The Pioneer Amphitheatre is an amphitheatre located at the north-eastern corner of the Hayward Hills Campus of California State University, East Bay in Hayward, California. The venue is managed by the Sequoia Management Group. In addition to outdoor concerts and university functions the Pioneer Amphitheatre is also plays host to numerous graduation ceremonies of local high schools and is an assembly area for the university in the event of a disaster or emergency.
Prior to 2004, the Pioneer Amphitheatre was venue used mostly in outdoor concerts held by the music ensembles of the university and a home to Al Fresco, a welcome back festival held every October. In addition to music department events, the amphitheatre was also home an intermittent concert series held by the Associated Students board of the school. Performers who were one a part of this series have included Save Ferris, Ozomatli and War.
In 2004, the management of the venue was handed over to the Sequoia Management Group in hopes of booking bigger acts to create a revenue stream for the university. Since 2004 the Amphitheatre has been the home of the KBLX Stone Soul Picnic, a day-long festival of Urban Adult Contemporary, soul and R&B music. Past picnics have featured the Isley Brothers, Teena Marie, Rick James, and The O'Jays.
Before the 2005-2006 academic year, upgrades were completed to the venue to bring it to professional standards. The upgrades included a concrete stage, conduits for lighting and sound systems and better connection to the university power grid.