The overview
City and project officials hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Sunset Amphitheater project in June. The $300 million project will support more than 1,300 jobs and is expected to generate more than $3 billion within the first decade of its opening, officials said.
Plans for the amphitheater project also include several sound mitigation strategies and nearby traffic upgrades. Officials are planning for a mix of physical and electroacoustic sound mitigation that will limit impact to surrounding properties.
The 15-month, two-phase construction period is expected to start on the site this summer. Bob Mudd, vice president of construction and market expansion for Venu, the company behind the project, said that construction will start with land work before moving on to parking. The venue’s site plan includes more than 5,000 parking spaces on site, including multi-level garages. After that, construction will work on the seating bowl and the stage at the same time, Mudd said.
“The community will start to see things really move in July,” he said in an email.
Venu is utilizing barriers including “wind walls” that flank the stage and electroacoustic mitigation efforts to limit noise emissions. dB(A) measures decibels on a scale that is based on sound intensity and how human ears respond.
Venu is working with the city and the Texas Department of Transportation to improve adjacent roads for the project. Improvements are expected to cost $8 million and are expected to be complete by the time the amphitheater opens. The plan includes adding turn lanes, sidewalks and lighting improvements to roads near the amphitheater.
Venu was required to complete a traffic impact analysis for the proposed amphitheater, city Engineering Director Gary Graham said.
“The city expects the traffic to increase in the area surrounding the site when the amphitheater holds an event,” Graham said in an email. “The city has worked very hard with the owner/operator to minimize the impacts to the surrounding residents and businesses.”
The traffic study was completed and presented to the city in 2024. The study identifies needed improvements to roads surrounding the amphitheater.
“These efforts will lead to lasting infrastructure improvements that [will] benefit the community year-round,” Mudd said.
What they're saying
The Sheraton McKinney Hotel, located within walking distance of the Sunset Amphitheater, expects to be the main hotel serving guests and event staff, said Connie Glover, a sales manager for corporate accounts at the Sheraton McKinney.
Currently, the hotel’s 187 rooms average 80% occupancy on the weekends. Glover expects the hotel’s weekend and weekday occupancy to increase when the amphitheater opens for business. Glover said the weekday occupancy will likely get a boost from the crew and support staff for the amphitheater events arriving a day ahead to set up and prepare.
Joshua Jones, the general manager for radio station KHYI 95.3 The Range and Texas Music Revolution festival founder, said the amphitheater could expose McKinney musicians to a wider audience. Local musicians could get the opportunity to open for a national tour, and perform in front of a non-local audience, Jones said.
Guitar Sanctuary owner George Fuller, who previously served as mayor, said the project will bring cultural benefits to the community and put McKinney on the map by attracting “world-class entertainers.”
Notable quotes
- "I think it’s going to be good for McKinney," Jones said. "I think it’s going to be good for the area.”
- "[Music] brings people together," Fuller said. "This project is that on steroids.”
As construction continues, Venu is expected to announce a company later this year that will act as the amphitheater’s operator and manage the event venue. A Chapter 380 agreement with the city originally required an operator to be selected in December 2024 but it was later amended to push the date to fall 2025.
- March 2024: Sunset Amphitheater project announced
- April 2024: Incentive package approved by McKinney City Council
- June 2025: Officials break ground on the project
- Sept. 15, 2025: Deadline to announce venue operator
- 2026: Project expected to finish
