Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater Information
The Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater is now an established venue for live music and entertainment, but it started life as a completely different kind of venue.
Originally known as The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, the now Amphitheater was then an independent league ballpark with around 5,500 seats.
The name “Harbor Yard” was a reference to popular ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. This ballpark is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and is home to the Baltimore Orioles – a Major League Baseball team.
The name was chosen as Jack McGregor – founder of the Bridgeport Barrage home team – believed that the park would be an important part of the renewal plan for the city of Bridgeport. Camden Yards was vital to the renewal of Baltimore, so the venue was named to reflect what Camden Yards had achieved.
The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was built on the site of a former factory for Jenkins Valve. The venue went through construction from 1997 to 1998, before opening to the public on May 21st, 1998. The ballpark cost around $19 million to construct, which was funded by team and public contributions.
The Ballpark as a sports venue
As a sports venue, the Ballpark was the home base of several sports teams over the years, including:
- » The Bridgeport Barrage: A professional field lacrosse team part of Major League Lacrosse. The team was housed at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard from 2001 to 2003. Following the 2003 season, they moved to Philadelphia.
- » The Bridgeport Bluefish: A minor league baseball team part of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was the home base of this team during its entire lifespan, from 1998 to 2017.
- » The Bridgeport Purple Knights: Athletic teams that represent the University of Bridgeport within NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Purple Knights teams compete as part of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference for the vast majority of sports. The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was the home base of The Purple Knights during its entire lifespan, from 1998 to 2017.
- » The Sacred Heart Pioneers: A collection of 32 sports teams that represent Sacred Heart University – located in Fairfield, Connecticut – within intercollegiate athletics. The Pioneers were housed at the venue from 2001 to 2017.
The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was successful during its lifespan. It even managed to win the Atlantic League Park of the Year Award in October 2009, awarded by the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
The venue also hosted four All-Star games, including the very first 2001 MLL All-Star Game. It also hosted the Atlantic League All Star games in 1999, 2006 and 2015. However, its time as a ballpark came to an end in 2017, when Bridgeport mayor Joe Ganim confirmed that the Bridgeport Bluefish’s lease would not be renewed.
Conversion to an amphitheater
The ballpark was converted into the concert amphitheater that it is today in July 2018, opening to the public on July 28th, 2021.
The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater has also had a significant amount of success, despite being open for less than a decade. The venue has won several prestigious awards, such as the Best of Connecticut Music Venue award and the VenuesNow All Star Award for Renovation.
Over the years, it has played host to a range of musicians, from classic artists such as the Foo Fighters and Earth, Wind & Fire to more contemporary figures like Jelly Roll and Logic.
Some other noteworthy performers who have played at the venue include All- American Rejects, Elvis Costello, Lindsey Stirling, Walk Off The Earth, Goo Goo Dolls, Sarah McLachlan, Tenacious D. and Sting.
For more information on the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater see the pages below:
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater Parking:
Read parking information and directions for the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater.
Ticket Policies:
Read ticket policies, ticket verification and refund policies.
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater Seating Chart:
View the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater seating map and read related seating information.