Azura Amphitheater — Attraction in Bonner Springs

I don't normally leave reviews but this place left such a bad taste in my mouth I hope no one goes here and I urge artist to play other venues. However I want to make this fun so please enjoy this tale of "My adventure to the Azura Amphitheater." (If the venue would like to chat I would be happy to provide helpful feedback but I don't expect them to actually do anything.)

Welcome fellow travelers! Have you, like myself, been lured into the horrific labyrinth of chaos and confusion that is the Azura Amphitheater? Has the sweet siren song of your favorite musical artist, drawn you into this place where greed reigns true? If not heed my warning fellow travelers, for to venture into this place, is to truly test ones mental fortitude and physical strength. Upon entering the realm of the Azura Amphitheater, you will be falsely guided towards the center of the labyrinth via the Google, only to find your self at an unbreakable barrier. Yet where do you turn to now? No signs point you in the direction in which to continue so you must venture out the way you came in and start following the vast lines of other confused and frustrated travelers also trying their hand to find the siren song. Here you will make camp for what seems like 3 months to travel a mere 1/4 mile.

Then you will begin to see the true face of the beast. The beast summons his minions to direct all the travelers, weary of mind and constitution, into a single entrance to which there is no way out. Like cattle to the slaughter, the minions force your carriage into lines where upon entrance to the labyrinth a toll is due to enter. Should you decide to back out of the quest at this point in time, you cannot. You are stuck in a limbo where you must pay to enter and park your carriage in a pile of others, because there is no leaving this hell that is the Azura Amphitheater without paying a toll both financial and emotional.

It is then that you are finally inside the labyrinth and you can hear the sweet song drawing you in! But what is this...one, no two, no wait--why are there so many lines? The entrance was but the first test in the quest. Now you must navigate the hordes of fellow travelers, who like you wander in confusion. And yes--those who wander here truly are lost.

Eventually, after many false lines that simply lead to a latrine, you find yourself in another line being corralled into the line to the actual entrance to the center.

Yes! We made it!

Finally we are in and can rest and enjoy the bard's song. Simply follow the signs and seek the guidance of those who reign over this realm, to your predestined spot of rest.

Oh...but what is this? No such signage exist? You push through the hordes to what appears to be a way to get to your destination only to find another barrier guarded by a being who so helpfully advised you to "Go around." Ah yes, thank you for your wise words of wisdom.

After another fortnight, you finally arrive at your destination. After all this the bard fills your ears with their sweet, lush, vocals. You disassociate from the situation for a few needed hours...

...only to have the crushing realization that you must now escape this hellscape before your fellow travelers have that exact thought.

Chaos reigns as you rush to leave. Carriages cut each other off to get out of here as quickly possible. Carriages crash into each other making the single exit from the labyrinth take even longer. Again, no signs on how to get out. Just minions blindly pointing you into the abyss.

You have finally escaped, but was it worth it? Was the bard's lush lullaby worth the mental, emotional, and physical test you just endured? In this traveler's opinion this venue is clearly run by an old angry god who feeds off human suffering. They collect as much coin as they can with no human safety or concern in mind. Purely looking to draw in a vast group of people and watch from their tower as they laugh at your misery.

To future travelers contemplating venturing into this realm, heed my words and pass on that...

Grumpy Old Man’s Event/Venue Review Near 100 degrees Fahrenheit but limited to bringing in a one liter sealed, unfrozen (Fear of weaponization?) plastic bottle of water per attendee. NO WATER FOUNTAINS for an outside, uncovered venue. Would someone felled by heat exhaustion be charged concession pricing for an IV infusion of water and electrolytes? I was forced to load the Ticketmaster app on my smart phone to ATTEMPT ticket redemption. No means of remotely obtaining a cardboard ticket except perhaps if ticket ordered through the on-site Box Office? Ticketmaster will not mail tickets, nor want an e-mail printed out as proof. Tried at home, worked fine. Tried outside gate, but it DIDN'T WORK. Message something had gone wrong with Ticketmaster. Box Office staff helpful. I was glad to have written down the order number to provide. Would I have been charged a fee if I'd had to present other proof to obtain tickets? Taking the sting out of the ticket problem was being given upgraded tickets much closer to the stage as infill. Appreciated that consideration. The PA system worked well for amped music. Wondered why Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks did not utilize the existing video displays around them. I wish reserved tickets would state: "You are allowed to briefly stand before your seat at times out of respect for the artist, i.e., a standing ovation. DO NOT STAND UP AT LENGTH and block the view of attendees behind you. This is rude. Security may remove standees who ignore this request from the seating area." Two old hippies before us stood up repeatedly and forced us to watch Jon Anderson et al, on the video screens at times. It is rare the lead vocalist will be mixed loud enough for lyrics to be intelligible. Just increasing that single slider or knob's output to the amplification system would aid in discernment. Given the Classic Rock cohort's likely hearing loss, I wish lyrics were displayed on a video screen as sung, at least eight inches high in point size and yellow lettering on a black background, which has been determined to be the highest contrast to read legibly from afar. Overall, we greatly enjoyed our “heated” concert experience at the Azura Amphitheater and we shall watch for other acts which might cause us to...

Went to see Cypress Hill and Slipknot!!

Parking attendants were friendly and efficient! Made jokes and got people pumped for show:)

Venue has concession stands( minimal food options and drinks) at the back of seating area. They will need the cap off any bottled drinks you get, just fyi...it's a nightmare to keep with you if you're not going to drink all of it at once! The restrooms to the left of stage if you're facing it. The merchant tents were erected in a few spots as the amphitheater is larger and is outdoors basically.

There are seat, pit and ground area at back that you can purchase. If you need to be really close up, pit tix works for better views but seats are equally nice but not too close up I'm afraid. Scan tickets via phone. Their wifi sucks so I would recommend printing your ticket out at the kiosk. You would just need your ID for the re-print.

The bands were amazing!!!

Update Aug 19: Saw Alice in Chains and Breaking Benjamin. What a treat to have had Bush play before them also!! The atmosphere was spoiled by the rain at first but cleared up for when it mattered the most:) Just fyi, we had to walk all the way back up to lave umbrellas in cars- they were not allowing them in. I get that it's a point of security but they need to had out rain ponchos for free if they are not allowing umbrellas! The venue is open to the skies and ground, so expecting people to purchase ponchos was ridiculous.

The bands were incredible and hearing William Duvall sing live for AIC was different but he didn't disappoint. He's a great musician in his own right. Breaking Benjamin were outstanding!! I probably enjoyed the most for the evening! Tight vocals and stage rigged for success:)

Update: 29 August Saw Papa Roach and Falling in Reverse. Throughly enjoyed the performances, top class! The venue still doesn't do much in the way of bad weather. They should consider some alternative because if there is a huge thunderstorm( which threatened to start that day) there really aren't many areas to...