Iconic Northern California Venue: Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountai...

Shoreline Amphitheatre History

In the heart of Silicon Valley, California’s Shoreline Amphitheatre has hosted some of the world’s top artists and music festivals since opening in 1986. Now a San Francisco Bay Area institution, the outdoor venue was built on landfill. Inspired by local legends the Grateful Dead, music promoter Bill Graham designed the theater to look like the band’s “Steal Your Face” skull logo. The Dead would eventually become regular performers, alongside the best in rock, pop, metal, hip-hop and comedy.

Shoreline Amphitheatre Performers

The Grateful Dead were scheduled to christen the Shoreline stage in the summer of 1986, but had to cancel after frontman Jerry Garcia fell into a coma. They eventually made their debut the following year. The Shoreline was also the home of Neil and Pegi Young’s beloved Bridge School Benefit, which ran from 1986 to 2016 and featured the Youngs, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam. Other major tours and music festivals — like Lilith Fair, Lollapalooza and Ozzfest — have made a stop here, in between concerts by the San Francisco Symphony, performances by comedians like Dave Chappelle and George Lopez, and even an appearance by the Dalai Lama, who hosted a momentous four-day event in 2001.

Planning Your Visit to the Shoreline Amphitheatre

The Amphitheatre sits next to Google’s headquarters, so there’s not a lot of nearby eating or drinking options to enjoy before or after a show. It may be worth a slight detour to downtown Mountain View to stroll along Castro St. for your pick of Italian, Indian, Mexican, Japanese or Chinese. Or save your appetite for the Shoreline itself, which offers its own impressive selection of Bay Area eats and drinks.

Shoreline Amphitheatre Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Shoreline Amphitheatre parking options?

On-site parking is included in the ticket price for most events. At an extra cost, you can get a paved space in the premier parking lot closest to the entrance. There are also dedicated pickup and drop-off zones for rideshares.

Does Shoreline Amphitheatre serve food?

Yes — and it’s worth coming hungry. Reflecting the Bay Area’s revered culinary scene, the Shoreline serves up classic festival fare — pretzels, beer, popcorn — alongside the region’s famous garlic fries, actor Danny Trejo’s traditional street tacos and Top Chef Fabio Viviani’s Italian specialties.

What are the seating options at Shoreline Amphitheatre?

The Shoreline has 6,500 reserved seats with room for approximately 16,000 more people on the lawn. For bigger, multi-stage festivals, the venue opens up space in its parking lot to allow for a maximum crowd of 30,000. Shoreline Amphitheatre is 100% wheelchair accessible. Get tickets here.

What are the Shoreline Amphitheatre safety & security guidelines?

All bags are subject to search. Each guest may bring one sealed water bottle. Low-back lawn chairs and small blankets are also allowed. No coolers, alcohol, umbrellas, pets, tables or barbecues. For more information on permitted items and Shoreline Amphitheatre’s latest safety and security guidelines, contact the box office at (650) 967-3000.

Additional California Venues