First Avenue in Minneapolis
First Avenue's Main Room at 701 First Avenue North holds up to 1,550 standing, has no parking lot of its own, and sits two blocks from Warehouse District/Hennepin light rail.
Photo credits
The First Avenue Main Room full of people during a show, stage lights glowing behind the crowd and speaker arrays flanking the stage: Jimmy Selix · CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answers
- Capacity
- Up to 1,550 standing
- Address
- 701 First Avenue NorthMinneapolis, MN 55403
- Doors
- Usually 6:30 or 7 PM; dance nights 9 PM
- Age
- Set per show: 18+, 21+ or all ages; photo ID
- Light rail
- Warehouse District/Hennepin, two blocks
- Parking
- No lot; Mayo ramp across 7th Street
- Bags
- Small bags only; large ones to coat check
- Tickets
- AXS; sold out online means sold out
- Contact
- +1 612-338-8388
Holidays at First Avenue
Open on the holidays: these nights are in the agenda.
- ChristmasSoul Asylum
First Avenue agenda: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Minneapolis.
Last night at First Avenue: Flip Phone XXL Halloween starring Crystal Methyd ( winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars )
December 2026
- Fri4Dec
- Sat5Dec
- Fri11Dec
- Sat12Dec
- Fri18Dec
- Sat19Dec
- Sat26Dec
January 2027
- Fri8Jan
- Sat9Jan
- Thu14Jan
- Fri15Jan
- Sat30Jan
Plan your visit to First Avenue
How many people fit in First Avenue? Main Room capacity
The Main Room holds up to 1,550 people standing; for private events First Avenue lists 300 to 1,000 in seated or banquet layouts.
That makes it a mid-sized standing club: less than a fifth of the size of The Armory and a little under the Fillmore Minneapolis.
| Venue | Capacity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First Avenue Main Room | Up to 1,550 standing (300 to 1,000 for seated private events) | first-avenue.com, private events |
| The Fillmore Minneapolis | 1,850 (music hall) | fillmoreminneapolis.com, private events |
| The Armory | 8,400 (events center and concert venue) | Wikipedia, Minneapolis Armory |
| 7th St Entry (next door, own page) | 250 standing | first-avenue.com, private events |
Is there seating at First Avenue? Standing room, balcony tables and ADA access
The Main Room is primarily general admission, standing room only, with limited first-come seating.
- Floor
- General admission, standing room only
- Seats
- Limited, first come, first served
- Balcony tables
- Reserved for Gold and Platinum members and their guests
- Tables and ADA
- Balcony tables are not available for ADA accommodations
- Dance floor
- 1,000 sq ft, with a 25-foot screen in the room
Reserved seats are not sold for ordinary shows, so where you stand depends on when you arrive. If you need a seat or an accessible spot, First Avenue asks you to arrange it with the office in advance (see the access section).
How to buy First Avenue tickets: AXS, the Depot Tavern and no door sales when sold out
Tickets are sold through AXS, with AXS Mobile ID as the main way in, and a show that is sold out online is sold out at the door too.
- Buy online with the Buy Tickets button on the show's page; it opens AXS. Ticket purchases are final.
- AXS Mobile ID in the AXS app is the main form of entry, so have the ticket on your phone. If you do not have a smartphone, will-call delivery is available for most events.
- In person, The Depot Tavern next door has a ticket window, open 4 PM to 11 PM Wednesday through Saturday and for Main Room shows. Physical tickets carry a reduced service fee of $3.00 per ticket.
- VIP and AXS Premium tickets can only be bought online.
- A show that is sold out online is sold out in person, with no extra tickets at the door. Official resale is through AXS; First Avenue discourages third-party resellers.
How a night at First Avenue works
Your first visit, from the ticket to the stage.
- Have your ticket on your phone in the AXS app and a valid photo ID. You need the ID to enter, whatever your age.
- Arrive at doors, usually 6:30 or 7:00 PM for a concert and 9:00 PM for a dance night. The show starts about an hour later at concerts.
- Keep your bag small. Anything bigger than a small bag, including backpacks and messenger bags, goes to the coat check; a coat costs $5.
- Eat before the show at the Depot Tavern next door, or at the bars inside; the Main Room has six.
- Find a spot on the standing floor or take one of the limited seats, then enjoy the show. No flash photography, and no professional video or audio recording.
What time do doors open and shows start at First Avenue?
Most concerts open doors at 6:30 or 7:00 PM and start an hour later, and dance nights open at 9:00 PM.
These are patterns from event pages, not a promise: each show lists its own doors, start time and age limit. First Avenue does not publish an end time, so there is no standard curfew to quote; ask about your ride home with a margin.
| Type of night | Doors | Show starts | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concert, early | 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 18+ |
| Concert, standard | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM | 18+ or all ages |
| Concert, later | 7:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 18+ |
| Dance party | 9:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 18+ |
| Early-evening club night | 6:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 21+ |
First Avenue bag policy, ID and camera rules
Bring a small bag and a valid photo ID, and leave large bags, professional cameras and weapons outside.
Bag and camera rules can change for a particular performer, so a show's page can be stricter than the standard rule.
- Bags
- A small bag is fine at most shows; large bags, including messenger bags and backpacks, go to the coat check
- Bag check
- Free at First Avenue
- Coat check
- $5 per coat, open year-round
- ID
- Valid, unexpired photo ID to enter and to collect will-call tickets
- Cameras
- Phones and small point-and-shoot cameras only, no detachable or telescoping lenses, no flash
- Recording
- No professional video or audio recording
- Weapons
- None of any kind on the premises
- Strollers
- Not allowed inside
- Free birthday entry
- You and a guest, on your actual birthdate, with valid photo ID; not for private events, underplays or special events
Age limits at First Avenue: 18+, 21+ and all-ages shows
The age limit is set per show: most concerts are 18+, some are all ages, and a few club nights are 21+.
- At an 18+ show, someone under 18 may enter only with their own parent or legal guardian who has proof of guardianship (a birth certificate for a birth parent, or a notarized letter or court affidavit otherwise; photocopies are accepted). Another relative or a friend's parent does not count.
- Parents accompanying a minor must not drink alcohol during the event, and should not before arriving.
- At all-ages shows, anyone of any age can attend, and under-18s do not need a parent or guardian.
- Children 2 years old and older need a regular-priced ticket; under two do not. The venue strongly encourages hearing protection for children under 10.
- There are no exceptions for a birthday that is days or months away: the 18th or 21st must have passed.
Food and drink near First Avenue: the Depot Tavern next door
The Depot Tavern next to the 7th St Entry is First Avenue's own bar and restaurant, and the Main Room has six bars of its own.
The Depot Tavern opened in June 2010 next to the 7th St Entry and shows live video feeds of the Main Room and the Entry on its screens, so you can eat and keep an eye on the stage.
- Depot Tavern opens
- 4 PM Wednesday through Saturday, and 4 PM on other days with a Main Room show
- Kitchen closes
- 10 PM Sunday to Thursday; 11 PM Wednesday and Thursday Main Room shows; 12 AM Friday and Saturday
- Inside the Main Room
- Six bars, per First Avenue's private events page
- Tickets
- Ticket window at the Depot Tavern
Is First Avenue wheelchair accessible? How to arrange accessibility
Yes: all venues owned and operated by First Avenue are wheelchair accessible, and for the Main Room you arrange accommodations with the office in advance.
Include your name and your ticket confirmation number when you ask for an ASL interpreter. Accessible parking stalls near lift lobbies are listed by the ABC Ramps for Ramps A, B and C.
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
- How to request
- Email [email protected], Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM
- Notice
- At least 24 hours before the show, or by 5 PM Friday for a weekend show
- If email is not accessible
- Call (612) 338-8388
- Deaf and hard of hearing
- ASL interpreters on request; give as much notice as possible
- Balcony tables
- Reserved for members; not available for ADA accommodations
How to get to First Avenue by light rail and bus: Warehouse District/Hennepin station
Take the METRO Blue Line or Green Line to Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station, about two blocks from the entrance at 701 First Avenue North.
METRO trains run at least every 15 minutes during most of the day. The Blue Line runs between Mall of America and Target Field, and the Green Line links downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota and downtown St. Paul, so trains from the Mall of America side (Blue) and from St. Paul (Green) both reach the station.
For the ride home, a Metro Transit All-Day Pass, bought at a METRO ticket machine or in the Metro Transit app, is valid on buses and trains until 2 a.m. the next day. Late-night service after that varies, so check the trip planner before a late show.
Parking at First Avenue: the lot behind the club, the Mayo ramp and the ABC Ramps
First Avenue has no official parking lot; the closest option is a one-level surface lot behind the club at 1st Ave and 8th St, with the Mayo Clinic Square ramp across 7th Street.
All nearby ramps have elevators to street level. Metered street spaces are paid at numbered meters or in the MPLS Parking app; rates and time limits vary and are posted at each space, and meters are free on City of Minneapolis holidays.
The ABC Ramps are owned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and managed by the City of Minneapolis, and are connected to the skyway. The operator does not say which nights its event rate applies to, so confirm at the ramp. Rates change, so treat these as the rates listed on 26 October 2026.
| Where | Address | Walk to the venue | Rate listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-level surface lot behind the venue | 1st Ave and 8th St | Behind the venue | Not published by First Avenue; prices vary |
| Mayo Clinic Square ramp (underground) | 34 N 7th St | Across the street | Drive-up listed at $8.00 to $12.00 for up to 1 hour and $13.60 to $20.40 for up to 4 hours |
| ABC Ramps, Ramp B | 516 2nd Avenue North | Blocks away (First Avenue's words) | Up to 3 hours $9.00, up to 4 hours $11.00, up to 12 hours $13.00; event rate $25.00 |
| ABC Ramps, Ramp C | 318 2nd Avenue North | Blocks away (First Avenue's words) | Up to 3 hours $9.00, up to 4 hours $10.00, up to 12 hours $12.00; event rate $25.00 |
| ABC Ramps, Ramp A | 101 North 9th Street | Blocks away (First Avenue's words) | Up to 3 hours $9.00, up to 12 hours $10.00; event rate $25.00 |
First Avenue address, phone and email
First Avenue is at 701 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55403, and answers general questions by email during business hours.
- Address
- 701 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55403
- Phone
- 612-338-8388 (office)
- [email protected]
- Office hours
- Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6:30 PM (the FAQ says 6 PM)
- Depot Tavern phone
- 612-338-1828, limited hours
- Lost and found
- Email the office, Monday to Friday; items are donated after 14 days
- Private events
- [email protected]
What is First Avenue? The Main Room in Minneapolis explained
First Avenue's Main Room is the larger of the two rooms in the star-covered nightclub at 701 First Avenue North in downtown Minneapolis, a standing-room club that holds up to 1,550 people.
The building opened as a Greyhound bus depot in 1937 and became a nightclub on April 3, 1970. It took the name First Avenue on New Year's Eve 1981, and Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain was shot in the Main Room.
First Avenue calls itself one of the longest-running independently owned and operated clubs in the United States. The Main Room has six bars, a 1,000 sq ft dance floor, a 25-foot screen and an L-Acoustics sound system.
The 7th St Entry is the smaller room in the same building, with its own entrance off 7th Street and its own page. The other First Avenue venues, Fine Line, Turf Club, Palace Theatre and The Fitzgerald Theater, are separate buildings.
History of First Avenue: from Greyhound depot to Purple Rain
First Avenue opened as a Greyhound bus depot in 1937 and has been a nightclub since April 3, 1970.
Venue tours can be booked for groups of 10 to 25 people with advance reservations, and last about 45 minutes.
- 1937: the Minneapolis Greyhound depot is built in the Streamline Moderne style. The bus station moved out in 1968.
- April 3, 1970: the building opens as The Depot, a nightclub, with a Joe Cocker concert. It became Uncle Sam's in 1972 and Sam's in 1980.
- New Year's Eve 1981: the club becomes First Avenue. The 7th St Entry, the small room next door, had opened in 1980.
- 1983: the Main Room is used to film Prince's Purple Rain.
- Summer 2010: the exterior is repainted and the stars, now more than 400, return.
Photos
Photo credits
The First Avenue Main Room full of people during a show, stage lights glowing behind the crowd and speaker arrays flanking the stage: Jimmy Selix · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Wilco star on the black brick wall of First Avenue along the sidewalk, with downtown Minneapolis buildings in the distance: Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0
A band on the First Avenue stage under purple light with the crowd's raised hands in the foreground: Andy Witchger · CC BY 2.0
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First Avenue questions: tickets, doors, parking, bags and age limits
How many people does the First Avenue Main Room hold?
Up to 1,550 people standing. First Avenue lists the Main Room at 300 to 1,000 for seated or banquet-style private events and up to 1,550 standing, which is the figure that applies to a standing concert. The 7th St Entry next door is a separate room with its own capacity.
What time do doors open and shows start at First Avenue?
Most evening concerts list doors at 6:30 PM with the show at 7:30 PM, or doors at 7:00 PM with the show at 8:00 PM, and some shows open at 6:00 PM for a 7:00 PM start. Dance nights often list doors and start together at 9:00 PM. First Avenue does not publish end times; each show's page lists its own doors and start.
Is there parking at First Avenue?
There is no official First Avenue parking lot. The closest option is a one-level surface lot behind the club at 1st Ave and 8th St, the Mayo Clinic Square underground ramp is across the street on 7th Street, and the ABC Ramps (A, B and C) are a few blocks away. All nearby ramps have elevators to street level.
What is the bag policy at First Avenue?
You may bring a small bag to most shows. Large bags, including messenger bags and backpacks, must be left at the coat check, and bag check is free at First Avenue. The rule can change for a particular performer or at management's discretion.
What is the age limit at First Avenue?
It depends on the show and is listed on each event page: most concerts are 18+, some are all ages, and a few are 21+. Under-18s can attend an 18+ show only with their own parent or legal guardian and proof of guardianship. At all-ages shows anyone of any age can attend.
Do I need ID to get into First Avenue?
Yes. A valid, unexpired photo ID is required to enter and to pick up will-call tickets. First Avenue accepts a state driver's license, a state ID card with photo, a learner's permit with photo, a passport, a tribal ID or a military ID.
Is First Avenue standing or seated?
Standing: the Main Room is primarily general admission, standing room only. Limited seating is available first come, first served, and the balcony tables are reserved for Gold and Platinum members and their guests.
How do I get to First Avenue by light rail?
Take the METRO Blue Line or Green Line to Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station, which First Avenue describes as two blocks away. Target Field Station is the next station along.
Is First Avenue wheelchair accessible?
Yes. All venues owned and operated by First Avenue are wheelchair accessible. For the Main Room, email [email protected] (office hours Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM) at least 24 hours before the show, or by 5 PM Friday for a weekend show, or call (612) 338-8388.
Does First Avenue have a coat check and what does it cost?
Yes. The First Avenue and 7th St Entry coat check is open year-round and costs $5 to check a coat. Checking a bag is free.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
Only if the show is not sold out. Tickets are sold through AXS, and First Avenue says that when a show is sold out online it is also sold out in person, with no extra tickets at the door. The Depot Tavern next door has a ticket window, open 4 PM to 11 PM Wednesday through Saturday.
What are the stars on the outside of First Avenue?
Each star on the building's exterior carries the name of an artist or person tied to the club's history. The stars were repainted in summer 2010, and the building now has more than 400 of them. Prince's star is gold.
Is First Avenue the same as the 7th St Entry?
They are two rooms in one building at 701 First Avenue North. This page is about the Main Room; the 7th St Entry is the smaller room with its own entrance off 7th Street and its own page.
Can I bring a camera to First Avenue?
Cell phones and small point-and-shoot cameras are allowed, but not cameras with detachable or telescoping lenses, and flash is not permitted. Professional video or audio recording is not allowed. A camera that is not allowed can be checked at the coat check free of charge.
Does First Avenue have food?
Not in the Main Room itself: the Depot Tavern next door is the bar and restaurant, open from 4 PM Wednesday through Saturday and on show days in the Main Room. Its kitchen closes at 11 PM on Wednesday and Thursday show nights and at 12 AM on Friday and Saturday.
Sources: First Avenue private events: the Mainroom (October 26, 2026) · First Avenue FAQ: accessibility (October 26, 2026) · First Avenue event pages (October 26, 2026) · First Avenue restaurants (October 26, 2026) · Metro Transit METRO lines (October 26, 2026) · ABC Ramps parking rates (October 26, 2026) · Wikipedia: First Avenue (nightclub) (October 26, 2026) · First Avenue contact (October 26, 2026)
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