Introduction to the Sunset Amphitheater
In 2026, music fans may head to McKinney to catch a show at a venue slated to host hundreds of thousands of attendees, national touring acts and 70 shows a year in the Dallas suburb. Construction has begun in the city 30 miles north of Dallas on a $300 million, 20,000-seat open-air amphitheater, the result of a public-private partnership with Colorado-based entertainment and hospitality company VENU, formerly Notes Live.
The company plans to open the Sunset Amphitheater next year near Interstate 75 and Highway 121 and welcome “A-list, Grammy Award winning, national touring acts,” according to VENU. The project has not come without some controversy surrounding the company, noise and traffic from its music venues and a failed appeal by residents against VENU’s amphitheater in Colorado. But McKinney and VENU officials hope the Collin County amphitheater will put the growing city on the map as a live music landmark in North Texas.
About the Amphitheater
The project boasts memberships and suites for sale for hundreds and thousands of dollars, NFL Hall of Fame ties and unique amenities. “I build these to enjoy music in a way that you couldn’t do any other way,” J.W. Roth, VENU’s founder, said.
The Sunset Amphitheater’s plans include fire pit suites selling for close to $1 million, cooling and heating systems for the open-air space and a members-only club in partnership with former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman. The amphitheater can seat up to 20,000 people at full capacity, according to a statement from the company, or about 5,000 in the colder months when partially enclosed.
The amphitheater will have large fans to cool the open-air venue in the summer, as well as cooled turf, Roth said. In the winter, the floors will be heated by a boiler system and the fire pits can be activated.
Seating and Membership
The company is selling ownership of fire pit suites that can accommodate four to 10 people and are as much as $800,000. The venue will have 295 suites, according to the company’s website, which will include food and beverage service, lifetime ticket access and parking.
Membership to the Aikman Club costs $150,000 and includes two tickets in the suite to every ticketed event at the venue for a base cost of $25. In collaboration with Aikman, who founded light beer brand Eight, the venue’s suite will also include dining, seating and amenities for members. VENU is selling 350 memberships, according to its website.
A Public-Private Partnership
In a multifaceted deal, the city will give VENU some incentives to build the amphitheater in the city. Some sales and property tax from the amphitheater will be reimbursed to the company, and $26 million in grants from the city and its entities and 46 acres of land will go to VENU.
The project is projected to generate more than $3 billion in economic impact over its first 10 years of operation, according to the company. The amphitheater is also slated to host community events like graduations, cultural and civic events and partner with local high schools and colleges for entertainment and hospitality training.
Some Taxpayers Concerned
