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The Backyard, an exclusive VIP experience, is an outdoor area located near the main stage. It offers patrons access to a specially curated food and drink menu, yard games, air-conditioned restrooms and a private merchandise stand to avoid lengthy lines.

With shaded table seating, comfy couches, a bar and lawn chairs, concert ticketholders can watch live music performances from the Backyard on an LED viewing screen separate from the main venue seating, for an additional fee. Regional Vice President of Venue Operations Andrew Newport said the amphitheater addition came from listening to the fans, who wanted a tailgating-like space for in-show hangouts.

“Everybody's viewpoints are different, and we need to make sure that we're paying attention to the needs of all the fans so that what we're serving, what these spaces look like, and the shows that we book are reflective of what the community wants,� Newport said.

Guests can enjoy curated menu items like burgers, ribs, brisket and more. There’s also a new drink menu that includes locally-owned lager from Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, mocktail refreshers and a special partnership with Jolene, a coffee brand co-owned by Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis.

Green tables and yellow chairs welcome concertgoers as they enter the Backyard. The space also includes a pickup truck with turntables in its bed and a wall covered in license plates bearing the names of musicians who’ve performed at the amphitheater. The space is full of games like Connect Four, cornhole and a custom Jenga set decorated with artists' names for guests to play with between sets or while watching concerts from the yard.

The Backyard is one of many new changes at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. Earlier this summer, the venue also ended free parking and discontinued its seasonal Lawnie Pass. Add-on passes for the Backyard start at $30.

According to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Business Journal, venue parent company Live Nation submitted a $3.5 million construction plan for the Backyard in March. Newport said brainstorming for the project began years ago while looking for new ways to maintain the 34-year-old amphitheater's relevance.

Describing the space as “curated as opposed to just another space that you could buy into,� Newport has seen guests elect to remain in the Backyard instead of watching concerts from the main stage. The Backyard encourages engagement and “bonding over music� beyond the traditional concert-viewing experience.

There will also be intimate performances from DJs and indie musicians in the Backyard, Newport says. Live Nation will also highlight local artists at one of the space's pickup truck mini stages in the future.

Beyond the Backyard, Newport said the venue is making additional changes to make the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater more accessible to guests. This includes improvements to the main plaza, like offering $2 hotdogs and $5 beers, adding more plaza seating and removing other barriers that could prevent guests from attending concerts.

“We think this is the place to be,� he said. “And we're really trying to put our money where our mouth is.�

Prioritizing great customer experiences, Newport says he is confident about the Backyard’s launch as more concertgoers seek out engagement opportunities at shows.

“We want you to feel welcome, and we want you to feel like you can't wait to come back,� he said.