North Texas music fans can start preparing to have even more opportunities to see their favorite artists. Sunset Amphitheater will be home to the highly anticipated world-class 20,000-seat outdoor music venue powered by Troy Aikman’s EIGHT Elite Light Beer.
Venu Holding Corp., a hospitality and live entertainment company based in Colorado Springs, finalized the purchase of a 46-acre site in McKinney. It looks like this is really happening, folks!
As Local Profile previously reported, during a McKinney City Council meeting on Nov. 19, 2024, council members approved the site plans for the upcoming Sunset Amphitheater, located northeast of the crossroads of U.S. Highway 75 and Highway 121. Now the land has been purchased, allowing the project to move forward and closer to reality.
The Sunset Amphitheater was first announced in March 2024, with its development agreement securing approval the following month. A grand opening is expected to take place in 2026. The project will kick off with the construction of a parking garage, which will then be followed by the amphitheater itself.
What Music Fans Can Expect
The approved 46-acre site plan boasts over 5,100 parking spaces — surpassing the required minimum — spread across two multi-level parking structures totaling over 1.6 million square feet and standing two to three stories tall. The venue will feature 20,000 seats, a 33-foot-tall sound attenuation wall on its east side, and a maximum building height of 138 feet.
Key highlights include:
- Over 250 deluxe fire pit suites
- Traditional reserved seating in the mid and lower bowl sections
- A landscaped grass berm
- Luxurious Owners Club suites for an elevated concert experience
Project Timeline
The Sunset Amphitheater was first announced in March 2024, with its development agreement securing approval the following month. A grand opening is expected to take place in 2026. The project will kick off with the construction of a parking garage, which will then be followed by the amphitheater itself.
“This world-class music venue is a game-changer for our entertainment offerings in McKinney and will be a boom for our economic growth and tourism sector,” said McKinney Mayor George Fuller in an official statement. “With a state-of-the-art venue of this size, we can draw some of the largest musical acts to the city and attract fans from across Texas and the surrounding states.”
How It Will Benefit McKinney
The Sunset Amphitheater is projected to create more than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs while driving over $3 billion in regional and local economic growth during its first decade of operation. Besides the clear economic benefits, it will bring more artists, music and culture to McKinney and surrounding cities.
“This world-class music venue is a game-changer for our entertainment offerings in McKinney and will be a boom for our economic growth and tourism sector,” said McKinney Mayor George Fuller in an official statement. “With a state-of-the-art venue of this size, we can draw some of the largest musical acts to the city and attract fans from across Texas and the surrounding states.”