AK-CHIN (originally DESERT SKY),is truly one of the BEST of its kind.I would put it right up there withRED ROCKS in COLORADO!! Ive seen so many great concerts over the years, but one that REALLYSTANDS OUT was back in 2006,when GODSMACK opened forJUDAS PRIEST! That was onSeptember 23RD, and is in the top five of the best live shows Ive everseen. A GREAT ROCK CONCERT UNDER THE NIGHT SKY!! I hopeAK-CHIN can thrill many moregenerations with the quality of concerts my family has enjoyedfor so many years!!

I love this venue, though the beers are ludicrously overpriced at $17 a piece. Ive seen many shows here over the years. Cant wait to go back here!

Its is a pretty decent venue. Of course everything is over priced but the good is good. They have water filling stations which is great, I just wish the water was cold especially in this heat. The sound was good at this venue and im very glad I got to see Blink182 and Lil Wayne here. Great show!!

Wow! Just Wow! The Ak-Chin Pavilion is a beautiful venue. They had a few separated lines. Lines for non disabled ticket holders, a line for people that had disabilities and a line for T-Mobile customers. If your hungry, there are places to grab some food, snacks and beautiful drinks that have lights in them. The view is stunning from any location that you sit at. 2 big jumbo screens insures that everyone can see no matter how far you sit. The sound is incredible and lets not forget the unbelievable music they provide while the customers wait for the performance to begin. Security is present, but not in a way to make you feel overwhelming. The staff is amazing and youll be happy to know there is plenty of parking space. Stay tuned because Ill be doing another review for a different venue when I go see Wu-Tang Clan.

I have been fortunate to attend many concerts here of all genres and always have a great time. Summer months are obviously brutal but you can show up later or find shade on the east side of the venue. Lawn seats are a good time and the unofficial party area with a decent view. You cant go wrong with any of the seated sections, they are shaded, provide great views and if you love the band, worth the money. Like any major event, parking is a nightmare when leaving, try to leave 15-20 early unless you dont mind sitting in traffic.

Have seen more shows here than any other venue in the valley. Lawn seating is easily affordable and this venue hosts great shows. Food and drinks are always good and have made many memories here including my birthday last year. Cant wait to see more upcoming shows here. Summer shows outdoors can be very hot, make sure you hydrate!

This is a great outdoor venue! We’ve been here a couple of times now. Had SUCH a great time!If you are, like me, a T-Mobile customer there’s even a couple of extra perks... There’s a fast pass lane for TMo customers, just show’em your phone with your provider up top, AND if you go for the lawn seats, they’ll give you free lawn chair rental!Food and drink options and prices are pretty reasonable. I was very pleasantly impressed by the sound quality and they have SO MANY AMAZING acts performing here! We’ve already got tickets to go back several more times this summer!

I would rate this venue higher, but they recently changed their policy on allowing people to take their own low-profile beach chairs into concerts. In an obvious money-grab, they now only rent them out. A lot of patrons, myself included, are too large for the chairs they provide. I purchased my own chair that is comfortable, lightweight, affordable that will work fine, but Im no longer allowed to take it in with me and am now forced to be uncomfortable during concerts.

Very cool venue, outdoors, stadium style seating. There are concession stands easily accessible for every level of seating, including the lawn. The sound was amazing, even from the edge seats. Bathrooms are large enough so you dont have wait in line very long.

Great concert experience! The amphitheater setup means everyone has a great view and the acoustics are even - you don’t realize you’re sitting amongst 20,000 people. Gorgeous views and just a quick skip from Phoenix. We saw Spoon, Cage the Elephant, and Beck. All outstanding.

I love being outside for a concrete. There is just something about it that makes it feel more like a party. The venue is smaller which in my opinion is better. Less people and you can see the stage and artist better then the big arenas. Plus they have huge big screens. Its great.

An excellent and perfect place to see your favorite band.On this occasion I went to see Slayer, the concert was excellent.The organization was very good, the sound was perfect ... in short, no complaint of the concert.The beer prices seemed a bit expensive but for everything else I have no complaints.I hope to return soon to another concert.

The venue is great! Whats not great however is how hot it gets in the summertime! This cannot be helped but Id STRONGLY suggest bringing a small towel/handkerchief to wipe off the sweat. A spray bottle would work wonders. Stay hydrated and have fun!

Loved the concert, our seats were right in the middle. There were screens on both sides of the stage. There was also lawn general admission.If you go to any summer concerts, make sure you are hydrated and maybe bring a water bottle and a small battery fan. The seats are covered, but the ceiling fans do not give ANY relief from the heat. Most people stand during the performances, so if it a sold-out concert, it gets hot really fast. Restrooms are up by the entrances/exits. Parking was free unless you wanted VIP, which didnt seem that much better than regular. You will need that extra cash if you want food or drinks. Takes about 30-45 minutes to exit parking after show.

We went to see a concert here it was really nice. There’s plenty of areas all around that serve drinks and food. I like that they had lawn chairs to rent. They were eight dollars each. Parking is OK. They will not allow you to take in a bag if it’s too big or not clear so that’s something to prepare for.

Great venue for a rock concert. I saw Beck and Cage the Elephant this summer 2019. Really nice setup and sound. A covered outdoor area with vendors walking about bringing everything from beer to cotton candy. I hope to see more shows here.

Great concert, the seats are from section 100 Row CCC Seats 25 & 26. 3rd row Center and absolutely worth the $

Love coming here. Staff is helpful & always around when needed. Seating can be confusing at times. But other then that its a nice place. For people who dont know its outdoors.

Parking is easy and close by, so that is a plus, but the lawn is completely dead, dry and sharp, so I 100% recommend bringing a blanket, towel, or chair and not letting your husband convince you that you dont need them! It was really uncomfortable trying to sit on the lawn and to enjoy ourselves, but it was our fault for not being more prepared and only the venues fault for not having more accommodating lawn upkeep... It would probably be expensive for the venue, but they should get AstroTurf, especially in Arizona. Especially since we actually paid for tickets...On the plus side, theres really a good view from anywhere at this venue, the sunset is an amazing backdrop, and the Acoustics are good. There are food options and clean and convenient bathrooms.

This is pretty nice facility. Sat in the lawn and it was taken care of nicely. Prices are high for food and drinks, but thats to be expected.

Great location for an open air concert EXCEPT when it is thunder and lightening as it was tonight at the Rascal Flatt concert. Totally gutted :-( :-(. Other than that everything was good, even the vendor prices.

They did a fantastic job with security, quick entry, and everyone was so friendly! I love the layout and that theres both seating and a grass lawn. The only downfall is how expensive the food and drinks are. Its by far the most expensive of any other venue Ive been too

Outstanding concert by goo goo dolls and headliner TRAIN. The pavilion is a great venue and the seating was good. I particularly liked the number of food and bar concessions never more than two or three in line. Hot times

Saw Beck, Cage the Elephant and Spoon. The place is great. They even delivered drinks to our seats using the Live Nation app!

First time going to this venue for a concert, and it was amazing. If you get there early enough, youll get right inside past the security checkpoint and have more than ample time to grab food, drink and even merchandise before sitting down. Just make sure you review the policy on what you can/ cant bring into the venue before going to make things even easier.If youre sitting in general seating, i.e., the lawn area, be sure to bring a blanket or low-lying lawn chairs so you dont have to sit on the grass itself (or pay to rent them from the venue). The good thing is that regardless of whether youre sitting up close or in the lawn area, the sound quality is very good and the view is great. Whether you spend a lot or a little for the seats, youre going to have a good time.

I was there for Mr. Luke Bryan... he is such a great artist and his shows are always a PARTY.. ( especially when he shakes that fine a** butt)

This wide open venue has lots of memories for me since the 90s. Its great for up close and personal or lawn seats. There are plenty of booths and amenities. It has good bathroom facilities as well. The lawn is angled toward the stage so you are not trying to look around some giant. Security reacts fast and there is a blast to be had. If you see a fire on the lawn at a metal show and a bunch of nuts running around it they are just trying to get it to rain. If the fire hoses come out dont worry and enjoy the show!

Great outdoor venue for live concerts. Just wished that the stage was facing east to reduce the effects of the heat of the sun and provide shade on the concert goers as I imagine most shows began as the sun begins to set in the west. Overall great venue!

**Updated Helpful Hints**If you have General admission you can now rent chairs for $8, you can’t bring in your own chairs anymore. They are decently comfy, plus the few of you who have T-Mobile, you can get a free pink chair! Your welcome.There are a few water refill stations but they are hard to find. On the east side entrance the coldest one is on the side of the Men’s Bathroom.On the West Side it’s on female bathroom closest to the stage. Was this helpful??—Most affordable major venue in Phoenix. Sound is pretty good and has some decent food options. Parking is pretty good for a large venue. The bugs where out in force tonight though, never experienced that many bugs at a concert before.

I’ve attended TONS of concerts here. I always get the lawn seats, but I don’t mind standing for concerts or sitting on the grass. For some concerts they rent lawn chairs. I personally have never rented any. It’s a huge venue which often packs in the crowds. If you get uncomfortable with people not always remaining in their own personal space you may want to get a seat and avoid the lawn.

Nice spot when its not freaking 100 degrees outside. Great venue 10/10!

First time at this venue. We were in the pit area for 311 and Dirty Heads and had a great time. I like that this venue has the covered area.

I have been to many shows here. Truly the venue is great for lawn seats. There are very few areas on the lawn with restricted views. The seats are not very comfortable, but of course you can always see the performers better closer. There are many women’s stalls in the bathrooms as well. You used to be able to bring short leg beach chairs and no longer can as they now rent them.

Nice smaller venue for musical shows. Seats are comfortable and the staff were all very nice and helpful! Had to park a bit far and pay $10, but otherwise enjoyed the show. Will definitely go back for more shows!

This barbershop is very nice the staff is very friendly and skilled I’ve got my haircut here several times already and I haven’t been disappointed very welcoming to all people with all types of hair I have dreads and they help me out every time also very affordable check this place out you’ll be surprised how good it is

People here were really nice and helpful. They could have done a bit better with the lighting during the show but I still enjoyed the concert.

Always an awesome venue 7-4-19 Slipknot didnt disappoint! The food and beverages are pricy but your at a concert so you have to expect that. My wife and I shared loaded fries and got a bottle of water each total was $19.50. Later we had frozen lemonade and ice cream which was $12. All the food we had was good. Bathrooms were kept clean which is always a plus. Exiting the parking lot was easy no waiting in long lines to get out of the venue.

Went to see Brad Paisley, which was a good show but holy moly were those drinks overpriced! My $13, 5-oz Margarita didnt exactly satisfy.Cool place to catch a show, though. We had fun!

Great venue! I have been going here since I was a kid and seen it change hands many times. Thanks for keeping this a great place to see live music in the West valley!

Big place, clean, it was summer seasonnwhen I went to Carlos Santana concert, they have water sprayer to prevent sun burns, there is an área to buy crafted beer or beer in can, I recomend you to try the papago cherry blossom beer, its delicious, the Food are also good, and the stage is with no walls, in Hot seasons you should bring your water and a hand fan cause its very Hot, the bathrooms are clean but a little far from the scenario, visibility is good in all zones, you will have a great time

Love the lawn seats - $20 - you cant beat it!

I’ve seen a handful of shows there and i am really enjoying this amphitheater ! it’s close to home and u can get in and out pretty quickly.. there is always plenty of restrooms there and lots of grass for the general lawn seats for sure!

The show was incredible. I was at their first eastern us tour about 20yrs ago and it was just as awesome now as then.

I really liked this venue. Its pretty big and we were not to crowded in. Everyone had enough space. We had a girls night and went to the concert with Logic, NF and Kyle. It was so much fun. The drinks were a bit pricey but we expected that. Fish Bowls were $25 and Beers were between $9- $15. I would absolutely go back again. And will.

Although the Luke Bryan concert was absolutely amazing, Ive got to give a shout out to Shaun the Security guy on our corner of the stage in the pit. During the break between Cole Swindell and Luke Bryan, he overheard me explaining to another fan that my reason for falling into her had been due to the dizzy spells Id been experiencing for the past week. I wasnt sure if Id make it to the concert, but after a doctor visit and some meds i made it! At which point, Shaun offered me a refreshing cup of much needed cold water. Even though he was very serious about his job, he was also very attentive to the needs of the crowd, too! Thanks Shaun!

SLAYER!!! the venue is great, I was in the lawn and still had great access to all amenities.

This was my first concert at this venue watching the mighty SLAYER for their final tour with my best friend, Rey ... and I LOVED it! ... The seats were phenomenal and the views were ridiculously good! Ive been to almost all the concert venues in CA and the Ak-Chin Pavilion is my new favorite place to watch a concert!

Rascal Flatts was awesome!! It rained and I was drenched, but well worth it

Great place to experience the concert Ive been to many shows here and its a great time front row or on the lawn.

Outdoor spacious nice place.

Great place for concerts. Parking was close and easy to find. Good security. Nice. I will definitely be back!

Ive been here twice now. Im not sure how people can hang in the lawn, we had lawn tickets the first time we went and immediately upgraded to seats. The fans they have make a HUGE difference! Food and drink prices are average Id say. Though this time we discovered that the $8 soda came with free refills for the night, so that is a plus. I think they improved their bag policy, the first time they just said bags the size of your hand are fine. Now they have signs with pictures and squares that show what size is acceptable. No more guessing. They get awesome performers to come to this venue and the sound quality is amazing! Just do yourself a favor and pay more for an actual seat. Youll enjoy it way more! Oh and free parking is a nice feature as well.

I love going to concerts here, even in the rain. Great show ladies, Elle King, Joan Jett and Heart you were amazing.

Came to see Joan Jett and Heart...both were amazing even though caught in both a sand storm then rain...made it worth while! Great ambience and sound.

Very fun, open venue with plenty of great atmosphere! We attended under the VIP Lexus Lounge entry passes and the experience is a great value for what is included. Depending on the time of year you should be prepared to contend with the Phoenix Arizona heat, which if you are not a year round resident can be downright merciless until the sun finally sets.The lawn admission here seems very welcoming and enjoyable with very reasonable pricing which allows just about anyone to attend shows that they are interested in.*BRING SEALED/UNOPENED BOTTLES OF WATER (or pay $8 for them there)*MOST SHOWS WILL NOT ALLOW PURSES/BAGS SO BE PREPARED TO LEAVE SUCH ITEMS AT HOME OR IN YOUR CAR.*ENJOY YOUR TIME AND HAVE FUN... RESPONSIBLY!!

One of my favorite venues to go to!! Always a great time!!! Been going there since it was called blockbuster desert sky pavilion!!!

When the weather is good and the performances are great this place is hard to beat. A great experience every time. Plenty of vendors and items to purchase for food and drinks to memorabilia. Took a single star... not because of the venue.. but because it can be very hot, but hey its the Arizona Desert.... if you dont like the heat.....;-)

Saw Heart and Joan Jett, def good place to go. Was thundering and lighting hitting behind the stage. Looked dope!

A great open place to see concerts.

Very big venue, we went to go see breaking benjamin and three days grace. It was an amazing concert.

Parking and security at this venue is a joke. Ive been here for shows that were 1/2 to 2/3s sold out and it was fine but dont ever go to a sold out show here, they cant handle it. There was ZERO traffic control and they had maybe a third of the entry security that they needed. As a result, despite being there more than half an hour early, we missed the first two songs of the show waiting to get in. Unless you live in Goodyear this venue is not close to you either. All in all if you are dying to see an act and are very patient and get there an hour before the show time, its fine, otherwise skip it.

It was Heart. Need I say more? Rained and lightning and it was a awesome night. Loved it!!

Performances are always great, but holy cow the prices of food/drinks is outrageous. Then after spending your life savings for food and drinks, youre stuck waiting to get out of the parking lot. Youd think by now theyd have a different plan in place.Korn put on a wonderful show though!

We wen to Weezer for this show. Good show, Pixies were good as well, even though they werent quite my style. Monsoon season is always ify with the wind and potential rain. We got lucky with both ending before the show started.The last two shows we had lawn seats. I got the rental chairs ($8 each) last time and should have again. They help with the butt, and you leave them behind when done. Great deal.As with every venue, the beer is too pricey, but at least they have 24 oz.. cans.Would recommend you try inverts here, but I prefer seats over lawn. Zombie is next!

Went to the knotfest roadshow and had an awesome time. I plan on going to more concerts at this venue

Nice outdoor venue. Adequate FREE parking.

Outdoors and pleasant under the pavilion due to the large fans from above! Huge plus! Our seats were pretty awesome we thought. Section 203 EE seats 3&4. There were still enormous lines for womens restrooms... Lol.

Loved it The Adventures of Kesha and Mackelmore. It wasnt crowded in the parking lot or too crowded in the venue We were in the Party Deck 205 a few pics of our view. It is outside so dont expect to be cool bring water or pay for some get ready to smell some strong BO especially when the arms are raised. Plenty of Big wide spacious Bathrooms also were clean the whole experience was good everything was clean. They have lawn chair rentals for $8 or you can bring a blanket if you are on the grass. They have a few food trucks which was awesome didnt expect to see that available. Sound was nice and clear.

I enjoy outdoor venues in general and this one has great acoustics and is just a nice place to hang out. Even in the hot summer, once the sun goes down its nice and usually theres a breeze. Plenty of facilities and they are clean. Easy to get there via 10 or 101. Parking is no problem.

I went to see Slipknot in August, its obviously outdoors so it will get hot/cold but its a decent venue. Its big so you can wander around a bit, I not only got to see some of my favorite bands but I got to watch all the drunks trip over flat pavement. So two shows in one

This place is huge, but the sound is awesome, even from the lawn we enjoyed Rob Zombie rocking out Phoenix fans. Plenty of tasty food all in a midway type setting, delicious smells, good tunes, a great time indeed. Parking was excellent even though we were a bit late. I would definitely recommend seeing your favorite band play this venue, it was a excellent show, cant wait for Bush and STP this weekend!

Great venue... Great sound. The place is huge but the seating is wide not deep so you can see from the grass. And, with the huge video displays you can easily see close up. Free parking!!! Yep... Parking is free... Crazy huh?

Sound quality of the music is great. I sat on the lawn. Unfortunately everybody stands up when the music starts. They need a ton more trash cans in the lawn area. If you buy a souvenir cup, you can only refill it at stands that have draft beer, which are only on the concourse. I looked online before I went about restrictions of what to bring in. The actual restrictions were correct. What they didnt tell you is that your bag or purse can be no larger than a 4 by 6 inch bag. You either have to check your bag at the gate or leave it in your car. Therefore, youre left with carrying everything on your person. Wear jeans or pants with big pockets. I felt there was plenty of staff around if you needed anything.

Nice venue for outdoor concerts! They keep a nice and fluffy green grass area in back of the regular seats that you can bring blankets and lawn chairs to watch your proformers. Beer is pricey, but parking is free.

Definitely like this venue over larger stadium shows, it seems a little more intimate. Yes it is an outdoor venue, so if the summer heat truly bothers you, this might not be for you until cooler weather sets in. They have both assigned seating and yard area in the back. The pavilion is stadium style, so even the grass area is sloped, which is nice, it gives you the ability to see over other peoples head to view the stadium (disclaimer: you wont be able to see if you stand behind a 7ft basketball player).

Great venue bed prices though $8 for a tall can of beer and 25 for a mixed drink but it was spacious and we all had a good time

Great venue overall! The lawn is always a good time, but at our most recent show we were happy we got seats for the same price! We were able to hang in the lawn for a bit, then went to our seats so we could rest our legs a little more comfortably whenever we needed.

Really have enjoyed the venue in both lawn seats and assigned seats. You get what you pay for. I enjoy the venue, but be prepared to drop some serious cash on food, beverages, and merch. Think airport cafe pricing. That given, I know what Im getting into when I go, and will definitely be back. Cool spot.

Fantastic place to see shows and festivals. If you get lawn, be prepared to find a good spot early and stay there. Respect the venue and you have a great time.

Attended Knotfest. All in all it was a good time. It definitely helps being under the roof and having the fans blow a constant breeze. Ive been in the lawn area for a couple shows, but during the summer months, you best believe Im getting the covered area. Beverages and food are a little over priced, but the refills on soft drinks is nice. I enjoyed having access to the Lexus VIP area, you get a nice air conditioned restroom, private bar area with stage, plenty of shade and misters going. Nice break from the heat and crowd in between sets. Good venue overall.

VIP is well worth the extra money. The little sectioned off section os prime seats. The service is great and worth it if you want to spend a lot of money for drinks and snacks.

You cant complain about free tickets to the Knotfest Roadshow. The place was packed with people. Had a great time. I just dont know why they have concerts during the Summer knowing it is going to be over 100 degrees.

Great amphitheater. The sound is fantastic and there isnt a bad set in the place. Even good views from the lawn. Concession lines go pretty fast as well.

Love this venue! So many great shows here whether you get lawn tickets or seats. Reserved seating is covered but lawn is open seating. Bring a blanket to sit on or rent a cushion from the venue. Drinks and food not as bad as stadium prices. Staff is always great and weve never paid for parking at this venue. They direct traffic pretty well going in and out so its easy and not very chaotic like parking garages downtown. Been coming here for years and have never had any issues.

Great venue with good seats and good acoustics. Only downside was the ridiculously high drink prices. $15 for a 24oz. beer, $5 for a 16oz bottle of water.

Great venue, great selection for drinks and a good number of stands. Food was also good and the staff was so energetic great to see for a concert. Bathrooms clean and big to cover crowd, no long waits. I will definitely go again.

The show itself was great. Sound quality was excellent. Only 3 stars because it seems every time I go back the prices are higher. They no longer have draft beer. Now they have 24 oz. cans that are 14.00 each! Mixed drinks are pushing 20.00 dollars. Even water is 5-7 dollars. Traffic leaving venue is horrible. One lane exits...

Beck concert was great. With the drive and concession stand prices the Mess Amphitheatre and Marquee are much better place to see a concert.

Great place to see a concert. But not in the middle of summer, far too hot for an outdoor venue.

The acoustics were good but outdoor venues in AZ are tough. Both the crowd and the bands were feeling the heat. Lots of concessions, merch, and restrooms located right and left of the main amphitheatre. It would have been better in Spring or Autumn for sure but overall it wasnt terrible. Be sure to bring or purchase water because youll need it!

Decent concert venue, even in the summer.This place was well run w/ the exception that they stopped serving liquor by 10p @ a concert that went until almost 11p. Seems like they could be making plenty of additional sales & satisfying customers that would have given 5 stars.

Really love this venue. Every seat is a great seat. Awesome sound

Good food, reasonable prices. Alcohol is way overpriced, but thats probably a good thing. Easy to get in and out of the property. Great sound system. Grass is well maintained and comfy enough.

I truly enjoyed my first experience at this event center!! The location, the parking, the entire atmosphere were all great!! However, there are no rules against smoking if you dont enjoy being around it. Otherwise, its a great place to go!!

Overall the venue was pretty good, the concert was great. I didnt like that I wasnt allowed to bring my purse in and had to leave it in the car. Fortunately one of the security guards in the parking lot turned me back before I was already at the gate. But I did ask if I could bring my sealed beverage bottle in and was told yes, only to be told at the gate that I couldnt so I had to toss it. That irritates me. One person tells you yes, another tells you no. Also was told I couldnt get handicapped parking by one parking attendant and then after parking way the hell out, was told by another I could have parked in the preferred parking area. Get your story straight people. And five dollars for a tiny bottle of water, with no cap (whats that about?) in Phoenix when its 100 degrees out? Seriously? Talk about highway robbery. This was my first experience at Ak-Chin, so Ill definitely do things differently next time. Now can anyone tell me where I can get a clear plastic purse?

Facility always holds great shows and holds up for the mass number of people that come along. Clean and accommodating. Always enjoy an evening out here

Great venue. Very large. Lots of seating.

Always a good vibe! No charge for parking, staff is friendly and helpful and there is not a bad seat there. Enjoyed seeing Fever333 - great show.

The weather was cool. The seats were great. Clean. Happy. Beautiful!

Not bad at all .... a lol hot still and crowded like crazy but what do you expect for a korn concert... lawn seats were ok.. was a lil disappointed that online it said we could bring a blanket then we get there and they say no .. had to walk miles just to put it back in the car.. drinks were super expensive .. but what do you expect .