Bulldozers are finally rolling in Northeast El Paso, where the city is breaking ground this afternoon on the Sunset Amphitheater, a multi‑season outdoor music venue that local leaders are banking on as the next big draw for the Cohen Entertainment District. The invite‑only ceremony is set for 4 p.m. on Wednesday. It will feature remarks from Mayor Renard Johnson and Venu's chief executive, who are pitching the project as a new entertainment anchor for the area.
On paper, the venue is a splashy one. The Sunset Amphitheater is touted as an $80 million build that will seat roughly 12,500 guests and feature more than 200 premium "firesuites," a canopied roof with heating for year‑round shows, and an Aikman Club created with Troy Aikman, according to KFOX. The station also notes the 4 p.m. groundbreaking time and the planned remarks from the mayor and Venu's CEO.
Venu is pitching the amphitheater as part of a broader private investment play. In company materials, the developer describes a $100 million commitment tied to the project and projects roughly $2 billion in economic impact over the first decade, as outlined in a Venu release carried by BusinessWire. The same release spotlights the Luxe FireSuites and Aikman Owners Club as key premium offerings and targets a fourth‑quarter 2026 opening.
The amphitheater is slated for the Cohen Entertainment District on land that once held Cohen Stadium, near Gateway Boulevard North and Cohen Avenue. That parcel briefly hit a snag over a delayed land‑title review before the developer closed on the property, according to El Paso Matters. City staff told council members at the time that title and permitting items were being finalized and were not expected to derail the broader construction timeline.
To help secure the project, city leaders approved a performance-based incentive package worth approximately $31 million, according to Venu's company materials distributed through BusinessWire. City Council also voted to expand the project's private investment commitment and add an El Paso First clause that prioritizes local hiring and procurement tied to the amphitheater deal.
For those looking to lock in a front‑row lifestyle, Venu is marketing "Luxe FireSuites" as private, lifetime suites centered around gas‑powered fire pits. Local reporting lists prices starting near $298,500 for a four‑person suite and reaching about $597,000 for an eight‑person suite, according to KVIA. The company says suite owners receive lifelong access to shows, priority parking, and on‑site food‑and‑beverage service as part of the premium package.
