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0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Apr 7, 2002

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Capacity: About 9,600 at general-admission shows or about 8,700 for reserved-seating shows.

Location: 12700 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison

Directions: Take I-25 north to the C-470 west exit. Follow C-470 west to Morrison Road. Take Morrison Road west through the town.

Telephone: (303) 697-8801

Parking: 14 unpaved lots hold about 4,000 cars. Lots are mostly red dirt and can be difficult to maneuver a car through. You'll pay a $5-per-ticket parking fee when you purchase tickets.

History: This outdoor venue is a natural, geologically formed open- air amphitheater in the Rocky Mountain foothills 15 miles west of Denver. Two 300-foot monoliths, Creation Rock and Ship Rock, frame the theater, with the stage sitting in the middle. It's a popular place for daylong festivals.

Ambience: Wow. You're at one with nature, under the sun and - eventually - the stars.

Rules and regulations: Doors open at 5 p.m., earlier for all-day festivals. You can take in: factory-sealed beverage containers, coolers 12 by 17 inches and smaller, cloth bags, soft packs, sliced fruit and veggies, binoculars, seat cushions, umbrellas, paper and plastic cups with permitted beverages. You cannot take in: alcohol or illegal drugs, cameras or tripods, wine skins or bota bags, sticks or clubs, fireworks, bullhorns and other noise-makers, framed backpacks, confetti, animals (except for aides to disabled patrons) and skateboards. Prepare to be searched.

Important: Folks who are out of shape may get winded by the strenuous, mostly uphill walk to the site. Disabled patrons will find seating in the first and top rows. Handicapped parking is available in two of the upper lots; ramps lead into the theater. Arrangements may be made in advance for people with disabilities to be dropped off at the backstage lot. Dress in layers to accommodate the ever- changing weather.

Tickets: Ticketmaster, 520-9090; Ticketweb, (800) 965-4827; TicketsWest, (800) 325-7328

Fiddler's Green

Capacity: 18,000, including 7,500 fixed seats and hillside lawn seating for 10,500.

Location: 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Englewood

Directions: Take I-25 north to the Orchard Road exit. Go west to Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, turn left to Fiddler's Green.

Telephone: (303) 220-7000

Parking: The theater is surrounded by parking lots in the Denver Technological Center. Patrons pay a $3.50-per-ticket parking fee when they buy tickets.

History: Fiddler's Green opened in 1989. It is owned by the Museum of Outdoor Arts and leased to House of Blues Concerts. Concerts run from early May to the end of September. Music ranges from ballet to rap.

Ambience: It's like getting back to nature, superficially - think camping in your back yard. A yuppie version of Red Rocks.

Rules and regulations: Gates open an hour before show time for most shows. For sold-out events and larger shows, the gates open about an hour and a half before show time. Not allowed: outside food and beverages, weapons, cameras, large beach umbrellas, lawn chairs of any type, Frisbees, banners with sticks, bottled water, cans, bottles or coolers. Be prepared to be searched with a metal detector.

Important: Concerts must conclude by 10:30 p.m. because Fiddler's is in the middle of a residential area. If you have lawn seating, take a blanket to stake your claim, or, better yet, something made of nylon or plastic, because the ground is often cold and damp. Shows will not be canceled or moved to another venue because of bad weather, so come prepared. Accommodations for patrons with disabilities include close-in parking, wheelchair ramps, special seating, TDD machines, headphones and Braille signs.

Tickets: Ticketmaster, 520-9090

The Pepsi Center

Capacity: 17,600 to 20,100, depending on stage setup for each show

Location: 1000 Chopper Place, Denver

Directions: Take I-25 to the Auraria Parkway exit and follow the signs. The arena is less than a mile east of the freeway, to the left of the parkway.

Telephone: (303) 405-1111

Parking: 6,400 spaces, although some slots are shared with neighbor Six Flags Elitch Gardens. Parking fees range from $10 to $20. Valet parking is $30.

History: The Pepsi Center replaced the now-demolished McNichols Arena as a major Denver venue. The $180 million facility is home to the Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets. It sits on 52 acres in Denver's Central Platte Valley, near LoDo.

Ambience: Clean, good acoustics and very user-friendly with 41 restrooms and dozens of food items and drinks.

Rules and regulations: No outside food or beverages allowed. Be prepared to be searched and have purses checked for weapons.

Important: 200 parking spaces and 250 seats are reserved for the disabled. The seats are easily accessible and allow plenty of room. All signs are also printed in Braille. Six passenger elevators and seven escalators ease movement. TDD phones and special earphones are available for the hearing-impaired.

Tickets: Ticketmaster, 520-9090

CityLights Pavilion

Capacity: 5,300

Location: 1700 Seventh St., west edge of the Pepsi Center grounds, Denver.