Concerts return to Oshkosh Arena after two years

OSHKOSH, Wis (WISS) – The embattled Oshkosh Arena, which was nearly shuttered and abandoned in 2023, will see the first concerts on its stage in two years in October and November. 

The last concert at the Oshkosh Arena was David Lee Murphy in October 2023. In November 2024, VenuWorks Oshkosh took over management of the facility. And now, concerts are finally making a return to the venue.

The first is Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band® at 7:30 p.m. on October 18, 2025. Then, just a few days later on November 8, Kansas and Blue Öyster Cult will rock the Oshkosh Arena.

Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band®

Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band® features the driving music force that rocked Broadway and millions of fans in the ground-breaking musical Rock of Ages. The band features rockstar musicians and lead singers from the original cast of the five-time Tony Award-nominated musical.

“The community has been waiting for the rebirth of concerts at the Oshkosh Arena, and our VenuWorks team is so excited to announce this concert, which we know is just the start of breathing new life into concert entertainment within this building,” VenuWorks of Oshkosh Executive Director Andy Linton said in a press release.

Maria Turner, VenuWorks of Oshkosh Marketing and Sales Director, echoed Linton’s sentiments. 

 ”This is kind of a big deal, not only for the arena in having a concert coming back to our venue, but also it’s the first one that VenuWorks of Oshkosh is doing for a national act,” Turner said. “So very exciting for all of us.”

The concert will feature songs by Bon Jovi, Journey, Whitesnake, Poison, AC/DC, Joan Jett, Styx, Pat Benatar, REO Speedwagon, Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot, and others. 

Tickets for Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band® are already on sale at OshkoshArena.com. 

Kansas and Blue Öyster Cult

Legendary rock bands Kansas and Blue Öyster Cult are teaming up for an unforgettable night of music at Oshkosh Arena on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.

Kansas has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. They are renowned for classic hits like Carry On Wayward Son, and Dust in the Wind. The band’s The Absence of Presence was released in 2020. 

For over five decades, Blue Öyster Cult has thrilled audiences across the globe for over five decades with unforgettable songs like (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, Godzilla and Burnin’ for You. Blue Oyster Cult’s most recent studio album is Ghost Stories, released in April 2024.

“There’s a lot of people that love those two bands,” Turner said.

Tickets for Kansas and Blue Öyster Cult go on sale on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 10 a.m.

Oshkosh Arena: Looking forward

While the concert stage has been silent for two years due to bankruptcy filings by the previous Oshkosh Arena ownership, its current management, VenuWorks, is doing everything it can to bring entertainment back to the arena. And a variety of entertainment to add to its core offerings of Wisconsin Herd games and concerts.

 ”Engaging with some other types of entertainment is important for numerous reasons, Turner explained. “One is it helps us expand exposure of the building to many different people looking for different things to do at the building. But also, we’re an entertainment center, right? We want to be able to reach out to a wide array of people and bring things to the city of Oshkosh that people are typically used to having to travel for, whether that’s as close as Appleton, or going all the way down to Milwaukee, or up to Green Bay or Madison.”

The Oshkosh Arena has hosted murder mystery dinner theatres, Friday night fish frys, and events like car shows and Oshkosh Pride. In September, the Arena wraps up its search for the funniest comedian in Oshkosh with an event headlined by national comedian Josh Blue. 

 ”Oshkosh’s Funniest series has been great for us. And we have Josh Blue coming for the finale on September 13th,” Turner added. “We are all very excited about that. And then, giving the opportunity to five local comedians to open for this national act is very cool in many ways.”

Turner said a third concert is scheduled for the Arena on December 4, with an announcement planned in the next month.

The Oshkosh Arena is in the heart of the Sawdust District at 1212 S. Main Street.