The Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis (commonly known as Verizon Wireless Amphitheater and previously Riverport Amphitheater and UMB Bank Pavilion) is a 7,000-seat outdoor concert venue, with lawn seating for another 13,000, making it a 20,000 person capacity venue. It is located at 14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights, Missouri, near St. Louis, one mile west of the I-270 and I-70 interchange, at I-70 and Earth City Expressway South (exit 231A).
The venue was built for, approximately, $12 million and opened on June 14, 1991, with a performance by Steve Winwood.[1]
Shortly after opening, the amphitheater became the site of the infamous Riverport Riot, sparked by Axl Rose, during a Guns N' Roses concert, during their Use Your Illusion Tour.[2] This riot was the cause of the band's ban from St. Louis, disallowing them to play in the area.
The amphitheatre has played host to music festivals, including The Vans Warped Tour, The Mayhem Festival, Farm Aid, Projekt Revolution, Lollapalooza, Ozzfest and Lilith Fair.
In 2002, UMB Bank acquired the naming rights to the venue for five years.[3] Verizon Wireless then purchased the naming rights in November 2006.[4]
Sting performed during his Symphonicities Tour on June 23, 2010, along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
On July 23, 2010, Kings of Leon abruptly ended their set, after only 3 songs, due to being pelted with feces by pigeons while onstage. The band gave fans their money back and later announced a makeup show for the pigeon-gate scandal. The new date was scheduled to be on September 25, 2010. Tickets were free for those who attended their last show and were $10.00 for other fans planning on attending.[5]