Which Venue For You? A Look Into Our Local Concert Venues
Jacksonville, Florida has long been known as a major center for cultural, musical, and artistic events and highlights, and the music scene is no different. St Johns County locals have the optimal proximity for concert going, being in the middle of Jacksonville and St. Augustine. The three major music venues in our area are The St. Augustine Amphitheatre, Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena, and Daily’s Place. Each venue is unique in its qualities and attributes.
The St Augustine Amphitheatre is an outdoor, covered venue that holds about 4,700 people. Hosting 40 performances a year, “The Amp”, as the locals call it, shows performers of all genres. The Amp is run by The St. Johns County Cultural Events Division, and hosts festivals and summits in addition to its concerts. Junior Elena Schaffstein named The Amp as her favorite local venue. “I really enjoy the small indie bands that play at The Amp. The venue is small but puts on the best shows.” Located on Anastasia Island, about half a mile from the beach, The Amp is situated in gorgeous oak trees and forest. Recently, The Amp has hosted Pitbull, Riley Green, and Billy Idol.
“The St. Augustine Amphitheatre” Source: News4Jax
Daily’s Place is also an outdoor, covered venue. Daily’s Place holds just under 6000 people. Daily’s is operated through Bold Events, the concierge service that operates Everbank Field, where the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars play. Daily’s Place is adjacent to EverBank Stadium, sitting on the Jacksonville Bay, in the heart of downtown. Nease IB Psychology teacher Amy Case said she prefers Daily’s because “[the] environment and surroundings are perfect. You can get food or do other things before or after your show without going too far, since you’re in the heart of downtown.” Daily’s is popular amongst fans of rap and hip-hop music. Junior Addison McAlpin said in an interview, “The vibes at Daily’s Place for rap concerts is unbeatable. The special effects, amphitheater setup, and everything else just makes the experiences unforgettable.” Recently, Daily’s has hosted artists like NeYo, Wu Tang Clan, Dierks Bentley, and Lil Baby. Hosting such an immense variety of artists and bands, Daily’s has been increasing exponentially in popularity since its creation in 2017.
“Daily’s Place Amphitheatre” Source: Daily’s Place Venue Website
The Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena is not only a concert venue, but also a very popular sports arena and recreational facility for events like Cirque Du Soleil. The area is the official home of the ECHL Icemen Hockey Team, NAL Jacksonville Sharks Indoor Football Team, ABA Jacksonville Giants Basketball Team, and the Florida/Georgia Hall of Fame. The arena also hosts comedy shows, theatrical and circus events, and other performances. Concert-wise, Vystar hosts bigger names. With a state-of-the-art arena that holds roughly 15,000 people, they’ve had some big names there recently. Morgan Wallen, Dustin Lynch, and Noah Kahan. Creekside junior Lena Creel recently attended the Morgan Wallen concert at Vystar, and said, “ I think that Vystar is the best venue for big artists, especially country. The sound quality and arena setup are incredible and I can’t wait to go back.” Vystar is also located in the central area of downtown, with lots available to do around it.
“Vytsar Veteran’s Memorial Arena” Source: Vystar Veteran’s Memorial Photo Gallery
With so many incredible music and performance venues to choose from in our area, you may be wondering which is best for you. Follow the “Perfect Venue” Flowchart to find the perfect concert space for you!
Information Sources:
https://www.theamp.com/venue-info
https://www.theamp.com https://www.dailysplace.com/connect/about-us
http://jacksonvillearena.saffire.com/p/about/319
Photo Sources:
https://www.dailysplace.com/dailys-place-amphitheater
https://www.vystarveteransarena.com/p/about/306
By: Chloe Migut
