Venu to Develop $300 Million McKinney Amphitheater

Venu Holding Corporation has secured nearly 50 acres in McKinney for its planned $300 million amphitheater development.

The Colorado-based hospitality and entertainment company, led by founder and CEO J.W. Roth, purchased 46 acres near U.S. Route 75 and State Highway 121 in a deal with the McKinney Economic Development Corporation, the Dallas Business Journal reported.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed; the Collin Central Appraisal District assessed its taxable value at $22.1 million.

The open-air venue will operate through an unspecified public-private partnership between Venu, the City of McKinney, the McKinney Economic Development Corporation and the McKinney Community Development Corporation. How much public money will be invested in the project wasn’t reported.

The Sunset Amphitheater at McKinney will feature 20,000 seats, 300 fire pit suites and 5,100 parking spaces.

Additionally, in partnership with NFL hall-of-famer Troy Aikman, the venue will include The Aikman Club — a members-only space providing high-end cuisine and premium seating.

Venu operates venues in Gainesville, Georgia, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, with $1.3 billion in site development across multiple locations.

Construction on the amphitheater is set to begin this spring, with the venue expected to host major concerts, graduations and comedy shows after its anticipated 2026 completion. Officials project an annual attendance of up to 700,000, driving significant economic growth for the region.

Other major development projects in the fast-growing Dallas suburb include the construction of Cannon Beach, a $200 million surf park featuring a 4-acre lagoon, a hotel, retail, restaurants and 100,000 square feet of office space at the northeast corner of Stacy Road and Texas 121.

Additionally, SLX Capital has begun work on the Eldorado Neighborhood Shops, a $27 million shopping center at the southwest corner of Eldorado Parkway and Stonebridge Drive.

— Andrew Terrell