Ford Amphitheater opened Aug. 9, 2024.
The privately funded venue is an 8,000-seat capacity outdoor amphitheater for live, major musical acts on approximately 10 acres located in Polaris Pointe in northern Colorado Springs. Owned by Colorado Springs based, Venu Holding Corporation, formerly Notes Live, and operated in partnership by AEG Presents Rocky Mountains. The Ford Amphitheater is a $90 million entertainment complex that hosts a minimum of 35 scheduled events per year. These events are projected to generate $102 million annually in economic impact, equating to nearly $1 billion over the next decade.
Throughout the first concert season, neighbors expressed concerns regarding sound levels outside of the concert venue.
This webpage has information about the Ford Amphitheater, including what is being done regarding sound mitigation. The City of Colorado Springs is committed to collaborative solutions that serve the needs of our entire community.
Next Steps
The City of Colorado Springs and VENU reached an agreement in January 2025 that sets a path forward for the 2025 concert season. This mitigation and monitoring agreement includes additional sound mitigation measures, including physical sound walls, reconfiguration of the sound system, enforcement protocol, and three additional sound monitoring stations that will be located inside or adjacent to nearby neighborhoods. The physical improvements and new monitoring stations are expected to be in place by the first concert of the 2025 season.
Also in January 2025, the City issued a noise hardship permit for the 2025 concert season that is limited geographically to the Polaris Pointe Development, which includes only the adjacent apartments and businesses.
These efforts were informed by neighborhood feedback.
Timeline
- January 28, 2025: Colorado Springs Police Department approves Noise Hardship Permit #NHP 2025-004.
- City of Colorado Springs and Ford Amphitheater sign mitigation and monitoring agreement.
- December 23, 2024: VENU submits for the construction of additional sound walls for the Ford Amphitheater
- PDZD-24-0035 (PDZ Development Plan Minor Modification)
- December 23, 2024: VENU submits revision for new sound walls for the Ford Amphitheater to be constructed on this development plan site
- PDZD-24-0034 (PDZ Development Plan Minor Modification)
- December 17, 2024: City hosts Neighborhood Listening Session
- November 1, 2024: City of Colorado Springs releases the results of an independent sound study
- October 29, 2024: City leadership meets with VENU to discuss sound mitigation solutions
- October 25, 2024: VENU season review and planning presentation
- October 25, 2024: Mayor Yemi releases letter to the community
- October 5, 2024: VENU hosts Neighborhood Townhall
- August 26, 2024: VENU releases data from neighborhood monitoring locations.
- August 20, 2024: VENU releases sound data from first six shows, including non-concert days
- August 9, 10, 11, 2024: Grand Opening weekend at Ford Amphitheater
- April/May 2024: VENU filed and Council approved a final plat creating a 5-acre lot adjacent to the amphitheater to be used for additional on-site parking.
- SUBD-24-0052 (Subdivision)
- PUDD-24-0003 (PUD Development Plan)
- April 2024: VENU filed and Council approved a final plat creating a 1-acre lot adjacent to the amphitheater across Spectrum Loop to be used for additional on-site parking.
- SUBD-24-0051 (Subdivision)
- PUDD-24-0004 (PUD Development Plan)
- February 2024: VENU filed and Council approved a modification to the amphitheater development plan moving a portion of the parking from a remote location to the newly created lots adjacent to the amphitheater.
- PUDD-24-0002 (PUD Development Plan Major Modification)
- January 11, 2023: City of Colorado Springs reaffirms City Council approves
- March 2023: VENU filed and Council approved a modification of the original development plan requiring sound walls to be built prior to opening if the sound wall & building combination is not complete
- PUDD-23-0010 (PUD Development Plan Modification)
- November 9, 2022: VENU received approval from the Colorado Springs Planning Commission for a Planned Unit Development Agreement
- September 2022: VENU hosts town hall to speak directly with neighbors at Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers.
- January 2022: VENU files Development Plan with City of Colorado Springs
UPDATED: Permits & Documents Guide
To view permits and documents related to the changes to the development site, navigate to the following link on a desktop or laptop using either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge:
Land Development Review Search (LDRS) system
In the box labeled “File Number,” copy and paste the following file numbers, one file number at a time, to view the record; leave everything else blank. Each file should be searched separately.
Note: With the adoption of the Unified Development Code, the abbreviation “PUD” changed to “PDZ."
- PUDD-23-0010 (PUD Development Plan Modification) - A modification of the original development plan requiring sound walls to be built prior to opening if the sound wall & building combination is not complete
- PUDC-23-0004 (PUD Concept Plan Amendment) - An amendment to the Concept plan for Northgate @ Polaris Point for zero-foot building and landscape setbacks between the Ford Amphitheater lot and the Roth Restaurant and Chop House lot for sound wall.
- SUBD-24-0051 (Subdivision) – A Final plat creating a 1-acre lot adjacent to the amphitheater across Spectrum Loop
- SUBD-24-0052 (Subdivision) – A Final plat creating a 5-acre lot adjacent to the amphitheater
- PUDD-24-0002 (PUD Development Plan Major Modification) - A modification to the amphitheater development plan moving a portion of the parking from a remote location to the newly created lots adjacent to the amphitheater.
- PUDD-24-0003 (PUD Development Plan) - A development plan for a 5-acre parking lot
- PUDD-24-0004 (PUD Development Plan) - A development plan for a 1-acre parking lot
- PDZD-24-0034 (PDZ Development Plan Minor Modification) - A revision for a small section of new soundwalls for the Ford Amphitheater to be constructed on this development plan site
- Application PDZD-24-0034 was approved on January 7, 2025. There were no appeals filed during the 10-day appeal period which expired on January 17, 2025. The approval letter and approved, modified development plan has been uploaded to Accela."
- PDZD-24-0035 (PDZ Development Plan Minor Modification) - For the construction of additional sound walls for the Ford Amphitheater
- Application PDZD-24-0035 was approved on January 7, 2025. There were no appeals filed during the 10-day appeal period which expired on January 17, 2025. The approval letter and approved, modified development plan has been uploaded to Accela.
Engagement
1/28/2025 Update from Mayor Yemi
12/17/2024 Listening Session
Click below to view the recording of Mayor Yemi's Ford Amphitheater neighborhood listening session held on Dec. 17, 2024.
10/25/2024 Venu Season Review and Planning Presentation
10/25/2024 Mayor Yemi's letter to the community
Comment Card
We value your feedback. If you have comments for Mayor Yemi regarding the Ford Amphitheater, please use the online comment card by clicking the link below. The mayor is reviewing all comments to inform the future of this conversation.
For all other inquiries or comments, including making a noise complaint, use GoCOS.
FAQs
When can concerts take place at the amphitheater in 2025?
The approved timeframe for the 2025 concert season is April 15-Oct. 31, 2025. Concerts can take place between the hours of 3-10:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 3-11p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; and noon-10:30 p.m. Sunday.
Note: The times on the January 2025 Noise Hardship Permit application were incorrect. This has since been fixed and a new permit was submitted and approved in February 2025 with the correct times.
Why use 5-minute averages for sound data from the remote sound monitoring sites?
Averages provide a greater representation of sound levels and is a preferred industry standard for sound measurement.
How are the remote sound monitoring site locations going to be selected? And how can residents trust Venu’s sensors are calibrated accurately, working correctly and that they are placed in areas truly representative of residential areas?
They will be placed in locations agreed to mutually between the City and Venu with input from sound consultants and informed by feedback that both entities have received from neighbors. Additionally, the City is planning to again engage an independent third party to also monitor sound levels.
Why is ambient noise part of the measurement?
Ambient noise is part of Colorado State Statute. Colorado Revised Statutes § 25-12-103 Article 9: “In all sound level measurements, consideration shall be given to the effect of the ambient noise level created by the encompassing noise of the environment from all sources at the time and place of such sound level measurement.”
When will these additional mitigation efforts be completed?
All mitigation efforts have been and continue to be a priority. Venu submitted its mitigation plans to the City on Dec. 17, 2024, and the City approved them on Jan. 7, 2025. The City expedited the approval process to help ensure that the additional sound walls can be constructed before the 2025 concert season begins. Venu is currently on schedule to have the additional sound walls in place by the first concert of the 2025 season. Venu has also ordered its additional sound monitoring stations and is working on the configuration of its new sound system.
Note: The Oct. 31, 2025 date in the agreement was intended as the end date for the 2025 Noise Hardship Permit.
How will the sound limit be enforced?
If during any concert, the agreed-upon sound levels are exceeded at two or more of the five measurement stations by at least 6 dB(A), excluding the Polaris Pointe Development, then Venu will be fined $500 per occurrence and required to provide a plan for further mitigation of sound at the location. The purpose of this provision is to account for unexpected “spikes” in concert noise.