals on concerts. For example, $ 20 lawn seats for upcoming shows.
I recommend to pay attention to your surrounding and the different vendor tents. Theres always deals going on that we normally wouldn’t pay attention to… I learned now. There’s sometimes also a tent where you can upgrade your existing seats.