St. Joe’s Amp ticketholder blindsided by lawn

Some Central New York concert fans are upset with the lawn chair policy at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview.

ASM Global, which manages the St. Joe’s Amp in Syracuse, said Tuesday the venue won’t allow outside lawn chairs for any concerts with more than 14,000 tickets sold. Capacity is 17,500, so this largely applies to sellouts or nearly sold out shows — including four on this year’s lineup: Chris Stapleton (June 8), Shania Twain (July 8), Phish (July 23) and Zac Brown Band (Aug. 11).

“For the safety, comfort and experience of all fans, the Venue reserves the right to not permit outside lawn chairs from being brought into the venue,” the policy states. “A limited number of lawn chair rentals will be available for advance purchase online or at the venue on the day of the event, while supplies last.”

Darien Lake Amphitheater has a similar rule. Live Nation’s website says Darien Lake will not allow outside lawn chairs for concerts expecting large crowds, such as Post Malone and Fall Out Boy.

But Cindy Maudlin, a North Syracuse resident who has tickets for Stapleton and at least one more St. Joe’s Amp concert this summer, says she was blindsided by the rule.

Maudlin told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that she bought tickets for Stapleton in March and didn’t see any warning that fans might not be able to bring their own lawn chairs. She estimated she’s been to 40 shows at the former Lakeview Amphitheater since it opened in 2015, and always brought chairs because her sister is disabled and cannot stand for three-plus hours.

“Never once have I not been able to bring my chair,” Maudlin, 62, said.

ASM Global said the policy began last year for the sold-out Morgan Wallen concert, which drew about 18,000 fans — slightly above capacity at the Amp. Stapleton, the first concert of the 2023 season, is expecting a similarly large crowd and would be the second Amp event to trigger the rule.

According to Live Nation’s website, the lawn is completely sold out for the “Tennessee Whiskey” singer, and lawn chair rentals also appear to be sold out. That means any fans who want to sit in a chair may have to pay extra for a seat under the pavilion; just 40 tickets remain unsold and none of them are next to each other. (The cheapest seats under the pavilion are currently listed at $121.75, including fees and reseller options.)

ASM Global announced the policy Tuesday, but Maudlin said she didn’t find out about it until Ticketmaster directly emailed her on Wednesday — just eight days before Stapleton’s concert. She immediately tried to reserve rental chairs, but saw they were sold out.

A rep for ASM Global told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that they did not know how many rental chairs are available at the amphitheater, but said the number is limited for safety reasons when there are large crowds.

Maudlin said she called the Oncenter box office and was eventually able to get chairs after more were made available. Maudlin said her sister is not ADA disabled and does not use a wheelchair, but said her sister cannot sit on the grass or stand for extended periods of time.

But now they might not want to go at all.

“I’m up in the air, to be honest. If the concert is going to be that crowded, I might just sell my ticket. I just think it’s crappy that people who can’t sit or stand for a long time are being penalized,” said Maudlin. “If this is their new policy, I doubt we will be going back there!”

Refunds are not being offered, but questions or issues can be directed to the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview website’s contact form or by calling 315-435-5100.

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St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview 2023 Concert Schedule in Syracuse, N.Y.

• June 8: Chris Stapleton (tickets)
• June 15: Luke Bryan (tickets)
• June 30: Falling in Reverse with Ice Nine Kills, Slaughter to Prevail, Crown the Empire (tickets)
• July 1: Counting Crows with Dashboard Confessional (tickets)
• July 8: Shania Twain with Breland (tickets)
• July 16: Kidz Bop (tickets)
• July 23: Phish (tickets)
• July 29: Matchbox Twenty with Ben Rector (tickets)
• Aug. 1: Mudvayne with Coal Chamber, Gwar, Nonpoint + Butcher Babies (tickets)
• Aug. 3: Godsmack and Staind (tickets)
• Aug. 8: Pantera with Lamb of God (tickets)
• Aug. 11: Zac Brown Band (tickets)
• Aug. 12: Disturbed with Breaking Benjamin (tickets)
• Aug. 16: Goo Goo Dolls with O.A.R. (tickets)
• Aug. 17: Yellowcard with Mayday Parade, Story of the Year (tickets)
• Aug. 18: Ghost with Amon Amarth (tickets)
• Aug. 19: Parker McCollum with Larry Fleet (tickets)
• Aug. 24: Pentatonix with Lauren Alaina (tickets)
• Aug. 25: Sam Hunt with Brett Young (tickets)
• Sept. 1: Noah Kahan with Ruston Kelly (tickets)
• Sept. 2: Foreigner with Loverboy (tickets)
• Sept. 13: Shinedown with Papa Roach, Spiritbox (tickets)