Compton Terrace, Music venue in Phoenix, Arizona
Compton Terrace was an outdoor music venue situated next to Firebird International Raceway with capacity for around 20,000 attendees. The amphitheater hosted rock concerts in an open-air setting.
The venue was named after William Edward Compton, a local radio personality and music promoter who championed live entertainment. Two versions operated from 1979 until the final closure in 1997, with the second location lasting until demolition in 2010.
The venue hosted performances by Metallica, U2, The Police, Def Leppard, and numerous other major rock bands throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
The venue was located southeast of downtown Phoenix near a racing facility. Visitors should have expected longer travel times from the city center and come prepared for outdoor concert conditions.
The first version stood in Legend City in Tempe and was operated by Jess Nicks, father of Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks. This early connection to the band shows how the location mattered in regional music history.
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