American Family Insurance Amphitheater FAQs

How is venue seating set up? Which seats are under the roof?

Sections Floor, 100s, and 200s are reserved seating under the roofline. The 300 section consists of Bench or Bleacher seats that are not under the roofline. They are reserved and do not have seatbacks or armrests. 

Lawn tickets are always General Admission seating on the grass at the back of the venue. Although the Lawn tickets display a section, row and seat number this information is strictly for inventory tracking purposes; holders of Lawn tickets may sit wherever they please on the grass. The Lawn section is not under the roofline. 

What is the American Family Insurance Amphitheater re-entry policy?

Patrons who wish to leave and re-enter the American Family Insurance Amphitheater must have their American Family Insurance Amphitheater event ticket scanned out and then back in at the Amphitheater turnstiles. Failure to get your ticket scanned out may result in the patron not being allowed back into the venue.
 

Where is the American Family Insurance Amphitheater and Box Office located? 

The American Family Insurance Amphitheater and Box Office are located on the south end of the Henry Maier Festival Park Grounds at the end of East Summerfest Place east of Harbor Drive.

The Box Office is currently open for general public on-sale dates. Please call 273-2600 to confirm if the box office is open before you come down.  

During Summerfest: Harbor Drive is closed to public traffic during Summerfest. From downtown Milwaukee, take Water Street to Erie Street and travel east. Follow signs to the parking lots nearest the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. Be prepared to show your prepaid parking pass if you purchased one. Patrons may also park in any outlying downtown parking lot and take a shuttle bus to the festival North Gate.
 
Outside Summerfest: From downtown Milwaukee, take Water Street to Chicago Avenue. Travel east on Chicago Avenue to Harbor Drive. Go south on Harbor Drive to Polk Street. Make a left turn on Polk Street for passenger drop off and the Box Office. Turn right on Polk Street for event parking.

What items are prohibited in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater?

In line with all other major venues and stadiums, all visitors and employees will enter Henry Maier Festival Park (the "Park") through metal detection and should be prepared to comply with other security screening requirements.

  • All bags are subject to inspection prior to entering the Summerfest grounds. No backpacks at all or bags larger than 9x10x12 will be allowed on the grounds. All bags larger than 9X10X12 will need to be returned to a vehicle or home before entering the Park.
  • Please leave any unnecessary articles secured within your vehicle or at home to expedite your entry into the park. Items NOT ALLOWED CANNOT be checked in (see list below).
  • Any prohibited items will be confiscated by security and will not be returned.
  • Milwaukee World Festival, INC (MWF) is not responsible for fire, theft, damage or loss of vehicle including articles left within.

If you need to bring medication, medical equipment, diapers, or other personal care items to the venue, how should you pack those items?

  • If you have privacy concerns, put those items in a smaller bag that you cannot see through and then place that bag in a clear bag.
  • Please note, the small cosmetic or privacy bag is still subject to inspection.
  • Nursing mothers may bring in needed items in a similar manner or separate bag.

Prohibited items

The following items are NOT ALLOWED:

  • Strollers
  • Backpacks
  • Large bags over 9X10X12 inches
  • Camelback style hydration packs
  • Other carry-ins
  • Outside food or beverages (unless needed for infants, medical or dietary needs)
  • Cans and Glass/Plastic or Metal Containers (including Yeti type bottles, tumblers. thermos, and disposable plastic bottles)
  • Coolers or other hard side containers
  • Alcohol
  • Contraband
  • Pets
  • Professional grade cameras, GO Pro style cameras, Ipads/tablets, video, or video recording equipment, unless authorized by the performer. Standard point and shoot cameras may or may not be prohibited depending on event restrictions
  • Brooms/broomsticks, selfie sticks, poles, trekking sticks, and tripods
  • Recording devices
  • Laser pointers
  • Lawn chairs and stadium seats
  • Skateboards, roller skates, inline skates or hoverboards
  • Coaster wagons
  • Kites
  • Hula-hoops, Frisbees, and beach balls
  • Picnic baskets
  • Firearms (no open or concealed weapons/firearms)
  • Knives
  • Weapons or objects that could be used as weapons
  • Self-defense sprays (such as OC, pepper spray or mace)
  • Umbrellas

*This list is not exhaustive. Items not appearing on the list may still be prohibited at the discretion of MWF Security if the items pose a potential threat to the safety of our guests or due to event restrictions.

May I be searched upon entry to the venue?

Guests entering the venue during an event may be subject to a metal-detector screening, visual inspection, a pat-down search and/or a bag inspection. Patrons who refuse to submit to either a visual or pat-down search may be refused entry and may not be eligible for a refund on their ticket purchase. The purpose of the inspection is to detect prohibited items.

What are your policies on safety while viewing a concert?

Smoking, vaping, and e-cigarettes are not permitted inside of the American Family Amphitheater or inside the seating bowl of the BMO pavilion. Guests are expected to enjoy the concert free from any abusive language and obscene behavior. Guests should consume alcoholic beverages in a responsible manner. Guests should only sit in their ticketed seats and show their tickets when requested by concert staff. Guests who engage in unsafe behavior, engage in fighting, throw objects, attempt to gain access to the stage or backstage area will be immediately ejected from the venue. Guests who don’t adhere to the concert safety policy will be removed and ejected without refund.

Is smoking permitted in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater?

The American Family Insurance Amphitheater is a non-smoking & non-vaping venue. Designated smoking areas will be available outside the American Family Insurance Amphitheater.

Can I bring a camera, video recorder or other recording devices into the American Family Insurance Amphitheater?

No cameras or recording devices of any type are allowed into the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. 

Are there ATMs inside the American Family Insurance Amphitheater?

No. American Family Insurance Amphitheater is a cashless venue. All concession stands, bars, and merchandise tents accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card.

What is the Will Call policy?

Will Call tickets can be picked up at the South Gate Box Office on the day of the show only. The purchaser, or the person authorized to pick up tickets during the online ticket purchase process, must bring a photo ID, the confirmation number and the credit card used for purchase when picking up Will Call tickets purchased through Ticketmaster or the Fan Club.

If you are a guest of the band, you must provide a photo ID. Band guest tickets and passes are typically available close to showtime. If you plan to arrive early, you may wish to call the Box Office in advance to determine if the band has sent their guest list and passes to the Box Office yet.

What are the hours for the Box Office?

After April 1st the Box Office is open 12:00 pm — 6:00 pm Monday through Friday.

The Box Office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays unless there is an event or on sale that day. During Summerfest, the Box Office will be open until the amphitheater headliner takes the stage. The Will Call window will be open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Can I leave tickets somewhere for a friend to pick up later?

Yes, you may leave tickets for a friend to pick up at the Box Office. Be advised, however, that the Box Office closes each evening at 9:00 pm and will not be held responsible for lost or stolen tickets that have been dropped off.

How can I purchase tickets to concerts taking place in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater?

You can purchase tickets in a variety of ways. Please see the Ticket Information section.

Are animals allowed?

Animals or pets of any kind are prohibited with the exception of service animals for guests with disabilities and/or special needs. Services animals are welcomed into the building and must remain on a leash or harness at all times.

What is the food and beverage policy?

Except for food and beverage purchases made on the grounds, food or beverages of any kind (alcoholic included) cannot be brought into the venue; an exception is made for patrons with a medical necessity and/or special dietary requirements. Concession stands throughout the venue sells various types of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Wisconsin law prohibits the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 21. Guests may be required to show proper identification and proof of age when purchasing alcoholic beverages. 

What types of payment are accepted?

We are a cashless venue. MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover Card are accepted. The Box Office DOES NOT accept cash or personal checks.

Do children require a ticket to gain admittance to the American Family Insurance Amphitheater?

All children ages 3 and older require a ticket to gain admittance to the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. Children two years of age and younger are not required to have a ticket, but they MUST be seated on a parent or guardian's lap. Strollers are not allowed in the Amphitheater. We strongly recommend parents provide hearing and eye protection for their children. If you have specific questions regarding Amphitheater shows, please call our box office directly at 1.414.273.2600.

When do the doors open prior to a concert? 

Gates into the American Family Insurance Amphitheater typically open one hour prior to event time. The exact time is determined by the artist performing at the venue. Check the concerts page for more information about doors open times for each show. 

Can I bring an umbrella into the American Family Insurance Amphitheater?

No, for safety reasons as well as to maintain reasonable unobstructed sight for all, umbrellas are not allowed in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater.

Is there Wifi in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater?

Yes, simply join the Wi-Fi network named "Summerfest WiFi" (no password required).