The Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (originally known as the Arkansas Music Pavilion and commonly known as the Walmart AMP) is an outdoor amphitheater located in Rogers, Arkansas. The venue opened in June 2005 as a semi-permanent venue, becoming a permanent venue in 2014. Its capacity is 11,000 fans.
It opened June 7, 2014, with a performance by Blake Shelton and Hunter Hayes.
History The Arkansas Music Pavilion was created in 2005 as a concept inspired by some of the most well known amphitheater's in the country including the Cape Cod Melody Tent (MA), The Universal Lending Pavilion (CO) and the Aspen Music Tent (CO) and The Boston Harbor Lights Pavilion (MA). These concepts generally combined a covered seating area and lawn seating. The original concept for a seasonal, semi-permanent concert venue was created by Dan White, Amy Mack White and Kelly Rourke which combined the features of an architecturally interesting canopy, theater style box seating, and no seat that was farther than 120 feet from the stage. The venue structure was designed by Tentnolology from Vancouver, Canada. The original venue had 2,533 seats under the pavilion. The entry into the market was discussed with the Walton Arts Center and was designed to become "collaborative and never competitive" with the Walton Arts Center. It was thought that the two venues together could create a year-round arts infrastructure for the region.
The AMP was unanimously approved by the City of Fayetteville under Mayor Dan Coody and was embraced by the Fayetteville Economic Development Council as a driver of tourism and arts development for the region. It opened to the public on Father's Day weekend in 2005 with headliners America and The Doobie Brothers. The original venue was located on the bluff behind the Northwest Arkansas Mall overlooking the city of Fayetteville. The land lease was set at $1 with Alice Church, manager of the mall who believed the concept would drive economic impact to the mall and the region. The venue operated at this location for four seasons from 2005 to 2009, with the original ownership team consisting of Dan & Amy White, Kelly Rourke, Joseph Boskus and Robbie Bader. Each season had 10 headlining national tours. The venue was independently owned and operated. The "AMP" became one of the fastest growing music venues in the country and renowned national tour stop between Kansas City and Dallas. In its second season it became the largest outdoor venue in the State of Arkansas. The venue played host to several community fundraising events including a respite shelter for Hurricane Katina, integral in the Bikes Blues and BBQ Festival and the backdrop for the reality TV show "Daly Days" on the Golf Channel.
In 2009, the venue was sold to Suzie Stephens and Brian Crowne by remaining partners Joseph Boskus, Dan White and Amy White. Brian Crowne had been involved from the inception as a fellow venue owner of George's Majestic Lounge, who acted as a credible advisor to the region's music scene. The original owners stayed on in a consulting capacity for the first year. In 2011, the music venue was purchased by the Walton Arts Center. Failed contract negotiations lead to moving the structure to the Washington County Fairgrounds for 2012 and 2013 seasons. The move saw a dramatic increase in ticket sales and overall turnout for events. In January 2013, the Walton Arts Center Council announced plans build a permanent structure for the amphitheater. This location was one of the original locations that the original creators had discussions with as a visible symbol or arts and entertainment for the region. Wanting to remain in Northwest Arkansas, many locations were viewed however the decision was made to build in Rogers near the Pinnacle Hills Promenade. Construction began in late October 2013, with plans to complete in June 2014. In early 2014, Walmart, Inc purchased naming rights to the venue.
Performers 2005
America The Doobie Brothers Third Day 38 Special Patty Loveless Lee Ann Womack Robert Earl Keen
2006
The All-American Rejects Rick Springfield Gin Blossoms Doug Stone Loverboy Saving Jane SHeDAISY Lyle Lovett The Beach Boys
2007
REO Speedwagon Earth, Wind & Fire k.d. lang Collective Soul Air Supply
2008
OneRepublic KC and the Sunshine Band Cross Canadian Ragweed Ween Pat Benatar The Black Crowes G. Love & Special Sauce Eddie Money Jason Aldean Ani DiFranco Gary Allan
2009
The Marshall Tucker Band Molly Hatchet Collin Raye Ghostland Observatory Peter Frampton LeAnn Rimes Ben Folds Queensrÿche Darius Rucker Cake Cross Canadian Ragweed
2010
Levon Helm Blue Öyster Cult Indigo Girls Goo Goo Dolls Ted Nugent Gary Allan Eli Young Band Colbie Caillat STS9 Cross Canadian Ragweed Luke Bryan Bret Michaels Pat Travers & Rick Derringer The Black Crowes
2011
Pretty Lights Lucinda Williams The Band Perry Primus David Crowder Band Rodney Carrington The B-52's Rick Springfield Charlie Daniels Band Candlebox Jamey Johnson Needtobreathe
2012
Big Gigantic Hank Williams Jr. Cake Jamey Johnson Five Finger Death Punch Wilco Luke Bryan Ted Nugent Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw Daughtry Candlebox Miranda Lambert Brantley Gilbert The Avett Brothers
2013
Little Big Town Old Crow Medicine Show Gary Allan Summerland Tour Easton Corbin Three Days Grace Alabama Shakes The Black Crowes Lynyrd Skynyrd Vampire Weekend ZZ Top
2014
Blake Shelton Darius Rucker Dierks Bentley Willie Nelson Miranda Lambert Steely Dan Pepe Aguilar Steve Martin Tim McGraw Boston Cheech & Chong Foreigner Jake Owen The Avett Brothers Santana Foster The People
2015
Jackson Browne TobyMac Kid Rock Bryan Adams Hozier Pedro Fernández Hank Williams Jr. Whitesnake Fifth Harmony Kenny Chesney Widespread Panic Colbie Caillat Lady Antebellum Third Eye Blind & Dashboard Confessional Steve Miller Band Dave Matthews Band Chicago Needtobreathe Brantley Gilbert
2016
Twenty One Pilots Journey Kenny Chesney Miranda Lambert Jason Aldean Korn Darius Rucker Rachel Platten Ellie Goulding Widespread Panic Chris Stapleton Meghan Trainor Kevin Hart Weezer & Panic! At the Disco The Lumineers
2017
Blink-182 Boston Bush Travis Scott Kidz Bop Train Mary J. Blige ZZ Top Elle King Third Eye Blind Hank Williams Jr. Steve Miller Band & Peter Frampton Rascal Flats Tedeschi Trucks Band Straight No Chaser & Postmodern Jukebox Lady Antebellum Brad Paisley Matchbox Twenty & the Counting Crows Zac Brown Band Sublime with Rome & The Offspring Kiss
2018
Janet Jackson Macklemore & Kesha Thirty Seconds to Mars Halsey Chris Stapleton Pentatonix Niall Horan 5 Seconds of Summer Slayer Alan Jackson Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band Needtobreathe Lynyrd Skynyrd Odesza Brantley Gilbert Primus & Mastodon Dave Matthews Band Jim Gaffigan Ray LaMontagne Chris Stapleton Chicago & REO Speedwagon Kenny Chesney Modest Mouse Weezer & Pixies G-Eazy Coheed and Cambria & Taking Back Sunday Keith Urban Charlie Puth
Weezer
2019
Chris Tomlin Santana Leon Bridges The Killers Earth, Wind & Fire The Avett Brothers Florida Georgia Line Steve Miller Band with Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Trevor Noah Train & Goo Goo Dolls Brad Paisley Young the Giant & Fitz and the Tantrums Alabama Hootie and The Blowfish Chris Young Yes, ASIA, John Lodge of The Moody Blues, Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy Third Eye Blind & Jimmy Eat World Why Don't We Sublime with Rome and Michael Franti Alan Jackson +LIVE+ & Bush Thomas Rhett Nelly, TLC & Flo-Rida The Smashing Pumpkins and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Sheryl Crow and Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Rascal Flatts Breaking Benjamin with Chevelle, Three Days Grace Maze featuring Frankie Beverly with Lalah Hathaway and Johnny Gill Luke Combs
2021
2022
2023
2024
References
External links Walton Arts Center Official Website