The Amp: Pompano Beach Amphitheater guide

What The Amp is

The Pompano Beach Amphitheater, known as The Amp, is the city’s outdoor concert venue at 1801 NE 6th Street. It is part of Pompano Beach Arts, the city’s cultural affairs department, which also runs the Pompano Beach Cultural Center and two galleries. Entertainment booking and private rentals are coordinated with AEG, so the calendar mixes touring acts, tribute shows and community events.

The thing to know first: the seating area is fully covered. Shows go on rain or shine unless conditions become unsafe, which matters in a place where summer evenings can bring a passing storm. There is no lawn seating; tickets are for seats, with general admission standing room offered for some events.

Buying tickets

According to the venue, tickets are sold only through AXS. The Amp warns that tickets from third-party sellers may not be valid and can be fraudulent, so buy from AXS or the box office and skip the resale sites.

The box office is at the main entrance on the north side, across from the city’s aquatic center. It opens on show days three hours before showtime, and on the first Thursday of each month during the day. It takes cards and cash on event days, and in-person card purchases require a matching photo ID.

Show dates, prices and box office hours change. Check the venue’s official page and AXS before you go.

Parking and getting there

Parking at The Amp is free, and the lots open two hours before showtime. Accessible parking is first come, first served, so arrive early if you need it. The Amp is a short drive from the beach; leave a little extra time on popular nights, when everyone arrives in the same half hour.

What you can bring, and what you cannot

This is where most first-timers get caught. Per the venue’s policy:

• No outside food or drink, except one unopened bottle of water per person.
• No backpacks larger than 8.5 by 11 inches. All bags may be inspected.
• No umbrellas or chairs. The seats are covered, so you will not need either.
• No musical instruments.
• No re-entry, except in an emergency.

Food and drinks are sold at every show, and there are water fountains on site. Eat dinner before you go if you want something more than concession food; our restaurants near the pier guide has ideas, or cook in your own kitchen and leave from the courtyard.

Accessibility

The Amp is accessible, with ADA seating marked by signage. Sign language interpreters are available on request; the venue asks for about two weeks’ notice. If you need accessible seating, mention it when you buy tickets and ask the box office how to reach your seats from the accessible parking.

Making a night of it

The covered seating and free parking make The Amp an easy evening. A simple plan that works: an afternoon on the beach, a swim in our courtyard pool, an early dinner, then the show. If you are traveling with kids, check the age guidance for the specific event on AXS; some shows are family-friendly, others are not.

Evenings are also when sea turtle season matters on the beach, from March 1 through October 31. If you walk back along the sand after a show, keep phone lights off and give any turtles plenty of space. See sea turtle season.

A simple plan for show night

• Check the start time and any age guidance for your event on AXS.
• Eat early, or plan on buying food at the venue.
• Pack light: a small bag, your phone, your ID and one sealed bottle of water.
• Arrive when the lots open, two hours before the show, if you want an easy parking spot.
• Bring a light layer. Evenings in winter can feel cool once the sun is down.

Leaving is usually the slow part, with everyone pulling out of the lots at once. Give it a few minutes, let the first wave go, and you will be back at the courtyard soon enough. If you are staying a few nights, it is worth checking the venue calendar when you book, since a show you would enjoy may fall on your dates.

The Amp is one of several venues run by Pompano Beach Arts. The same team programs the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts and Ali Cultural Arts, so if you enjoy the concert, their gallery calendar is worth a look for a quieter afternoon.

When it rains

The covered seats make The Amp one of the better wet-weather plans in town, but lightning is a different story. The venue says events can pause or stop if conditions become unsafe. If the forecast looks rough, keep an eye on the venue’s social pages and your AXS account. For more ideas when the weather turns, see rainy-day ideas, and for the rest of the city’s culture scene, start at things to do.

For a group heading to a show, our suites sleep 4 to 5 with a living room to gather in before and after. Couples are comfortable in a studio.