The Top 5 Outdoor Venues in Upstate New York (And Why We Have So Many)
Five venues, ranked. SPAC, Bethel Woods, Artpark, CMAC, and Empower FCU — plus Highland Bowl, Beak & Skiff, and Music Haven as the honorable mentions. The argument for the order, the case for each room, and why Upstate New York has more great outdoor venues than anywhere else in America.
The Lawn Seating Bible — SPAC, Bethel Woods, Artpark, Highland Bowl
A veteran’s guide to where to sit on the lawn at SPAC, Bethel Woods, Artpark, and Highland Bowl — the spots, the rules, and the trade-offs.
The Saratoga Sound — Why SPAC Is the Best Outdoor Venue in America
Red Rocks has the geology. The Bowl has the history. The Gorge has the view. SPAC has all four pillars. The case for Saratoga as America’s best outdoor venue.
Summer 2026: 12 Amphitheater Shows in Upstate NY Worth Planning Around
From SPAC to Bethel Woods to CMAC to Artpark — 12 verified amphitheater shows across six Upstate NY venues worth building your summer 2026 around.
David Lee Roth Played Glens Falls in 1986 — Now He’s Taking His Final Bow at Proctors
October 2, 1986. The Glens Falls Civic Center. A Thursday night in the Adirondack foothills, and David Lee Roth — six months removed from the biggest breakup in rock and roll — was standing on a riser in front of four thousand people, doing a full split in leather pants while Steve Vai shredded a […]
Billy Joel Played the Palace Theatre in 1996 — Now He’s Filling a Dome With Sting
In 1996, Billy Joel played the Palace Theatre in Albany for 2,807 people. On April 10, 2026, he shares a stage with Sting at the JMA Wireless Dome for 49,000. That distance is the whole story.