Sprinkles did not damper the spirits of concertgoers decked out in bright rain jackets with umbrellas in tow as they eagerly made their way inside Ford Amphitheater for its grand opening. While Tuesday's soft launch went smoothly, some changes appeared to be made to better the guest experience ahead of OneRepublic's first of three shows Friday night. While cellphone service was spotty Tuesday evening, carriers in the area amplified local tower service Friday night, according to media spokesperson Chloe Hoeft.
While food may have run out Tuesday, guests saw an increase of food trucks and tents selling food typical to what one would see at a county fair: hot dogs, kettle corn, nachos and even funnel cakes. Beer and water tents surrounded the venue's interior, with lines appearing to move quickly. Even more police and security presence were observed Friday, with the opening night drawing nearly double the number of guests that came Tuesday.
Law enforcement was out helping direct traffic, which some guests said was "simple and easy." "We had no problem; no issues," Tricia Wissinger said after finding her seat. "Really, it was great.
" Concertgoers were from all over Colorado Friday, with some even traveling for three hours each way from Fort Collins to catch the show. "It's nice to have a small venue," said Joshua Mcgehee of Fort Collins. "The intimacy makes it worth it.
" Even Colorado Gov. Jared Polis made his way down to Colorado Springs Friday night and was seen sitting in a su.