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ENTERTAINMENT

Ak-Chin Pavilion venue in Phoenix has a new name

Posted 1/11/23

A longtime concert venue in Phoenix has changed its name.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Ak-Chin Pavilion venue in Phoenix has a new name

Posted

A longtime concert venue in Phoenix has changed its name.

Live Nation announced Wednesday that Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre is the new name-in-title sponsor of the popular venue formerly known as the Ak-Chin Pavilion. The iconic 20,000-seat venue has hosted performances and festivals since opening in 1990, when it was called the Desert Sky Pavilion.

Billy Joel inaugurated the venue with a live performance.

“We are proud to have the Talking Stick Resort name associated with a legendary venue where people go to have unforgettable experiences,” Ramon Martinez, director of public relations for Talking Stick Resort, shared in a statement.

The venue, located at 2121 N. 83rd Ave., in Phoenix, has hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment across genres, including Metallica, David Bowie, Jason Aldean, Wu-Tang Clan, Pearl Jam, The Police and Fleetwood Mac. The venue is also the only Phoenix Point of Pride in Maryvale, a program initiated by the Phoenix Pride Commission in 1991 to foster a sense of community pride among Valley residents.

Announced performers on the 2023 Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre show schedule include the 98KUPD UFEST featuring Godsmack and more (May 6), Dead & Company (May 23), Shania Twain (May 30), Matchbox Twenty (May 31), Janet Jackson (June 7), ZZ Top & Lynyrd Skynyrd (Aug. 13), Foreigner (Aug. 20), Eric Church (Sept. 16) with more shows to be announced soon.

The name Desert Sky Pavilion remained until 1996 when it became known as the Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion. This was until 2001 when it changed names to the Cricket Pavilion (2001-2006) and again to the Cricket Wireless Pavilion from 2006 to 2010. In 2010 it became the Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion until 2013, after which things went full circle and the venue once again became the Desert Sky Pavilion.

The amphitheatre has a total capacity of 20,000 on a lawn surface, with 8,000 seats under the roof of the pavilion and 12,000 on the hillside beyond the pavilion.