Stephens Auditorium is a revered university-owned performing arts theatre within the Iowa State Center complex, adjacent to the Scheman Building in Ames, Iowa. With a capacity of 2,602, the venue hosts touring Broadway shows, concerts, and ISU Performing Arts Series performances throughout the year. Whether you’re planning a night of Broadway-worthy entertainment or a campus performance, we’ve got you covered with seating details, parking guidance, transit options, and trusted hotel and dining recommendations near the venue.

Secure your seats through our affiliate partners for interactive seating maps and easy purchase flow. Stephens Auditorium offers a dependable, straightforward ticket experience—no fluff, just reliable access to great performances.

Venue details: Stephens Auditorium sits on the ISU campus at 1900 Center Drive, Ames, IA 50011. Free parking is available in Iowa State Center lots (parking is shared with ISU Athletics). The Lot F reference is commonly noted in ticket purchases. For convenient travel, CyRide (Ames public transit) serves ISU events, helping guests arrive without the hassle of parking. Nearby hotels provide comfortable stays for visitors, including the Best Western Plus University Park Inn & Suites, Sleep Inn & Suites Ames near ISU Campus, and Courtyard by Marriott Ames. Interactive seating maps are available for individual events via SeatGeek and TicketMaster, so you can pick your exact view before you buy. For more on the venue’s history, Stephens Auditorium remains in operation under ISU management with no renaming or demolition in recent years.

We’ve partnered with trusted local lodging and dining options to make your pre-show or post-show plans easy. Keep reading for a quick overview of seating, parking, transit, and neighborhood recommendations to enhance your visit.

Good to know

Seating, Parking & Venue Information

Capacity: 2,602 seats (1,432 permanent main-floor seats, 33 wheelchair spaces, 112 portable orchestra seats, 467 balcony 1, 354 balcony 2, 204 balcony 3).
Address: Stephens Auditorium, 1900 Center Drive, Ames, IA 50011, United States.
Venue type: University-owned performing arts theatre within the Iowa State Center complex (adjacent to Scheman Building).
Seating chart: Interactive seating maps available via SeatGeek and TicketMaster for individual events.
Parking: Free parking in Iowa State Center lots; Lot F is referenced for ticket purchases; parking is shared with ISU Athletics.
Transit: Served by Ames public transit (CyRide), the campus bus system; ISU events commonly accommodate CyRide access.
Nearby hotels: Best Western Plus University Park Inn & Suites (2500 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50010); Sleep Inn & Suites Ames near ISU Campus (1310 Dickinson Ave); Courtyard by Marriott Ames (311 S 17th St).
Notable events hosted: Touring Broadway shows and concerts (e.g., Jersey Boys, Chicago, The Illusionists, Beautiful) as listed in historic touring records; ISU Performing Arts Series performances are frequent.
Renamed/demolished: No demolition or renaming; Stephens Auditorium remains in operation under ISU management.