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Molson Amphitheatre
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Arts & Entertainment Stadiums & Arenas Music Venues, Stadiums & Arenas [Edit]
Ontario Place909 Lakeshore Blvd W
Toronto, ON M6K 3L3
(416) 260-5600
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Molson Amphitheatre
19 reviews in English
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Review from Noel D.
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have a confession to make: I've never been to the Molson Amphitheatre before. The last time I was technically here was when it was called the Ontario Place Forum! That was over 20 years ago...
I came here recently for the Nas & Lauryn Hill show. The place was packed but it was so easy to navigate around the venue thanks to numerous large aisles and seating. And each time I went to the washroom there was more than enough urinals to go around! We managed to get VIP tickets and got most of our drinks from an indoor section which had a nice vibe and service was nice and fast (and polite).
I was drinking 750ml cans of Coors Light -- not my top choice but I liked the idea of having a lot of beer at a time to avoid potential line-ups -- and they cost an outstanding 15 dollars each! That's about a 400% mark-up (which shouldn't be too surprising ) but it would be nice if the company that owned the venue AND the beer would cut us a damn break!
The sound seemed pretty massive and clear enough for my liking. Solid big screens on either side for those in the back... We had seats but I have to admit sitting on the lawn with a nice blanket would be a really great way to see a show. If you don't care about distance from the stage then it seems like there's not really a bad seat in the house.
I don't usually go to shows that are of a magnitude to warrant the Molson Amphitheatre but now it's good to know what to expect next time I come. Definitely a better experience than the majority of large indoor venues. -
Review from neesa r.
9/2/2011
I went here first time for the Death Cab for the Cutie concert.
the venue is huuuuge! and the best part is that the visibility and sound is great from any part of the theatre. the grass part might be a bit too far behind but if it's cheap and you don't mind not seeing performeers' faces it's still good.
seats at the very back are not covered with the roof so not sure if it extends during rainy weather or not but it might get wet back there otherwise.
annoying part is that you can't take drinks with you to the floor next to the stage. -
Review from Andrea Z.
Hamilton, ON
8/2/2011 3 photos
I love the Molson Amphitheatre and feel it is one of the best places to view a concert on a summer night. Not to mention, its minutes away from the GO train, and you get free admission to Ontario Place on the day of the show.
The acoustics at the venue are decent, and I find that the bass is never extremely loud or obnoxious. However, if you are sitting close to the stage, I suggest bringing a pair of earplugs because if the weather is bad, they typically raise the volume; in order for people sitting on the lawn to hear clearly.
For the 2011 concert season, they have finally updated the bathrooms. So say goodbye to communal sinks, they now have sinks that work, more mirrors and cleaner bathroom stalls.
The venue however does some have some negative features including merchandise stands that are near entrances; thus causing extremely chaotic line-ups when entering. Also, not all seats in the reserved seating area have cup holders. This typically is not a problem, but when the venue personnel take away your pop lid, you're basically screwed. Lastly, security can be quite awful. Regardless of the genre of music being played, there are always people running around the reserved seating area attempting to get closer, and obtaining 'new seats'. However, I don't blame security for people moving around, and instead its the barricades at the venue which allow it to happen.Listed in: Concert Chaos
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Review from Sukoon S.
Toronto, ON
6/24/2011
I Love the Molson amphitheatre as a venue for Concerts. The vibe is great and i love being outdoors enjoying my favourite music. I usually get the lawn tickets which are cheap and allow you to lounge out on the grass and chill to the music. Ive seen Kanye West Glow in the Dark tour, Rock the Bells Tour & Drake's OVO Fest and both concerts were unbelievable.
A few things that could be improved is a larger drink selection and maybe even a louder sound system, but since this venue is outdoors it does quite an amazing job for its artists.
The Molson Amphitheatre gets a A grade from me as a venue for music in Toronto, very chill and lounge environment, perfect for a great summer day =P -
Review from Jeff S.
Ottawa, ON
4/17/2011
If you are in T-dot in the summer with the opportunity to see your band at this outdoor venue, I highly suggest it.
I was at the Molson Amphitheatre last summer (August 2010) for a Green Day show. A big part of the whole evening was the venue. Green Day put on a great show as expected, but it was a very different experience outside, right on the water.
It was like being at a backyard party instead of a basement party. I sat in the 400 section and my expectations were exceeded. The view was great as were the acoustics. I will have to try the lawn seats - everyone up there were seemingly having a great time as well.
I cannot recall whether the 400 section was covered seating, as the weather was perfect
This place is a lot of fun - the atmosphere equaled pure summer enjoyment. The security for a concert was excessive as far as I am concerned. Perhaps management erred on the side of caution for a "punk" show. I was at a indoor Green Day show in Ottawa, and the security was MUCH more relaxed.
Err on the safe side and come early.
Check out this video to get a visual on the facility.
http://www.youtube.com...
The Molson Canadian Amphitheatre concert ticket grants grounds admission to Ontario Place on the day of the concert.
PARKING
Parking on site is operated by Ontario Place. Additional parking is available at the CNE and the Trade Centre. Parking is NOT included with a Concert Ticket
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The Harbour front 509 streetcar, departing from Union Station stops at the Trade centre on the CNE Grounds.
Alternately, the 511 Bathurst streetcar stops at the Trade Centre on the CNE Grounds. The Trade centre is a short walk from the Molson Amphitheatre.
GO Transit also has a stop on the CNE Grounds close to the Food Building & the Horse Palace. -
Review from Ethan R.
Courtice, ON
9/21/2011
Its a very nice venue. The seat isles are very spaced out, and very comfortable.
The sound is phenomenal, and its never to expensive.
Only thing I didn't like was that security wouldn't allow me to take in an aluminum water bottle that had the cap connected to the bottle. Even after dumping it out I still had to throw it out. -
Review from Tony F.
7/19/2010 2 photos
Meh! Doesn't Toronto deserve something a little better than this? I mean, the actual physical setting for a concert is fine, the sightlines are actually pretty good. There are reasonable chairs, there is a stage, and.. speakers.
And if that's all we expect from a concert stadium then ok. It's a bit of a hike to the closest public transportation stop. Ir can be a bit of a pain for thousands of people to stumble to the ttc stop after a concert, if you know what I mean. How hard would it have been to have had the ttc stop be on the south side of the CNE grounds? However, if you plan on driving, be prepared to get robbed for parking. When you get there, just step out of the car, pull down your pants and bend over. Seriously, wtf?!?!
Not only will you get robbed for parking, my can of freaking tall boy cost $11. No.. that's not a typo. $11 freaking dollars for a can of beer! Seriously? WTF?! Even if the concert itself was "free", between the Ticketmaster charges and these other pillaging fees, I'd still be paying at least $40! Seriously? WTF?!
There's also no surrounding amenities nearby, so it's not a convenient place to grab a bite before or afterward. You're essentially cut off from the rest of humanity. You're in a marina! It's about as joy kill as it gets. Seriously? Wtf?!?!
Plus why does the overhang roof only cover some of the seats?? I can understand keeping the lawn open air, but the roof only partially covers most of the seating except the back of the 400 section. Did they just feel that the last 5 rows don't deserve to be covered in rain? That'll teach you for skimping out and not pay $20 more to sit in the front. SERIOUSLY? WtF?!?
Some people love the lawn seating, but I'm old now.. it hurts my ass and my back after an hour or so. They couldn't make it slightly less inclined than a crappy bunny ski hill at Blue Mountain? SeRiOuSlY? WTF?!?!
Seriously! WTF?!?!?!
auipdfao[uigherio riopeiobhefph op erio[wgeor;enj (me banging the keyboard with my head... seriously!) -
Review from Jen I.
Mississauga, ON
4/23/2011
This is my favorite venue in Toronto EVER. Too bad it's only around for half the year.
Maybe it's being outdoors, maybe it's the nostalgia of going there...I'm not sure, but when I find out a show is going to be at the Amphitheatre I get excited.
I've never had the misfortune of going to a concert on a rain day, so I'm not sure if that would change my mind. I probably wouldn't get lawn tickets to a show again either, but that's just personal preference. The lawn tickets are fine, you can see and hear everything, but to me it feels like I'm not "there"...but all the other seats are great. Even the 400 uncovered section isn't bad. The sound is great here too.
I've once had the opportunity to sit in the VIP box section which is right behind the 200 section and it was magical...sightlines were perfect, AND you get your own personal waitress - I had a gourmet grilled cheese while watching Megadeth. Thrilling stuff.
My one complaint was security...I was wearing a studded belt and bracelet (no points on any studs...they couldn't even pop a balloon), and I was told that I couldn't wear them into the venue. WTF? No studded accessories allowed...AT A METAL SHOW? How friggin ridiculous. Even more ridiculous were my options...I could either throw my stuff in a BUSH and hope they'd be there after the show, or get out of line and pay for a locker for my stuff. I opted for the bush. Miraculously, I got them back at the end, but not before worrying about getting them back throughout the whole show and being a little pissed off.
As long as you watch what accessories you're wearing, this is a GREAT venue.Listed in: My Fivers, Toronto LIVE Music!
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Review from Terry P.
8/16/2010
I think this is a really cool place to see a concert. The place is huge, the sound is good, the "lawn seating" is inexpensive and a fun place to hang out, and there are plenty of options for food and drinks. I know some people are not happy with the prices of the beer, etc, but if you are going to a concert, you should expect to pay a few extra dollars for a beer than you would at a pub.
The location is unfortunately in an inconvenient area of downtown, but at least it's still downtown. Besides, it's a beautiful place to spend a summer's evening listening to some tunes. -
Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
6/22/2009
I just say NKOTB!!!
Hah.. tickets were only 20$ and it was an awesome show!
Positives:
-cheap tix on the grass- bring a blanket and it is VERYVERY nice sitting on the backlot on the grass in the summer (I would even prefer it to the pricier tickets up front)
-washrooms are surprisingly clean at the end of the night with staff ensuring stalls are more or less clean.
-Great access to food/drinks
Negatives:
-the walk from the TTC to the theatre kind of sucks. And the walk from the theatre back to the TTC sucks doubley. so crowded and so far. Drive there.
-you can't being food in! I really should have known this, but it was a real downer when I had to either shove the jumbo 4 pack twix down my throat or throw it out. I ate two and stuck the other in my pocket, but man.. I really didn't want to eat that two right then and there.
-I'm assumng only B-rated shows get played here. That might be a negative for you, but meh.. this is really a moot point for me.
Anyways, an enjoyable theatre nonetheless. -
Review from Ruth W.
Toronto, ON
10/22/2010
As a rule, I'm not a big fan of big stadiums. I like to feel close to the stage and be under the illusion that the singer is looking and singing right at me! However... my experience of seeing Kings of Leon at the Molson Ampitheatre goes against this little rule of mine. Firstly, the venue is just cool. How can you not enjoy listening to one of your favourite bands against the backdrop of the city skyline as the sun begins to set? We sat in the cheap seats (aka the grass) and got a great view of the stage. Yes, the band were tiny-winy from where we were sat, but the big screens meant that we didn't miss out on any of the action. The acoustics were great too. The only down side is that its a right schlep to get there and back.
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Review from Shari M.
Toronto, ON
9/26/2009
Boy do I miss the original keeper of this space - the Forum. Don't get me wrong, I have seen some amazing shows here (Elvis Costello, Depeche Mode, Oasis, first Edgefest, NIN, etc) but I do not find this is the best place to see a show in Toronto.
The Forum that was on this spot years ago was much more intimate, excellent seats (the stage revolved - you saw everything!) and great sound. At the Forum (sniff for memories!) I saw The Hip, Crash Vegas and Alex Lifeson up close and personal while I was in high school. I also met the lead singer from Blue Rodeo back in the day when he was coming out on stage.
Back to the Molson Ampitheatre....to me it seems like it was created last minute and as a after thought. The bathrooms are always disgusting and look like they never quite finished construction. The large sinks I will say do remind me a bit of the old Maple Leaf Gardens.
Even their box seats seem like an after thought. They are just smack dab in the middle of everything, just like regular seats except they have a little barrier around them. I have seen a concert from the box before...meh...would rather be down closer to the stage.
It also kinda concerns me a bit that there are only a couple ways out of the place. I guess my safety self wonders if there was a fire or something....people would just trample each other trying to get off the little island. Dunno...just seems like it was half planned in my opinion.
Will I go back - sure if a good show is playing, but I would much rather see the same band at Massey Hall or even the ACC. -
Review from cailen s.
Oakville, ON
4/4/2009
While I was at the Killers show in January at the ACC I realized that I really don't like seeing 'stadium shows'. They're impersonal such that the music, performance, sound and ultimately my enjoyment becomes watered down. THEN I look down at my ticket stub and feel the pain I most closely associate with being stabbed. Seeing as how I've never actually been stabbed I have to approximate the feeling.
The Molson Ampitheatre is the only 'stadium' venue in Toronto that doesn't inspire those feelings. It is able to retain some semblance of intimacy without sacrificing sound. I've mostly had seats but I've heard lots of good things about hanging out in the lawn. As it is outdoors the weather can definitely play a factor so make sure to check that before any concert.
I don't know if this policy still exists but it used to be that you could get into Ontario Place free on the date of the concert, with a valid ticket. -
Review from Kartik K.
Toronto, ON
9/14/2010
I think this is one of the better outdoor concert venues in the GTA.
These guys do almost everything right or close to right (for a price of course)
1) The sound is really good for an outdoor venue. Not as good as a really good indoor venue (roy thompson , massey ) but definitely better than a bad one (Sound academy).
2) Washrooms are pretty clean for the number of people that use it through the night. Staff must be keeping a check on this, as some places dont care once the concert has started.
3) Good crowd management. It never feels really crowded even with the large numbers involved.
4) Well staffed bars, so I dont miss entire songs while buying beer.
good seats with stadium seating and good visibility.
Downsides?
Beer is expensive.
That last left turn off lakeshore could take forever, although sometimes I have seen police managing the traffic. -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
11/17/2008
So, say you like this band for a really long time, and you're really excited to find out they're playing in Toronto. At the Molson Amphitheatre. Then you go to buy tickets (through Ticketmaster, which is another story of rip-offs), and find out that they cost a small fortune (about $200 a person, and half the "good seats" are gone already).
If you're like me, you thought, "What are the cheapest ones? I'll just get those and then walk my way up to the front -- it's all open, right?" Wrong. My little analogy here is describing the time I went to see Motley Crue probably about 4 years ago when they played here (Yeah, I know I'm late on the bandwagon, what do you want, I'm young). I paid $40 for a lawn seat and thought I could just walk up to the seats and steal an empty one.
Yeeeeaaaah not a chance. This place has insane security. So even after I realized that the lawn seats sucked because they were not seats at all (and I didn't bring a blanket), I couldn't make my way up anywhere, and I also could not see a thing.
And WHY OH WHY is the beer so expensive? It's murderous. It should at least be cheaper for the poor people stuck on the lawn, since we can't see, we may as well be afforded the right to get drunk for cheap.
Anyway, if you are lucky enough to have connections and get industry passes or free seats in the assigned seating area, then it's great. Or if you're rich. But if you can't justify spending all that money, don't think the lawn is a decent solution. Plus if it rains...you are the first people to be soaked. So sad. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
12/16/2008
Every time I've come here, I've had decent seats or managed to sneak down to the pit unnoticed, so any comments I've heard about the lawn section pass me by.
The shows I've attended were fine, even for a gig that I was dragged to (Panic at the Disco). However, all were relatively Big-Budget Shows, and even sitting in a higher section didn't make me feel like I was missing out on anything. Perhaps folk shows would be lost here?
I'm a fan of smaller, intimate shows over the high-ticket draws, so I don't go out of my way to attend a concert here. In fact, I would probably only go through with a purchase if I was guaranteed decent seats.
At the same time, lawn seats with a bunch of friends is moderately attractive, in that mid-summer nostalgic way... until security confiscates the picnic lunch I packed, some hallucinating music lover dances all over my blankets with his dirty hippie feet, and a freak thundershower sends me cowering under a garbage bag. -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2008 2 photos
As the name suggests, Molson owns the Ampitheatre which is a partially enclosed concert venue at Ontario Place.
There are 5,500 reserved seats, an additional 3,500 open seats and another 7,000 on the lawn which is also open.
It's the last stop on the way to the Air Canada Centre in terms of big venues and it's super boss.
The sound is great, and watching a concert under the stars is always really wonderful, and even the cheap seats on the lawn can be really nice with a blanket and a beer.
I saw Def Leppard there once and it was over the top amazing. 10,000 total fans, fist pumping and singing along to every single song. Totally intimate. You will NEVER get that at any other Toronto big venue. Guaranteed. -
Review from Jimi S.
ON
1/27/2009
i dont even know if this place is open in the winter...it would seem not being outside and all, but you never know in this winter town.
i have only gone in the spring and summer.
i have fond memories of sitting on the grass with a friend, surrounded by folks on their feet listening to jack johnson and after a little while of being planted on my ass, i rose upwards, like a buoy let loose from the bottom of the ocean. my head popped up within a sea of people waving lighters and taking pictures with their cellphones. it was magnificent.
or simply sitting there, listening to a little alison krauss, joking with your friends, sneaking a doobie, drinking some beers. its an awesome way to spend a nice night outdoors. -
Review from Eli G.
8/6/2008
i played here... more to come
