Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
is an outdoor amphitheatre, located at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, New York. It is one of two major outdoor arenas in the New York City Metropolitan Area, along with PNC Bank Arts Center. The theater was designed to specifications provided by Robert Moses, who created Jones Beach State Park. [1]
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NIKON AT JONES BEACH THEATER TICKETS
| EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
|---|
| Ashanti & Trey Songz Tickets 6/18 | Jun 18, 2026
Thu, 7:30 PM |  | | Yacht Rock Revue Tickets 6/19 | Jun 19, 2026
Fri, 8:00 PM | | | Riley Green, Justin Moore, Drake White & Hannah McFarland Tickets 6/20 | Jun 20, 2026
Sat, 7:00 PM | | | James Taylor & His All-Star Band Tickets 6/23 | Jun 23, 2026
Tue, 7:30 PM | | | Evanescence, Spiritbox & Nova Twins Tickets 6/24 | Jun 24, 2026
Wed, 6:30 PM | |
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History
Opened in
1952 as the Jones Beach Marine Theater, the venue originally had 8,200 seats and hosted musicals. Moses had several boxes designated for his own use - Moses' friend
Guy Lombardo performed often in the early years. The opening show was the operetta extravaganza "A Night in Venice" by
Johann Strauss II, produced by film producer,
Mike Todd, complete with floating gondolas and starring
Enzo Stuarti, Norwood Smith and
Nola Fairbanks. After about thirty years, the primary focus of the venue would change to concerts. In
1991 and
1992, under contract from concert promoter Ron Delsner, the theatre would undergo an extensive renovation, adding a second level, and increasing the capacity to 11,200 seats. The capacity was expanded again in
1998 to hold 15,000 seats. The original design of the theater had a "moat" — the stage was actually on Zack's Bay and separated from the beach, and performers could be brought to the stage by boat (some scenes had floating scenery). The moat was covered or filled in during the first renovation and seats closer to the stage were installed. The Guy Lombardo Orchestra would pass through the "moat" on a yacht during the intermissions. The band would play tunes while floating in front of the audience.
Later years and today
The day that the Jones Beach summer concert lineup is unveiled, generally in early May, is regarded as a sort of holiday for
Long Island music fans. In
2002, the company of clothing designer
Tommy Hilfiger purchased the naming rights to the venue, giving it the name
Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater
for four years. On
April 13,
2006, after Tommy Hilfiger, under new ownership, declined its option to keep the company's name on the theater, naming rights were purchased by the camera company
Nikon, giving the venue its current name, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater.
The venue has a strict no-alcohol policy except in designated VIP boxes located behind the orchestra..
See also
- PNC Bank Arts Center, an outdoor amphitheatre in Holmdel, New Jersey
- List of contemporary amphitheatres
References
- Caro, Robert "The Power Broker". Knopf, 1974 pp. 816-819