MINNEAPOLIS — When it comes to Minnesota’s newest and largest outdoor concert venue, you have options.

That message was driven home after we drove out to Mystic Lake Amphitheater on Thursday, when its operator Live Nation offered local media tours of the fancy, new facility near Canterbury Park in Shakopee. The tours preceded the first week of concerts, which starts Saturday with an all-local show called Setting the Stage.

Representatives from the concert conglomerate running the new venue showed off both the fancy, high-buck box suites and VIP areas at the front of the new 19,000-person amphitheater. They also showed off the lower-cost general admission lawn and standing-room-only areas near the back and emphasized the cheap options for parking and concessions.

After touring the amphitheater and grilling its operators on all its ins and outs, here’s a list of the most important details we think Minnesota concertgoers will want to know before attending their first show at Mystic Lake Amphitheater.

More info is available at the venue’s website, mysticlakeamp.com.

Why it’s a big deal: The Twin Cities has never had an amphitheater of the size and hi-fi quality of this one, which are commonplace in every other U.S. concert market of equal or sometimes even smaller size. Live Nation operates around 70 amphitheaters around the country but has never run an indoor or outdoor venue of this size in Minnesota.

Where it’s located: The amphitheater was built on mostly empty land amid some office and warehouse buildings almost a mile east of Canterbury Park horse track, at 700 Canterbury Road, between Highway 101 to the north (near ValleyFair) and Highway 169 to the south (near a McDonald’s and Culver’s).

Who’s playing opening night: Saturday’s Setting the Stage concert is a low-buck soft opening of sorts featuring an all-Minnesota lineup with Morris Day and the Time, Motion City Soundtrack, Ber and Rocket Club. Tickets are only $20 via Ticketmaster.com and will be available at the gates, too.

Who else is performing: The venue’s 40-concert inaugural summer continues next week with rap-rocker MGK on Monday, summer groovers the Dave Matthews Band on Tuesday and the reunited Guess Who on June 25. Its range of shows through late September include many more classic rockers, such as Bob Dylan, Guns N’ Roses and Santana with the Doobie Brothers; country heroes Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson; ’90s and ’00s-era hitmakers the Black Crowes, Mumford and Sons and Train; hip-hop and R&B vets Lil Wayne and the Wu-Tang Clan; and pop acts Hilary Duff, Kesha and 5 Seconds of Summer.

Hottest tickets: Stapleton has not one but two of the bestselling shows there with his nearly sold-out July 29-30 two-night stand. Tuesday’s DMB show is also a hot seller, as are Jack Johnson (July 12), Duff (July 25), Mumford (July 31), GNR (Aug. 8), Iron Maiden (Sept. 19) and Pitbull (Sept. 26).

Per Live Nation’s dynamic-pricing policies via Ticketmaster.com, tickets are still available to these shows but at higher prices, some starting over $300.

Cheaper ticket options: Earlier this week, Live Nation announced a sale in its general-admission lawn area, offering $30 tickets to just about every concert besides the hot sellers listed above, including next week’s MGK and Guess Who dates.

Other $30 options include Dylan with Lucinda Williams (July 6), the Dirty Heads and 311 (July 11), Mellencamp (July 14), Creed and Bush (July 16), 5 Seconds of Summer (July 22), the Black Crowes (July 28), Kesha (Aug. 3), the Goo Goo Dolls (Aug. 4), Ne-Yo and Akon (Aug. 5), what’s left of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Foreigner (Aug. 16), Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival (Aug. 19), Mötley Crüe (Aug. 21), Toto and Christopher Cross (Aug. 26), Santana and the Doobie Brothers (Aug. 27), Wu-Tang Clan (Sept. 1), Lil Wayne (Sept. 15) and more.

Gates open: An hour to 90 minutes before each concert. Check mysticlakeamp.com for specific times. Tailgating is not permitted in the parking lots.

Curfew: Shows must end by 11 p.m.

Why that name: Mystic Lake Resort & Casino bought the naming rights to the venue from Live Nation, akin to competitor Grand Casino’s recent renaming of the St. Paul hockey hall formerly known as Xcel Energy Center. The amphitheater is not on the grounds of its namesake casino, which is 5 miles to the south and not involved in the venue’s operations.

Paid parking: Lot D near the North Gate is reserved for premium ticket holders. Premier Lot by the South Gate is available for $30-$125 (prices vary based on the show). Live Nation is also selling Fast Lane passes promising quicker entry and exit for about $15 per show.

Free parking: Live Nation has pledged to maintain free parking in Lots A, B, C, E and F near Canterbury Park, all located northwest of the amphitheater along Unbridled Avenue about a mile walk from the venue.

Ride-hailing services: The lot for Uber, Lyft, etc., pickups is also northwest of the venue off Unbridled Avenue, about a half-mile walk.

Shuttle buses: Complimentary shuttles will operate for every show from Mystic Lake Casino, which has ample free parking on-site. Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) will provide free shuttles to many but not all concerts from Marschall Road Transit Station, Southbridge Crossings Park & Ride or Eagle Creek Park & Ride (check mtva.com for dates and times). SouthWest Transit is also offering shuttle for a fee to many shows from the SouthWest Station, SouthWest Village Station or East Creek Station (swtransit.org).

Biking options: The Minnesota Valley State Trail for bicyclists runs just north of the amphitheater along Hwy. 101. Bike racks are available near the South Gate. Bike storage is not currently offered.

Accessibility: Accessible seating is located in all the venue’s various sections, including platforms in the lawn area. Fans can buy accessible tickets at Ticketmaster.com or at the venue’s box office before the shows. Accessible parking is available outside the North and East Gate; enter via Unbridled Avenue through Entrance A. All entrance gates are wheelchair accessible. More details are online at mysticlakeamp.com/accessibility.

How lawn seating works: The general-admission area in the upper rear of the venue is all first come, first served, including the central lawn and standing areas off to the sides with drink rails. Blankets for the artificial turf can be brought in or purchased on-site for $25. Lawn chairs are not allowed to be brought in but can be rented on-site for $10 (or $5 with Live Nation’s free All Access subscriptions).

VIP areas: Tickets to get into the Backyard VIP area near the stage are available to everyone and vary in price from $60-$199 based on the show. Suites and boxes include their own VIP area, the Vinyl Room. Season ticket packages and single tickets are also sold with different VIP area options added to the price, many over $250 per show.

What to bring: Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC tote bags no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, small wristlet-style clutch bags or medical bags. Nonaerosol bug spray and sunscreen. Cameras without detachable lenses. Factory-sealed water bottles up to 1 gallon or emptied plastic water containers. Food in clear Ziploc bags. Small to midsized blankets.

What NOT to bring: Lawn chairs. Umbrellas. Strollers. Nonplastic water containers or camel-style water backpacks. Large blankets or tarps. Alcohol. Cigarettes. Vapes. Smokeless tobacco. Cannabis, etc. Coolers. Lasers. Fireworks.

What to eat on-site: Live Nation’s standard in-house concession options include chicken tenders with fries from Rebel Hen ($19), double cheeseburger or veggie burger with fries from Mosh Burger ($19), three loaded carne asada tacos from Tacos del Centro ($19), loaded bratwurst from Koko’s Bavarian ($13) or 10-inch pizzas from Ziggy’s ($20-$22). Prices and options are for local concessionaires such as Ellsworth Creamery, Cathy Mackenthun’s Meats and Deli, and Red Lake Walleye.

What to drink: Standard beers start at $16.50. Canned wine starts at $14. A double-shot shaker cocktail served in a souvenir cup costs $25, with refills available for $19. Nonalcoholic options include Riffreshers mocktails for $12, canned sodas starting at $7 and a refillable soda cup for $15. THC drinks will not be sold.

Cheaper concession options: Live Nation reps promised $2 hot dogs and $5 Rolling Rock beers (12-ounce cans) will be available at every show, plus $7 chicken wraps. Water refill stations are located throughout the venue.

Preshow and postshow wining and dining options: A new entertainment area dubbed the Shakopee Social District was built in conjunction with the new amphitheater on the other side of Canterbury Park, a 1½- to 2-mile trek away. Its businesses include Badger Hill Brewing, OG Zaza Pizza, Mr. Pig’s Smokery, Bravi’s Craft Mexican Kitchen and Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar. Another district in nearby downtown Shakopee has Turtle’s Bar & Grill, Mana Brewing, O’Brien’s Public House, Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant and more. Bars and food stands are also located inside Canterbury Park and its card room.

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