Coors, Cricket, Sleep Train, Mattress Firm. If you have heard any of those names tied to a big outdoor show in Chula Vista, this is the place. The sponsors changed, the amphitheatre in eastern Chula Vista stayed put, and some longtime locals still just call it the Chula Vista amphitheatre.
Five names since 1998
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1998 to 2008 | Coors Amphitheatre |
| 2008 to 2013 | Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre |
| 2013 to 2017 | Sleep Train Amphitheatre |
| 2017 to 2018 | Mattress Firm Amphitheatre |
| Since 2018 | North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre |
It opened in 1998 under Universal Concerts, and Live Nation owns and runs it. The first show to sell it out was the Spice Girls, on August 21, 1998. North Island Credit Union's name went up on November 1, 2018, under a sponsorship deal set to run ten years.
Seats, lawn and the night air
About 9,500 of the spots are reserved seats, and roughly 10,000 more are on the general admission lawn behind them. Published totals run from about 19,000 to 20,500 depending on the source and the setup, so call it close to 20,000. Lawn tickets mean the grass or a chair you rent at the venue.
Chula Vista cools off once the sun goes down, and the lawn feels it first, so bring a layer even after a hot afternoon. Some shows carry an age limit right in the listing, so check yours.
The lineup runs big. Hard rock and metal tours, Latin stars, reggae bills and hip hop all come through, and you'll find them on our hard rock, Latin, reggae and hip hop and rap pages.
The 805, Main Street and the way out
The amphitheatre sits right off the 805, between Main Street and Heritage Road, about 20 minutes from downtown San Diego when traffic is light. Live Nation's directions use the Main Street exit, then east about two miles to Heritage Road. If that exit backs up, it suggests going one exit farther south to Palm Avenue and coming back north. Drivers from the east side of the county can come down the 125 instead.
Sesame Place San Diego is the next door neighbor, and traffic gets heavy when a big show lands on a day the park is open. Rideshare pickups are on westbound Main Street only. The Blue Line Trolley runs miles to the west, so plan on a car or a ride, and expect the exit from a full house to take a while.
For a seated East County show, see The Magnolia in El Cajon. The rest of this side of the county is on our East and South County page.