# Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Talking_Stick_Resort_Amphitheatre > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Talking_Stick_Resort_Amphitheatre.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_Stick_Resort_Amphitheatre > Source revision: 1314902250 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Music venue in Phoenix, Arizona Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre An empty parking lot outside the venue Interactive map of Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre Former names Desert Sky Pavilion (1988–1993) Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion (1993–2001) Cricket Pavilion (2001–06) Cricket Wireless Pavilion (2006–10) Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion (2010–13) Ak-Chin Pavilion (2013–23) Location 2121 N 83rd Ave Phoenix, AZ 85035 Owner Live Nation Entertainment, Live Nation Concerts Capacity 20,106 Construction Groundbreaking 1988 Opened November 9, 1990 **Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre** [1](originally known as the **Desert Sky Pavilion** and most recently known as **Ak-Chin Pavilion**)[2] is an [amphitheater](/source/Amphitheater) located in [Phoenix, Arizona](/source/Phoenix%2C_Arizona), which seats 8,106 under a pavilion roof and an additional 12,000 on a hillside behind the main stands.[3] It officially opened on November 9, 1990 ([Billy Joel](/source/Billy_Joel) was the venue's inaugural performer).[4] The naming rights sponsor is [Talking Stick Resort](/source/Talking_Stick_Resort) (the venue is not located on tribal land). Its total capacity of over 20,000 is higher than that of [Mortgage Matchup Center](/source/Mortgage_Matchup_Center) and [Desert Diamond Arena](/source/Desert_Diamond_Arena). The amphitheater's season starts in April and closes in October. ## About [Whitney Houston](/source/Whitney_Houston) performed at the venue on May 19, 1991, during her *[I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour](/source/I'm_Your_Baby_Tonight_World_Tour)*. [Steely Dan](/source/Steely_Dan) played their *[Alive in America](/source/Alive_in_America)* tour here in 1994. Back From Ashes performing at [Mayhem Festival 2011](/source/Mayhem_Festival_2011) The lawn at the amphitheater contains several video screens. [R.E.M.](/source/R.E.M.) recorded two tracks off their 1996 studio album [New Adventures in Hi-Fi](/source/New_Adventures_in_Hi-Fi) there. *[Wheel of Fortune](/source/Wheel_of_Fortune_(American_game_show))* taped 2 weeks of shows there in 1997, which featured the final episodes of the old puzzle board. The [Spice Girls](/source/Spice_Girls) performed at the venue on August 22, 1998, during their debut *[Spiceworld Tour](/source/Spiceworld_Tour)*. The amphitheater has been used to hold many famous concerts and tours, especially in the summer months of July and August, it has hosted [Nine Inch Nails](/source/Nine_Inch_Nails), [Van Halen](/source/Van_Halen), [Bon Jovi](/source/Bon_Jovi), [Metallica](/source/Metallica), [Janet Jackson](/source/Janet_Jackson), The [Vote for Change](/source/Vote_for_Change) Tour, [Lynyrd Skynyrd](/source/Lynyrd_Skynyrd), [Black Sabbath](/source/Black_Sabbath), The [Vans Warped Tour](/source/Vans_Warped_Tour), The [Gigantour](/source/Gigantour), [Lollapalooza](/source/Lollapalooza), [Lilith Fair](/source/Lilith_Fair), [Crüe Fest](/source/Cr%C3%BCe_Fest), [Ozzfest](/source/Ozzfest) and [Projekt Revolution](/source/Projekt_Revolution). It has hosted the Phoenix date of the annual [Mayhem Festival](/source/Mayhem_Festival) since the tour's inception in July 2008. [Fall Out Boy](/source/Fall_Out_Boy) recorded their live album, *[Live in Phoenix](/source/Live_in_Phoenix)*, at the amphitheatre on June 22, 2007.[5] [Green Day](/source/Green_Day) recorded their song, "[Cigarettes and Valentines](/source/Cigarettes_and_Valentines_(song))", for their live album, *[Awesome as Fuck](/source/Awesome_as_Fuck)*, here. Fall Out Boy & Paramore brought their co-headlining tour, MONUMENTOUR to The Pavilion on August 8, 2014 with New Politics as the opening act. Lana Del Rey, accompanied by Courtney Love, brought her Endless Summer Tour to The Pavilion on May 14, 2015. [AJR](/source/AJR) headlined the venue on June 21, 2022, on their tour supporting their album "[OK Orchestra](/source/OK_Orchestra)". [A Perfect Circle](/source/A_Perfect_Circle), [Primus](/source/Primus_(band)) and [Puscifer](/source/Puscifer) recorded their [Sessanta Live](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sessanta_Live&action=edit&redlink=1) album during a show at the venue. On July 1 2025, the Amphitheatre hosted the 2025 Summer of Loud tour headlined by [Killswitch Engage](/source/Killswitch_Engage), [Beartooth](/source/Beartooth_(band)), [I Prevail](/source/I_Prevail), and [Parkway Drive](/source/Parkway_Drive), with Special Guests [The Amity Affliction](/source/The_Amity_Affliction), [The Devil Wears Prada](/source/The_Devil_Wears_Prada_(band)), and [Alpha Wolf](/source/Alpha_Wolf_(band)), with TX2 as the opening act.[6] ## See also - [Arizona portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Arizona) - [List of historic properties in Phoenix, Arizona](/source/List_of_historic_properties_in_Phoenix%2C_Arizona) - [List of contemporary amphitheatres](/source/List_of_contemporary_amphitheatres) - [Ak-Chin Indian Community](/source/Ak-Chin_Indian_Community) - [Live Nation](/source/Live_Nation_(events_promoter)) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Ak-Chin Pavilion has a new name. Here's what the Phoenix concert venue is now called"](https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/01/11/ak-chin-pavilion-phoenix-new-name/69796867007/). *The Arizona Republic*. Retrieved 2023-01-11. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Yeah, I still call it Blockbuster, too. Here's every name Ak-Chin Pavilion has had, ranked"](https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/01/12/every-name-ak-chin-pavilion-in-phoenix-has-had-ranked-worst-to-best/69800663007/). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Desert Sky Pavilion](https://books.google.com/books?id=NB_wAAAAMAAJ&q=desert+sky) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Joel 'Starts The Fire' For Pavilion"](https://www.deseret.com/1990/11/11/18890429/joel-starts-the-fire-for-pavilion/). Deseretnews.com. November 11, 1990. Retrieved February 9, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ['Beat It' Cover Bolsters Fall Out Boy CD/DVD](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046439/beat-it-cover-bolsters-fall-out-boy-cddvd) *Billboard*. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Summer of Loud 7.1.25 @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre"](https://98kupd.com/galleries/summer-of-loud-7-1-25-talking-stick-resort-amphitheatre/). *98KUPD*. ## External links - [Venue website](https://www.talkingstickresortamphitheatre.com) v t e Phoenix Points of Pride Arizona Biltmore Hotel Arizona Center Arizona State University at the West campus Ben Avery Shooting Facility Burton Barr Central Library Camelback Mountain Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve Desert Botanical Garden Encanto Park Heard Museum Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre The Herberger Theater Center Historic Heritage Square Japanese Friendship Garden Mortgage Matchup Center Mystery Castle Orpheum Theatre Papago Park/Hole-In-The-Rock Phoenix Art Museum Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area Phoenix Zoo Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park Shemer Art Center and Museum South Mountain Park St. Mary's Basilica Symphony Hall Telephone Pioneers of America Park Tovrea Castle and Carraro Cactus Garden Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza Wrigley Mansion v t e Music venues of Arizona Outdoor venues Ak-Chin Pavilion Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheater Chase Field Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium Mesa Amphitheatre The Pool at Talking Stick Salt River Fields State Farm Stadium Sun Bowl Amphitheatre Sun Devil Stadium Theaters and clubs Arizona Federal Theatre Celebrity Theatre Chandler Center for the Arts Club Congress Fox Tucson Theatre Gammage Memorial Auditorium Marquee Theatre The Mason Jar Mesa Arts Center Orpheum Theater Orpheum Theatre Phoenix Symphony Hall Rialto Theatre Rhythm Room Safford Center for the Arts The Showroom at Talking Stick Skrappys Trunk Space Tempe Center for the Arts Tucson Music Hall The Van Buren Arenas Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Desert Diamond Arena Desert Financial Arena Findlay Toyota Center Global Credit Union Arena Mojave Crossing Mortgage Matchup Center Tucson Arena Walkup Skydome Historic venues Compton Terrace Graham Central Station Long Wong's Phoenix Show Palace Authority control databases: Geographic MusicBrainz place [33°28′18″N 112°14′04″W / 33.4716331°N 112.2345288°W / 33.4716331; -112.2345288](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Talking_Stick_Resort_Amphitheatre¶ms=33.4716331_N_112.2345288_W_region:US-AZ_type:landmark) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_Stick_Resort_Amphitheatre) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_Stick_Resort_Amphitheatre?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.