Loading customer reviews…
Customer reviews could not be loaded. Please try again later.
On the west bank of the Cedar River in downtown Cedar Rapids, McGrath Amphitheatre brings touring music, comedy, festivals, and community events to an open-air riverfront setting. McGrath Amphitheatre tickets connect fans with a mid-sized outdoor venue where reserved seats and a general admission lawn keep audiences close to the stage.
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.
McGrath Amphitheatre opened in 2013 at 475 1st St SW in downtown Cedar Rapids. The amphitheatre is located on city-associated riverfront land and is operated in connection with CR Events. With a capacity of approximately 5,000 across reserved seating and general admission lawn areas, it offers an intimate outdoor setup along the Cedar River.
The venue is regarded as Cedar Rapids' primary outdoor concert venue and a key part of the city's downtown riverfront revitalization following the 2008 flood. Its spring-through-fall season centers on touring concerts across country, rock, pop, and Americana, along with comedy, festivals, and civic events. Past and upcoming programming has included touring acts such as Kip Moore and comedian John Mulaney's Home Tour.
McGrath Amphitheatre is known for its covered permanent stage, open-air audience areas, and riverfront views in the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids.
McGrath Amphitheatre is located at 475 1st St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 — on the west bank of the Cedar River in downtown Cedar Rapids.
Driving and Parking: Driving is the primary way most patrons arrive at McGrath Amphitheatre. Surface lots and downtown parking areas around the venue serve event traffic, and arriving early on busy show nights helps secure closer parking before the area fills.
Transit: Cedar Rapids Transit bus routes serve downtown Cedar Rapids, making transit an option for attendees traveling within the city. For most visitors in this market, transit is secondary to driving, but downtown service can still be useful depending on where you are coming from.
Rideshare: Uber and Lyft operate in Cedar Rapids and offer convenient downtown drop-off and pickup. After larger shows, expect some wait time while crowds leave the amphitheatre and nearby streets clear.
Nearby Accommodation: Downtown Cedar Rapids hotels are within easy reach of the venue. Staying downtown offers the simplest access, especially for visitors who want to walk to the riverfront before or after the show.
McGrath Amphitheatre has a compact open-air layout built around a permanent stage, reserved seating near the front, and lawn space farther back. Understanding the layout before you arrive makes it easier to choose the right ticket type and move through the venue efficiently once gates open.
Entrances and Access: Patrons enter through gated access from the downtown and riverfront street side near 1st Street SW. The site is straightforward to approach from the surrounding downtown streets, with event entry flowing toward the stage-facing audience area.
Seating Levels: The venue combines fixed or reserved seating closer to the stage with a general admission lawn area used for many shows. Exact configurations can vary by event, but the basic experience is simple: reserved sections place you nearer the stage, while the lawn offers a relaxed open-air setting behind or around the seated area.
Accessibility: Accessible seating and accommodations are typically available at McGrath Amphitheatre events. The venue's compact scale helps keep key areas close together compared with larger outdoor concert sites.
Getting to Your Section: Sections are generally easy to locate because of the amphitheatre's mid-sized footprint. Lawn areas involve grass terrain, so comfortable footwear is a smart choice, especially for standing, walking, and post-show exits.
Concessions and beverage service are typically available during events at McGrath Amphitheatre, including alcohol service for eligible guests. Lines can build close to showtime, so planning food and drink stops before the main act or during natural breaks can help you spend more time watching the performance.
Downtown Cedar Rapids offers restaurants and bars within walking distance of the amphitheatre, including options in the downtown core and along the riverfront. Because the venue sits close to the city's central dining areas, many attendees make dinner or drinks part of the same downtown outing before heading to the gate.
McGrath Amphitheatre 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.
Bag Policy: Bag restrictions commonly apply at McGrath Amphitheatre events. Clear-bag or limited-bag rules may be enforced depending on the event, so packing light is the best way to move through entry efficiently.
Commonly Prohibited Items: Commonly restricted items include weapons, outside food and drink, professional recording equipment, and items deemed a safety risk by venue staff.
Entry Procedures: Expect bag checks and digital ticket verification at entry gates, consistent with standard outdoor-venue screening. Arriving with a compliant bag and pre-downloaded tickets helps speed up entry.
McGrath Amphitheatre is Cedar Rapids' main outdoor riverfront concert venue, while the broader Cedar Rapids area includes arenas, theaters, community spaces, and nearby Iowa City performing-arts venues. Fans can find everything from indoor concerts and family shows to theater seasons and community events across the region.
McGrath Amphitheatre ticket prices vary significantly depending on the type of event, the artist, seating section, and demand — which is what you'd expect from a venue that hosts everything from general admission lawn concerts to high-demand headliners and comedy tours.
For general admission lawn tickets and smaller shows, prices can start low, often in the approximate $25–$50 range. These tickets are typically the most budget-friendly way to enjoy the open-air setting while still being part of the live crowd.
Reserved concert seating is usually priced higher than the lawn, with mid-tier reserved seats typically around $45–$90. These sections place you closer to the stage and provide a more defined seat location for the show.
High-demand headliners and comedy events can run approximately $80–$150 or more, depending on the act, event date, seating location, and demand. Front reserved rows and pit-area tickets closest to the stage are often among the highest-demand options.
Buying earlier generally provides better seat selection and pricing for high-demand shows. As inventory shrinks and the event date approaches, prices for the best remaining sections can rise, especially for marquee artists and popular weekend dates.
> 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.
Getting your tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com is fast and secure. Here's how the process works:
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.
McGrath Amphitheatre seating is worth understanding before buying because the venue uses both reserved seating close to the stage and general admission lawn areas for many shows. The right choice depends on whether you want the closest sightline, the most relaxed outdoor atmosphere, or the best value.
You can view an interactive seating map for McGrath Amphitheatre 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.
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 reserved seating, on the general admission lawn, or close to the front rows — so the tickets you choose match exactly what you're looking for on event night.
Once your tickets are confirmed, a few practical preparations make your visit run significantly smoother — especially at an outdoor riverfront venue with lawn seating and downtown event traffic.
Yes — Box Office Ticket Sales is a fully verified, secure ticketing platform that has served over 1 million customers since 2012. When you buy McGrath Amphitheatre tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com, here's what backs every purchase:
McGrath Amphitheatre events — particularly marquee artists, comedy tours, and summer weekends — 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 McGrath Amphitheatre tickets now and lock in your spot before inventory moves.
Our support team is available before, during, and after your purchase. Reach us through any of these channels: