Originally known as Pine Knob Music Theatre (due to its proximity to the nearby Pine Knob ski area and golf course) when it opened in June 1972, the 15,040-seat amphitheater (6,189 seats in Bud Light Pavilion; 8,851 on the United Shore Lawn) recently celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2012.

Palace Sports & Entertainment purchased Pine Knob in 1990, revamping the venue with various improvements, all while continuing to give its fans one of the busiest and most diverse performance schedules its fans expect. The venue became DTE Energy Music Theatre in 2002 when DTE Energy purchased the naming rights to the amphitheater.