Forest Hills Stadium is a 13,000-capacity outdoor music venue in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, New York, originally built in 1923 as the home of the US Open tennis tournament. It was renovated and reopened for concerts in 2013. Billboard named it one of the top music venues on the East Coast in 2025. Best suited for touring acts and established artists who want an outdoor stadium experience within New York City limits.
Alabama Shakes performed at Forest Hills Stadium during their 2026 tour. Here is "American Dream" from that show, officially uploaded to the Alabama Shakes YouTube channel:
Venue Specifications
The stadium was originally designed in the 1920s as a horseshoe-shaped open-air amphitheater for tennis. It began booking concerts in the 1960s and hosted culturally significant performances by Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles. The stadium was updated in 2013 with state-of-the-art upgrades after lying fallow since 1997, when its last show was the K-Rock Dysfunctional Family Picnic. Music promoter Mike Luba led the restoration. The venue is designed to optimize acoustics with no obstructed views. It is the only outdoor venue of its kind and size in New York City. The stadium celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. AEG Global Partnerships lists the venue's annual attendance at 340,000. The stadium is older than Radio City Music Hall and is one of the few first-generation iconic buildings remaining in New York.
Notable Events and Recent Programming
Since reopening in 2013, Forest Hills Stadium has hosted sell-out performances by Drake, Dolly Parton, Mumford and Sons, Alabama Shakes, Ed Sheeran, and many others. Paul Simon, who grew up in Forest Hills and graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1958, performed at the stadium with Art Garfunkel in 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1970 as part of the Forest Hills Music Festival. Simon returned for a solo show on June 30, 2016.
The 2025 season included Phish (July 22 and 23), King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard (August 1 and 2), Chappell Roan (four nights in September), Tyler Childers (September 29 and 30), and the All Things Go Music Festival (September 26, 27, and 28).
The 2026 season runs June 6 through October 10 and features Bob Dylan with Lucinda Williams (July 21), Paul Simon (July 8 and 9), Dave Matthews Band (June 10), Erykah Badu (September 18), David Byrne (September 19), Jon Batiste (August 15), King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard (three nights in August), Zac Brown Band (August 27 and 28), Wilco (June 20), and the All Things Go Festival (September 25, 26, and 27).
Notable Shows Here
- The Beatles (1964) - Performed at the stadium during their first US tour, one of the earliest stadium rock concerts in history
- The Rolling Stones (1964) - Played the venue during their first American tour, just months after their Ed Sullivan debut
- Bob Dylan (1960s and 2026) - Dylan performed at the stadium early in his career and returned in July 2026 with Lucinda Williams for a two-night stand
- Paul Simon (1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 2016, 2026) - Simon and Garfunkel performed at the venue four times during the 1960s as part of the Forest Hills Music Festival. Simon, who grew up in Forest Hills and graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1958, returned for solo shows in 2016 and 2026, including an emotional performance of "America" that he had not performed live since 2021
- Chappell Roan (September 2025, four nights) - Her "Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things" tour kicked off with a four-night stand, with Nancy Wilson of Heart joining her on stage for a cover of "Barracuda"
- Phish (July 2025, two nights) - The jam band veterans sold out two consecutive nights
- Alabama Shakes (2026) - Performed during the 2026 season, with official live footage released from the show
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Forest Hills Stadium is the only outdoor venue of its size within New York City limits, offering a unique performance setting. The 13,000 capacity bridges the gap between club shows and stadium or arena shows. The venue's location in Queens provides access to audiences who may not travel to Manhattan or Brooklyn for shows. The tennis court heritage gives the venue a distinctive identity that artists can use in marketing. The 2013 renovation means the venue has modern production capabilities despite its historic setting. The outdoor setting allows for summer concert series and festival-style programming. The venue's booking team has shown willingness to program both established and emerging acts. The acoustically optimized design benefits artists whose music relies on sound quality. See our guide on how to book your first tour for routing through New York City.
Drawbacks / Things to Consider
The venue is outdoor, meaning weather can affect performances and cancel shows. The 1923 building, while renovated, has structural limitations compared to purpose-built modern venues. The Forest Hills neighborhood is residential, which restricts noise levels and show times. The venue is seasonal, operating primarily from May through October. The 13,000 capacity is large for independent artists, who may struggle to fill the space. Public transit access is limited compared to Manhattan venues, with the Long Island Rail Road's Forest Hills station being the nearest option. Parking in the residential neighborhood is restricted. The venue's tennis heritage, while distinctive, means the layout is not optimized for concert production. The stadium sat unused from 1997 to 2013, and its long-term stability depends on continued concert success.
Related Resources
- Venues Directory
- How to Book Your First Tour: Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Price Your Live Performance as a Musician
- Use our Tour Revenue Calculator to estimate earnings from NYC shows
- Madison Square Garden - The other major New York City venue, an indoor arena
- Greek Theatre Berkeley - A comparable historic outdoor amphitheater on the West Coast
- Radio City Music Hall - Another iconic New York venue, indoor and smaller capacity
- Visit Forest Hills Stadium for event listings
