Lawsuit Demands Better Wheelchair Accessibility at Red Rocks

Seating at Red Rocks Amphitheatre violates the Americans with Disabilities Act according to a class action lawsuit filed this week against the City of Denver, which calls for better wheelchair accessibility.

Jim Mimna

Alison Daniels, who directs legal services for Disability Law Colorado, one of three nonprofits that filed the suit, says the six plaintiffs are not seeking money damages.

“They just want to be able to get in, to make sure if anybody is in the accessible seats that doesn’t need to be, that the staff actually say hey do you need to be here because of a disability, and if they say no, then they are moved,” she says.

Part of the problem from Daniels’ perspective is that anyone can buy front row tickets, which often sell out immediately. It is illegal to ask anyone for proof of disability.

The City of Denver owns and operates Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In a written statement, the city says it has a long history of working with various communities to improve the experience for all patrons.