Pay Up, Fans: Tinley Park's Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Will Charge For Parking In 2026

TINLEY PARK, IL — Concertgoers in Tinley Park will have to shell out a bit more next year, as the venue will charge for parking for the first time since it opened.

General admission parking has typically been included with ticket purchase, but Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre this week announced it'll charge separately for it in 2026.

The parking pass—which will be sold separately from tickets—will be required to use venue parking during concerts and other ticketed events starting Jan. 1. For general parking at the venue, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., it'll cost attendees $20 per vehicle in advance, and $25 the day of. Upgrade to premier parking for $50 per vehicle. Reserved spots for oversize/limos cost $90 and EZ Out spots—for smooth entrance/exit—begin at $120. See more on their website.

A spokesperson said improvements and upgrades are being made to the venue in the off-season.

"During the off season, we are making upgrades to the venue and our operations just like we do every year," the venue spokesperson said. "We look forward to welcoming fans for the 2026 summer concert season and showing them the major investments we are making in the venue experience.”

The spokesperson also said that revenue from on-site spending—including concessions and now parking—funds venue operations.

"When fans buy a drink or purchase a parking pass, that money funds things like building maintenance, lawn upgrades, venue security, and employee wages," the spokesperson said.

Sound off: Will the new fees make you change your concert plans for summer 2026? Take our poll below.

The venue—which has gone by the names New World Music Theatre, Tweeter Center and the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre before becoming Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in April 2023—has been known for its affordable, albeit somewhat chaotic, parking. Gravel lots without designated spots can leave fans hunting for their cars long after the encore ends. Leaving the venue is often a perceived free-for-all, the parking rows and exit lanes flooded with concertgoers wanting out as soon as possible and bottlenecking making that nearly impossible.

The news of the fees enraged fans, with nearly 2,000 commenting on the venue's social media. Many were asking if the fee means the lots will be paved, and if they'll have adequate staff to keep traffic moving smoothly. Others questioned the availability of parking, and if concessions inside the park will be cheaper.

"Does that mean you won’t have children working the lots and have a more sufficient entry/exit?" one commenter asked.

"Looks like we will be heading up to Alpine Valley from now on," another said.

"Does this mean the venue will HAVE PAVED PARKING THRU OUT ITS LOTS????" another asked.

"Hey so this is insane," one said.

"I’ll find somewhere else to see a concert. Have a good one!" yet another commented.

"Guess tickets will be cheaper since apparently parking was 'built in' before," another quipped.

See the post below for more comments.

The venue has a capacity of 28,000: 11,000 seats and 17,000 on the lawn.

Its summer season lineup to date includes Evanescence, Guns N' Roses, Avenged Sevenfold and Good Charlotte, Train, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Motley Crue and Iron Maiden.