Jones Beach Theater is located at 1000 Ocean Parkway in Wantagh, NY, inside Jones Beach State Park, on Long Island. Designed by Robert Moses for theater when he designed the park, it was expanded in 1991/2. It was previously the Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater (2002-2006), then Nikon at Jones Beach Theater (2006-2017); it is currently ‘Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater’.
Located well inside Jones Beach State Park (and buses have to take a long route to get here thanks to Moses’ low park bridges – supposedly to keep the poor/minorities from taking buses in…), the stadium is next to the water, otherwise surrounded by a large parking lot. Recent years have seen the security rings outside the venue expand outward into the parking area, well before the box office and ticket check. Past that is a semi-circle outside of the stadium, with numerous food and drink sellers. Inside the actual stadium, there is a large seated stand, with a second level balcony of seats. The stage floor has its own box seats, with a closer area of removable seats that can be a GA standing pit. The stage nicely sits right on the water, with the ocean as the backdrop. The large security presence does continue inside, checking tickets at various sections, and even requiring GA ticket holders to get a wristband for GA access (and those wristbands stop being given out during the performance), all to prevent people sneaking up.
Sometimes at shows, and seemingly more frequently recently, the venue will restrict alcohol sales to one corner of the area outside the stadium, on the far end from the entrance. There is no view of the stage from the area, and it can fill up before/between acts.
Drink prices aren’t cheap, but also aren’t stadium exorbitant, this far from the city (note: last call is 10:00 PM). The lighting and sound are unsurprisingly strong, with two jumbo screens, though the sunlight early in the shows can dampen the screens. The big acts it draws out on Long Island are understandably more mainstream and older (i.e., ‘very Long Island’) – Jimmy Buffett has played there a lot. But if you’re willing to go out to Long Island, if you’re willing to deal with security, if you’re willing to not drink much, it is a beautiful place to see a big band within access of the big city.
Capacity: 15,000
all ages
Address:
1000 Ocean Parkway
By Subway:
Long Island Railroad to Freeport – Take designated shuttle
Long Island Railroad to Wantagh – The closer station, for taxis/ride-shares
QRO Coverage:
-Slipknot, with Volbeat, Gojira, and Behemoth, August 28th, 2019 – Slipknot photos, Volbeat photos, Gojira photos, Behemoth photos
-Korn, with Alice In Chains, August 6th, 2019 – Korn photos, Alice In Chains photos
-Third Eye Blind, with Jimmy Eat World, July 11th, 2019 – Third Eye Blind photos, Jimmy Eat World photos
-Deadly Apples, August 7th, 2018 (Marilyn Manson/Rob Zombie co-headline slots rained out) – live review, photos
-Bush, with The Cult, Stone Temple Pilots, and Julien K, July 27th, 2018 – Bush photos, The Cult photos, Stone Temple Pilots photos, Julien K photos
-Weezer, with Pixies and Sleigh Bells, July 18th, 2018 – Weezer & Pixies live review, Weezer photos, Pixies photos, Sleigh Bells photos
-Major Lazer, with marshmello, Lil Yachty, Cash Cash, Camila Cabello, T-Pain, DJ Khaled, and Jack & Jack, August 20th, 2017 (Billboard Hot 100 Festival) – Major Lazer photos, marshmello photos, Lil Yachty photos, Cash Cash photos, Camila Cabello photos, T-Pain photos, DJ Khaled photos, Jack & Jack photos
-Big Sean, with Rick Ross, Ty Dolla $ign, Capital Cities, Gucci Mane, Tinashe, and We the Kings, August 19th, 2017 (Billboard Hot 100 Festival) – Big Sean photos, Rick Ross photos, Ty Dolla $ign photos, Capital Cities photos, Gucci Mane photos, Tinashe photos, We the Kings photos
-Cheap Trick, July 20th, 2017 – photos
-marshmello, with Nervo, Audien, J. Cole, Funkmaster Flash, Timeflies, William Singe, Coleman Hell, CID, Skylar Grey, Brooke Eden, SEEB, Quinn XCII, Matt Medved, and RYOS, August 21st, 2016 (Billboard Hot 100 Festival) – marshmello photos, Nervo photos, Audien photos, J. Cole photos, Funkmaster Flash photos, Timeflies photos, William Singe photos, Coleman Hell photos, CID photos, Skylar Grey photos, Brooke Eden photos, SEEB photos, Quinn XCII photos, Matt Medved photos, RYOS photos
-Fetty Wap, with Martin Garrix, Rae Sremmurd, Thomas Jack, Sleigh Bells, Skizzy Mars, Niykee Heaton, Rachel Platten, Cheat Codes, Josiah & The Bonnevilles, Prince Fox, JAHKOY, Nathan Sykes, and Elephante, August 20th, 2016 (Billboard Hot 100 Festival) – Fetty Wap photos, Martin Garrix photos, Rae Sremmurd photos, Thomas Jack photos, Sleigh Bells photos, Skizzy Mars photos, Niykee Heaton photos, Rachel Platten photos, Cheat Codes photos, Josiah & The Bonnevilles photos, Prince Fox photos, JAHKOY photos, Nathan Sykes photos, Elephante photos
-Justin Bieber, with American Authors, Lindsey Stirling, Nicki Minaj, Kiesza, Kygo, Holy Ghost!, Matoma, MisterWives, and The Maine, August 23rd, 2015 (Billboard Hot 100 Festival) – Justin Bieber photos, American Authors photos, Lindsey Stirling photos, Nicki Minaj photos, Kiesza photos, Kygo photos, Holy Ghost! photos, Matoma photos, MisterWives photos, The Maine photos
-The Weekend, with Santigold, Axwell ^ Ingrosso, Christina Milian, Betty Who, ZZ Ward, Lil Wayne, The Faint, Jason Derulo, and Halsey, August 22nd, 2015 (Billboard Hot 100 Festival) – The Weekend photos, Santigold photos, Axwell ^ Ingrosso photos, Christina Milian photos, Betty Who photos, ZZ Ward photos, Lil Wayne photos, The Faint photos, Jason Derulo photos, Halsey photos
-Slipknot, with Lamb of God, A Bullet For My Valentine, and Motionless In White, August 1st, 2015 (Summer’s Last Stand Tour) – Slipknot photos, Lamb of God photos, A Bullet For My Valentine photos, Motionless In White photos
-Fall Out Boy, with Wiz Khalifa and Max, June 24th, 2015 – Fall Out Boy photos, Wiz Khalifa photos, Max photos
-Depeche Mode, with Bat For Lashes, September 8th, 2013 – Depeche Mode photos, Bat For Lashes photos
-Incubus, with Linkin Park and MUTEMATH, August 15th, 2012 – Incubus photos, Linkin Park photos, MUTEMATH photos
-Deftones, August 5th, 2012 – photos
-Wiz Khalifa, with Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar, and Chiddy Bang, August 2nd, 2012 (Influence Tour) – Wiz Khalifa photos, Mac Miller photos, Kendrick Lamar photos, Chiddy Bang photos
-The Flaming Lips & Weezer, with Yeasayer, July 29th, 2011 – The Flaming Lips & Weezer photos, The Flaming Lips photos, Weezer photos, Yeasayer photos
-The Killers, with Wolfmother, September 1st, 2009 – The Killers photos, Wolfmother photos
-Blink-182, August 25th, 2009 – photos
-Judas Priest, July 12th, 2009 – photos
-Jane’s Addiction, June 7th, 2009 – photos
-Judas Priest, with Motörhead, August 10th, 2008 – Judas Priest photos, Motörhead photos
