Empire Arts Center Tickets

Empire Arts Center Tickets & Events

On Demers Avenue in downtown Grand Forks, Empire Arts Center brings concerts, live theater, comedy, film screenings, recitals, and community arts events into a restored 1919 theater setting. Empire Arts Center tickets connect audiences with an intimate, historic performance space known locally as The Empire and valued as a downtown cultural landmark.

This page covers everything you need to know before you go — from finding the right seats to getting there, navigating the venue, and buying with confidence.

About Empire Arts Center

Empire Arts Center is a historic theater and music hall located at 415 Demers Ave in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It opened in 1919 as a movie and vaudeville theater, then was restored and reopened as a performing arts center in the late 1990s. Today, it is operated by the Empire Arts Center, a nonprofit organization, and functions as an AmeriCorps Host Site. The venue has a single-auditorium layout with approximately 400–450 seats, giving events a close, personal feel.

The Empire hosts a broad mix of programming, including concerts, community band and ensemble performances, live theater, comedy, film screenings, recitals, and cultural events. Local and regional programming such as Grand Forks City Band concerts, film screenings, and touring performances help define its role in the city’s arts scene.

With its early-20th-century character, refurbished finishes, updated interior, and preserved auditorium feel, Empire Arts Center remains one of downtown Grand Forks’ most recognizable arts institutions.

Location & Transportation

Empire Arts Center is located at 415 Demers Ave, Grand Forks, ND 58201 — in downtown Grand Forks along Demers Avenue.

Driving and Parking: Most attendees drive to Empire Arts Center. Downtown street parking and nearby public lots are available around the venue, and parking is generally straightforward compared with major-metro venues. Arriving early gives you more time to park and get seated before showtime.

Transit: Empire Arts Center is served by Grand Forks city bus service through Cities Area Transit routes that reach the downtown core. Transit options in Grand Forks are modest, so many visitors still choose to drive or use rideshare.

Rideshare: Rideshare and taxi service operate in Grand Forks, and the downtown Demers Avenue location makes drop-off and pickup convenient for ticketed events.

Nearby Accommodation: Hotels are available in downtown Grand Forks and along nearby corridors, with additional lodging near Interstate 29 a short drive away.

Venue Navigation

Empire Arts Center has a single-auditorium theater layout, so navigation is more direct than at a large multi-level venue. Understanding the main entrance and seating orientation before you arrive helps you move from the sidewalk to your seat smoothly.

Entrances and Access: The main entrance faces Demers Avenue in downtown Grand Forks.

Seating Levels: The venue is organized as a single-auditorium theater with a main seating floor oriented toward the stage.

Dining Options

Outside the Venue — Downtown Grand Forks

Empire Arts Center is located in downtown Grand Forks, within walking distance of restaurants, bars, and cafés along Demers Avenue and throughout the downtown district. For many events, the easiest plan is to dine downtown before the performance, then walk to the theater with time to spare before seating begins.

Security & Policies

Empire Arts Center maintains security and venue policies that are updated regularly and may vary by event. Before attending, reviewing the current policy on the venue's official website is strongly recommended.

Entry Procedures: Ticketed events at Empire Arts Center use digital and physical ticket verification at entry. Having your ticket ready before you reach the entrance helps keep the line moving.

Other Venues in the Grand Forks Area

Empire Arts Center is part of a broader Grand Forks live-events market that includes university performance spaces, arenas, community theaters, and large multipurpose venues. The area offers options for concerts, stage productions, sports, and cultural programming throughout the year.

• Chester Fritz Auditorium Tickets — Major performing arts auditorium at the University of North Dakota, hosting concerts, Broadway tours, and large performances
• Alerus Center Tickets — Large multi-purpose arena and convention center hosting concerts, sports, and major events
• Ralph Engelstad Arena Tickets — Premier hockey arena, home of the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's and women's hockey (NCAA)
• Betty Engelstad Sioux Center Tickets — Arena and event space on the University of North Dakota campus hosting basketball and events
• Fire Hall Theatre Tickets — Historic community theater in downtown Grand Forks hosting local stage productions
• University of North Dakota Burtness Theatre Tickets — Campus theater hosting university and community productions

How Much Do Tickets to Empire Arts Center Cost?

Empire Arts Center ticket prices vary significantly depending on the type of event, the artist or performer, seating section, and demand — which is what you'd expect from a venue that hosts everything from community performances to touring shows.

Community and local performances can be priced at approximately $10–$30, making them an accessible way to experience live arts programming in downtown Grand Forks.

Concerts and touring shows are typically around $20–$60 or more depending on the act, event type, and demand for the performance.

Buying earlier generally gives you better seat selection for popular performances. As inventory shrinks and the event date approaches, the best remaining seats can become more competitive.

> No hidden fees. At Box Office Ticket Sales, the price you see is the price you pay. All fees are shown before checkout — no surprise charges when you reach the final step.

How to Buy Empire Arts Center Tickets

Getting your tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com is fast and secure. Here's how the process works:

1. Browse Empire Arts Center events — Search for Empire Arts Center tickets and select the show or event you want to attend
2. Pick your seats — Use the interactive seating map to compare sections, rows, views, and real-time pricing side by side
3. Secure checkout — Pay with a credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Affirm for flexible payment options
4. Receive your tickets — Digital tickets are delivered to your email or mobile wallet before the event, ready to scan at the entrance

Every order is backed by our 100% verified ticket guarantee and on-time delivery promise. Once your order is confirmed, you'll receive an email with your invoice and all event details you need before show night.

Empire Arts Center Seating Guide

Empire Arts Center has an intimate single-auditorium theater layout, with seating oriented toward the stage. Because the room is relatively small, seat selection often comes down to how close you want to be and whether you prefer a centered view.

Best Seats at Empire Arts Center

• Best value: Main seating floor options farther back in the auditorium can offer a strong balance of view and price for many performances.
• Closest to the action: Front rows nearest the stage provide the shortest distance to performers, speakers, or screenings.
• Best overall experience: Center main-floor seats typically offer the best sightlines to the stage in a theater of this size.
• General admission: Some events may use general admission seating, so the configuration can vary by event.

Empire Arts Center Seating Chart

You can view an interactive seating map for Empire Arts Center events directly on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com while browsing available listings. The map lets you compare sections side by side, check row depth and distance from the stage, and see real-time pricing for what's currently available — all before committing to a purchase.

Can I See Where My Seats Are?

Yes. The interactive seat map on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com shows your exact section and row placement before you buy. Use it to understand your position in the venue, your distance from the stage, and whether you're in the front rows, centered on the main seating floor, or farther back in the auditorium — so the tickets you choose match exactly what you're looking for on event night.

Getting Ready for Your Empire Arts Center Event

Once your tickets are confirmed, a few practical preparations make your visit run significantly smoother — especially at a downtown theater where parking, weather, and arrival timing can shape your pre-show experience.

• Download your tickets before you leave. Save your tickets to your phone's wallet or screenshot them before departing so you're ready at the entrance without needing a signal.
• Charge your phone fully. Digital ticketing is standard, and your phone is your entry. A portable battery pack is worth having for a full evening.
• Arrive early. Give yourself extra time for downtown parking and seating ahead of showtime.
• Dress in layers. Downtown Grand Forks experiences cold winters, so dress for seasonal weather when arriving and walking in the downtown area.
• Check the bag policy in advance. Reviewing the venue's guidelines before packing prevents delays at security.

Is Box Office Ticket Sales Legit?

Yes — Box Office Ticket Sales is a fully verified, secure ticketing platform that has served over 1 million customers since 2012. When you buy Empire Arts Center tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com, here's what backs every purchase:

• 100% verified ticket listings — every listing is authenticated before it reaches you
• On-time delivery guarantee — your tickets arrive before the event, or we make it right
• All seats together unless explicitly noted otherwise in the listing
• SSL-encrypted checkout — your payment information is protected at every step
• 24/7 TrustGuard monitoring — active security oversight around the clock
• Access to 125,000+ live events nationwide, from Empire Arts Center concerts to major sports and entertainment across the country
• BoxOfficeTicketSales.com has been selling tickets for 21 years and is BBB accredited

Empire Arts Center events — particularly touring shows, popular concerts, and downtown community performances — move fast. The best-value listings disappear well before event night, and inventory for popular events tightens quickly once demand builds. If you have a specific event in mind, acting sooner gets you better seats at better prices. Browse Empire Arts Center tickets now and lock in your spot before inventory moves.

Need Help With Your Empire Arts Center Tickets?

Our support team is available before, during, and after your purchase. Reach us through any of these channels:

• Live chat: Log in to your account at BoxOfficeTicketSales.com to chat with an agent
• Email: customersupport@boxofficeticketsales.com
• Phone: Call the number on your order confirmation invoice
• Buy by phone: Call 1-800-515-2171 to purchase tickets directly with a representative