Construction of the new Sunset Amphitheater in Northeast El Paso is officially underway.
City leaders and representatives from VENU, the company behind the new event center, held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 19. The new 12,500-seat amphitheater will be located at the site of the old Cohen Stadium and is expected to open by the end of next year.
“This project is being built through a true public-private partnership,” said VENU President Will Hodgson. “With the city of El Paso, we could not be prouder of the team we’ve had the privilege of working with.”
VENU will receive $31.5 million in performance-based incentives for the project, which is expected to have a $2 billion impact within the first 10 years through job creation, local tourism, tax revenue and nearby business growth.
City leaders and representatives from VENU, the company behind the Sunset Amphitheater, break ground during a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. The new 12,500-seat amphitheater will be built on the site of the former Cohen Stadium and is expected to open by the end of next year.
“There’s a powerful synergy between VENU and the city of El Paso because we share that same vision,” he continued. “The public-private partnership has been built on trust, transparency and a shared commitment to seeing El Paso thrive.”
Among the features of the new all-seasons concert venue is 228 Luxe FireSuites, which range from $358,000 to $716,000 and can be purchased online. Additionally, the amphitheater is being launched in collaboration with EIGHT Lite Beer, founded by NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, and will feature an exclusive members-only Aikman Owners Club, which will offer a one-of-a-kind space and amenities for its 156 members.
For his part, Mayor Renard Johnson sought to reassure residents that no property tax dollars would be spent on the project, which is expected to create thousands of jobs and more than $7 million in tax revenue annually.
Will Hudson, VENU’s president of venues, speaks during the groundbreaking of the Sunset Amphitheater in Northeast El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.
“I want to assure everyone that taxpayers are protected and the return for our community is significant,” he said. “What we are celebrating today, you can see and you can feel it. It is a symbol of our momentum as a city, our belief in what El Paso can achieve when we think boldly and we partner wisely.
“The future we are building starts right here and it starts today.”
Other VENU sites
The Sunset Amphitheater in El Paso is only the latest offering from VENU, which currently boasts locations across Colorado and Georgia, with more on the way in Texas and Oklahoma.
A rendering shows plans for the Sunset Amphitheater in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, which is expected to open in the middle of 2026. Like the planned venue in El Paso, the Oklahoma site has a 12,500-seat capacity.
The Sunset Amphitheater in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is likely the most similar to the one proposed in El Paso. It has a 12,500-seat capacity, 202 Luxe FireSuites and 175 Aikman Club memberships. The venue, which is slated to open in the middle of next year, is already closed and funded, according the VENU’s website.
How did we get here?
The El Paso City Council first approved the plan for a Northeast amphitheater to be constructed by Notes Live, now VENU, in April 2024. The site was originally slated for opening in March 2026, but roadblocks pushed the opening back.
In July 2024, the City Council had concerns over parts of the contract for the amphitheater, specifically the non-compete clause that stood to hamstring the city should it decide to open its own entertainment venue, such as the now reject multipurpose center. However, the City Council narrowly approved the contract and the project advanced.
In December 2024, the project faced issues when the land transfer was delayed, but by April 2025 the City Council approved an expansion of the amphitheater’s footprint from 17 to 20 acres.
With the groundbreaking Wednesday, the Sunset Amphitheater is on track for its grand opening next year.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Sunset Amphitheater construction begins in Northeast El Paso