Inside KC’s new music venue: Cheap food and VIP areas at Morton Amphitheater

A new era for entertainment begins this week in the Kansas City area. With the Morton Amphitheater in Riverside hosting its first-ever show Wednesday, there’s a clear emphasis for them to make sure the fan experience is one they won’t forget.

You’ll notice when you walk through the main entrance from the parking lot that there aren’t gates you have to walk through. That was done to ensure fans have a “seamless” security check without any real stoppages. Once they get through security, they’ll be greeted by a large open space plaza, which has a turf space with seating and table areas.

“We want the line to be short, we want the staff to be friendly, we want the space to be inviting, and we want you to get into that show and stay focused on your favorite artist,” said Andrew Newport, regional vice president of Live Nation. “Whatever you need throughout every juncture in that experience, it’s already been thought of and accounted for.”

That simple access continues right into the concert space, which is a short flight of stairs away from the 12,000-seat bowl. 4,000 more people can fit inside thanks to the green space in the back.

The Star got a tour around the new venue before its first public event Monday night, the Sunset Soundcheck. The first concert is Wednesday featuring pop singer Kesha.

When it comes to modeling a new venue in the KC area, it’s smart to have someone who’s familiar with the area to have a hand on the project. John Ahrens is the executive vice president of design and construction at Live Nation, as well as a KU graduate.

He said the building was constructed in a way to combat rain showers. Storms in Kansas City typically come from the west, so the canopy is designed to ensure the people underneath it will stay dry. But if you’re in a seat farther back, you still might get wet.

When you look up at the canopy, you’ll see circular skylights, which are intended to help see the stars during a night show. Ahrens said the circular shape also serves another purpose, since the Amphitheater is a flight path for Kansas City International Airport.

“We wanted to do something with the roof of this building that was iconic, that people would notice when they looked out the (airplane) window,” Ahrens said. “If you see a bunch of circle skylights on top of a roof, you’re going to know this is where we are.”

Amphitheater offers cheaper food options, plus local twists

Everyone knows that food can get expensive when it comes to concert venues. Luckily, the amphitheater is providing cheaper options for its patrons.

Select snacks will start at $3, as well as $2 hot dogs and $5 beers, according to Ryan Derieux, the head of culinary for Live Nation. This was intentional, since Live Nation wanted to ensure there were options for everyone coming to a show.

“If you want to just grab one hot dog and a beer, you can do that. If you want to get Rebel Hen and a pizza, you can do that as well,” Derieux said. “We want to make sure that every fan gets a food experience that really matches the experience of the venue.”

Rebel Hen is a chicken joint curated by Live Nation, which offers multiple options like chicken strips and sandwiches, plus pairings with its in-house sauces. This will be a pricier option; some of the main options will cost you between $19-$21, while a basket of fries will be $8.

Other food options across the concourse will include items like dumplings, pizza and sausages. Local establishments will also be at the amphitheater, such as Boulevard Brewing Co., J. Rieger & Co. and Tom’s Town Distilling Co.

And yes, barbecue will be served, courtesy of Gladstone restaurant Off The Hook BBQ. The majority of the food will be produced out of a food truck or a stand, adding some festival vibes to the amphitheater.

“For too long, food has taken second stage to the show. We’ve worked really hard over the last few years to really bring it center stage and match the energies of the show with the food,” Deriuex said. He also said that depending on the artist performing, there will be specialty food and drink items available that are dedicated to that artist.

Don’t forget, you are allowed to bring in outside food to the venue, but it has to be in a clear, 1-gallon ziplock bag.

The VIP lounge pays homage to the Kansas City music scene

Usually suites at a stadium or arena are at the upper level, away from the crowd. At the amphitheater, suites are right in the middle of the action. Right above the 100 section is a premium area, which has larger padded seats. On both sides of the concourse from the stage are large party areas, which offer a straight shot of the stage.

All premium areas allow for catering.

Premium access will also get you into a space that is offered throughout many Live Nation venues globally. The Vinyl Room is inspired by Japanese hi-fi culture, giving members access to vinyl DJs, handcrafted cocktails and chef-made meals.

The dim-lit room also pays homage to the Kansas City music scene, including vinyls and posters of Kansas City artists, including one of rapper Tech N9ne hanging near the bar. The room also had posters honoring the 18th & Vine Jazz District.

Live Nation made sure to add as much musical detail as possible to this room, even designing the tables as vinyls.

There’s also an outdoor patio connected to the Vinyl Room. That is next to the premium parking lot on the north side of the building, which will allow for easy access to the dedicated premium gate.

Morton Amphitheater is preparing for a busy summer

In case you haven’t heard, as many as 650,000 people are expected to be in the Kansas City area during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Newport and Live Nation have been working with the state and the city of Riverside to welcome out-of-towners with open arms.

“The visitors that are gonna come to the venue throughout the course of this year are gonna generate around $68 million in impact. We’ve been working with everybody,” he said. “The city and the community as a whole have embraced what’s coming, and are working very hard to make sure that they’re ahead of that growth.”

This is the “first large amphitheater” that Live Nation has built in a while, according to Newport. Other amphitheaters ran by Live Nation are in Atlanta, Toronto, New York and other cities. This means that many of the things they’ve learned from amphitheaters of the past and present is being applied to Riverside’s amphitheater of the future.

For a venue like this, Live Nation wants you to do more than just show up and go to your seat.

“We have other places to hang out. This venue brings an element of social experience that I don’t think you’re gonna see in a lot of other places. I’m really excited to see that play out for the fans,” Newport said.

Fans will get plenty of chances to experience the amphitheater this summer, starting with Kesha. Tickets for that show are still available on Ticketmaster.