Germania Insurance Amphitheater Information
Part of the Circuit of The Americas motor racing facility’s 1,500-acre sports and entertainment complex in Austin, Texas, Germania Insurance Amphitheater (formerly Austin 360 Amphitheater) opened its doors for the first time in April 2013 with a spectacular opening concert by world-renowned country artist Kenny Chesney. A one-of-a-kind open-air amphitheater at the base of the facility’s observation tower, the venue has the capacity to accommodate up to 14,000 people and was designed by Miró Rivera Architects.
It has fast become the top spot for entertainment in the Central Texas area with its incredible roster of some of the world’s most celebrated superstars, not to mention its unparalleled atmosphere, aided by stellar sound and lighting systems.
As an outdoor venue, Austin360 Amphitheater also provides incredible views of Austin, and with the city skyline as a backdrop and the stars as a canopy, the amphitheater is a truly magical place to experience the music of your favorite bands.
The Germania Insurance Amphitheater is largely known for its connection to the COTA and the concerts that take place during the Grand Prix, but it is a venue that is regularly used for other concerts and a variety of events. It has hosted festivals, comedy shows, and family events, with some huge, globally renowned music artists playing to packed crowds at the venue.
Past concert performers at the 14,000-seat amphitheater include Janet Jackson, Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West. Concert-goers can bring RVs to stay over in the COTA RV Park to take in the full experience, including tailgating and camping after the event.
The amphitheater has had several name changes, adopting the current name (Germania Insurance Amphitheater) in January 2020 following the sponsorship agreement with the Germania Insurance company.
Just over a year after opening, in 2014, the venue received the Best New Major Concert Venue Award from Pollstar. It has also received a prestigious design award. In 2015, The American Institute of Steel Construction recognized the quality of the architectural design by presenting the venue with a Modern Steel Construction Award.
The 14,000 capacity is split into reserved seating of 6,700, the stage-front area which can be adapted for seating or standing, plus a large general admission lawn area. For some events, a temporary stage called the Super Stage is incorporated to increase the capacity.
The History of Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Constructed by Miró Rivera Architects, the amphitheater opened in April 2013 under the original name Tower Amphitheater. Shortly afterwards, the name changed to Austin360 for sponsorship reasons before changing again in 2020 to the current name, Germania Insurance Amphitheater.
The amphitheater was built as part of the Circuit of the Americas development, which opened in 2012. As with many modern-day F1 grand prix events, music has enhanced the experience, providing evenings of immersive music performances following a day of high-octane racing.
Built at a cost of approximately $62 million, the amphitheater has become almost as iconic in the music industry as the racetrack is in the motorsports world. With the backdrop of the COTA Tower, the Germania Insurance Amphitheater forms part of one of the most well-known Central Texas landmarks.