The Marcus Amphitheater sits on the southern edge of the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee.  This open air concert venue was built in 1987.  It can seat over 24,000 people when you include the lawn and bleacher seating. 

The venue is used throughout the summer months, but mostly during the ten day festival known as Summerfest.  Prior to the building of the Marcus Amphitheater, that section of the Henry Maier Festival Park was set aside for a circus midway. 

The building of the Marcus Amphitheater allowed more well known and highly popular bands to come to Milwaukee.  Some say that the Summerfest board was prompted to address the situation of overcrowding after 25,000 people showed up for a headline act at Summerfest in the mid 1980's.

Whatever the reason, the Marcus Amphitheater was a welcome addition to Milwaukee's lakefront.  Artists that have played there include Britney Spears, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Deep Purple, Jonas Brothers, No Doubt, Rush, Daughtry, Tom Petty, and many more. 

The Marcus Amphitheater plays host to events such as The Vans Warped Tour, Lollapalooza, and more.  The venue can be used in conjunction with the Summerfest grounds, or as a stand alone concert hall.  There have been shows there as early as May and as late as October, but the long Milwaukee winters do not allow this facility to be used for half the year.