The American backyard has borne witness to many changes. See: the evolution of stand-alone charcoal grills to the multi-burner behemoths of today or the rise and fall of favorite toys (looking at you, Lawn Darts). Regional debates about the merits of “cornhole” versus “bags” persist.
Now, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater has once again revamped how entertainment meets the outdoors. The Backyard is the newest addition to the Maryland Heights concert venue, giving St. Louis a fresh take on what patio fun looks like in 2025.
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The central focus of The Backyard is its big-screen, which shows the artist performances on stage in real time, all viewed from the comfort of the turf-topped area. This technology reaches far beyond the bedsheet-and-movie-projector combination known to many childhood birthday parties, with five giant speakers built into the screen and smaller ones lined around the fences and built into surrounding structures.
Andrew Newport, regional vice president of venue operations for Live Nation, the parent company of Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, knows the changes in the concert experience all too well. From his beginnings as a parking attendant with Live Nation 26 years ago to now, “Amphitheaters have aged,” Newport says. “We are looking for ways to make them new again and make them really relevant and very attractive to the fans.”
The Backyard does just that. With a full-service restaurant, bar, air-conditioned restrooms, merch stand, DJ booth, and more, all within its four walls, the fan experience is elevated here. Entry to The Backyard is for purchase, and contingent on concert tickets, but once both are secured, guests are allowed to float freely between the special viewing area and their seats.
“There’s no experience like being inside the amphitheater for a show,” Newport says. “However, since we opened last week, during the show [The Backyard] is packed. We are even needing to go find extra chairs for people that just want to watch it back here.”
No matter if you hang in The Backyard all evening, or use the space as a pre-show tailgate, the design inside elicits a sense of nostalgia for summer nights spent catching fireflies. This effect is highlighted by the small details: lanterns atop patio furniture, the giant Jenga with names of artists who have played in the amphitheater, or the marquee heading over the bar like an old-time movie theater. “Our design team, Blueprint Studios, did a marvelous job on this. They’ve been tasked with rethinking the amphitheater experience,” Newport says.
He also notes that Hollywood Casino’s general manager, Leslie Ramsey, has been an important part of the three-year process of creating The Backyard. The City of Maryland Heights, too, has been essential to moving the project forward smoothly. “These things don’t happen without supportive cities. Maryland Heights has been a great partner,” he says.
DJ Franco Puetz of Show Me Sound, who mixes tunes live from The Backyard before and after the shows, reports that his job is to “set the vibe for what’s to come. I get to expand the library. Where else can I DJ Noah Kahan?” he laughs while playing to the crowd gathered eagerly for The Lumineers show on July 23.
Intentionally curating mixes based on the vibe of different fanbases is reflective of the philosophy of Live Nation, where listening is key to the business of music. “The fans have a voice, but we want to make sure the employees and crew members have a voice, too,” says Newport. “If we’re smart, we’ll listen.”
According to Newport, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater is a venue where everyone’s night is taken into account. “We’ve really tried to do that 100 percent in The Backyard, but also for all of the fans that walk into any gate in this venue,” he says.
Fans can see for themselves how successful the venue has been at The Backyard, open for the rest of the concert season.
