George Strait, Chris Stapleton in concert at EverBank Stadium. Here's what you should know

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The echoes from two Luke Combs concerts will barely have time to fade before another big country crowd heads to Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium, this time for a triple bill of George Strait, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town on Saturday, May 11.

Strait is about as big a star as you'll find anywhere in country music, and Stapleton isn't far behind. In fact, all three acts have headlined shows at venues in the Jacksonville area.

Strait is a "neotraditional" country star, sort of a throwback to the days when country music leaned heavily on pedal-steel guitars and fiddles. He's sold something like 120 million albums and has a record-setting 60 number-one hits. He's in the Country Music Hall of Fame, was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music and has won more Country Music Association awards than anyone. Only Elvis Presley and the Beatles have released more gold or platinum albums.

Here's what you need to know about the show.

Where is George Strait playing in Jacksonville?

The concert is at EverBank Stadium, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Who is opening for George Strait in Jacksonville?

Little Big Town is the first of two opening acts at the May 11 show.
Little Big Town is the first of two opening acts at the May 11 show.

First up is Little Big Town, a quartet that's toured with Strait in the past and has been named Vocal Group of the Year several times each by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Awards. The band has played Jacksonville shows at Freebird Live, Metropolitan Park, the arena, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Daily's Place, plus they did a 2012 show at Mayport Naval Station before a Georgetown-Florida basketball game aboard an aircraft carrier and played at Florida Country Superfest in the stadium in 2013.

Chris Stapleton is a Kentucky native who wrote hit songs for Strait, Kenny Chesney and Luke Bryan before busting out on his own with his quadruple-platinum debut album, "Traveler." He's won ten Grammy Awards and is the reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year. Four of his five studio albums have gone platinum or better and all five topped the country charts. He's played at least three times at Jacksonville's arena and once at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

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How much are George Strait tickets in Jacksonville?

Tickets are available through the stadium's website, everbankstadium.com, ranging from $125-$650.

Has George Strait ever played a concert in Jacksonville?

George Strait performs onstage during the 2021 iHeartCountry Festival Presented By Capital One at The Frank Erwin Center on October 30, 2021, in Austin, Texas.
George Strait performs onstage during the 2021 iHeartCountry Festival Presented By Capital One at The Frank Erwin Center on October 30, 2021, in Austin, Texas.

Strait has been coming to Jacksonville since at least 1988. He played at the old Jacksonville Coliseum in '88, '94 and '95, headlined a huge country show at what was then called Alltel Stadium in 2000 and played the arena in '11. He was scheduled to play at the arena in 2008 but came down with the flu backstage and had to reschedule for the following year; Little Big Town was the opening act for that show and played anyway.

Didn't George Strait retire from touring years ago?

Strait made quite a big deal about retiring from the road, even going on a Cowboy Rides Away Tour in 2014 and releasing a live album from the final show. He was back on the road a few years later, sort of, playing almost exclusively at the arena in Las Vegas from 2016-21. He now plays "limited engagements" that are a week or two apart.

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What other stadiums is George Strait playing on this tour?

Chris Stapleton performs on Sunday, April 14, 2019, during Day 4 of Country Thunder Arizona in Florence, Ariz.
Chris Stapleton performs on Sunday, April 14, 2019, during Day 4 of Country Thunder Arizona in Florence, Ariz.

The tour includes stops at the home stadiums of the Indianapolis Colts, Iowa State Cyclones, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants/Jets, Utah Utes, Texas A&M Aggies, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders.

Where can I park for the George Strait concerts?

Parking options range from $49-$107.50. There are thousands of spots in lots and garages in the nearby downtown area.

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What time do parking lots open for the George Strait concert?

1 p.m.

How many people will be at the George Strait concert?

Officials are expecting around 40,000-45,000 fans.

What time does the stadium open for the George Strait concert?

Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Can I jump into the EverBank Stadium swimming pools if I get overheated during the George Strait concert?

No, the “spas” on the north end of the stadium will not be open during the concerts. The entire north end of the stadium, which is behind the stage, will be closed to the public. The seats in Daily’s Place, the amphitheater attached to the southern end of the stadium, will be used as a cooling-off area for fans.

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Can I leave the stadium and come back in?

No. There is no re-entry allowed.

What time does the first act come on stage?

Little Big Town is scheduled to take the stage at 5:45 p.m., Chris Stapleton is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. Strait starts his show at 9:15 p.m.

Will the George Strait concert be rescheduled if it rains?

Acts may be postponed due to lightning, but the shows are rain or shine. The stage will be covered, but the fans won’t be.

What can I bring with me to the George Strait concert?

Policies will be mostly the same as at a Jaguars game. You can bring in one factory-sealed water bottle that is 16.9 ounces or less. All bags brought into the stadium must be clear and no larger than 12-by-6-by-12 inches. Backpacks of any kind (even clear) are prohibited, and no outside food or beverages are permitted.

Can I bring a camera to the George Strait concert?

Not if it has a detachable lens, but you can shoot all the photos you want with your smartphone. Go-Pros, HD video cameras and drones are also prohibited.

Can I hold up my phone and record the whole George Strait concert?

There’s no rule against that, but the people sitting behind you will hate you for it.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: George Strait in Jacksonville: Concert time, ticket info, opening acts