2026 Summer Concert Plans Just Got Easier as McKinney Recruits Massive $220M Outdoor Amphitheater

Last year, Frisco announced plans to open a $201 million Universal Studios theme park and become a national tourist destination. Last week, McKinney said, “Hold my beer.” 

McKinney, a Collin County municipality with a population of about 203,000, announced a partnership with Colorado-based Notes Live for a $220 million open-air concert amphitheater. 

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer CoCo Good said the Sunset Amphitheater will be built on 46 acres at the northeast corner of U.S. 75 and State Highway 121. 

“It is estimated to bring over 1,300 direct and indirect jobs to the community and an economic impact of roughly $3 billion to the area over the first 10 years,” city officials said in a press release. 

The project came about through a partnership of the City of McKinney and its Economic Development and Community Development corporations. 

With Drama Over Permits, What’s Next For Frisco’s Universal Studios Theme Park?

Plans For Sunset Amphitheater in McKinney 

The venue will seat up to 20,000 spectators and feature 250 luxury fire pit suites in addition to custom-built suites and reserved seating. About 5,100 parking spaces will be available. 

Construction is expected to kick off later this year with an opening date set for early 2026.

Notes Live Inc. owner J.W. Roth told The Dallas Morning News he expects the venue to host 50 to 55 shows a year. 

“If you ask a big room to raise your hand if you hate baseball, there are going to be some hands raised,” he said. “But if you say raise your hand if you hate music, you’ll find not a single hand goes up.”

Notes Live is also building similar venues in Colorado Springs and Broken Arrow, Okla. 

The Sunset Amphitheater will serve as the flagship music venue for Notes Live and represents the largest theater among its locations, according to the Sunset website. 

“The venue will be designed to host major touring artists, focusing on creating an exceptional fan experience through upscale hospitality, crystal-clear sound quality, and spectacular outdoor views,” the website states. 

So … fingers crossed for Taylor Swift in 2026? 

McKinney Real Estate

McKinney may become a tourist destination when the venue opens, but it’s also the place that thousands call home. Real estate is booming in popular McKinney neighborhoods like Adriatica, Stonebridge Ranch, and Hardin Lake.  

Listings abound in every price range and land is plentiful. 

A $2.75 million, 6,000-plus-square-foot private retreat in Craig Ranch Estates is back on the market after major upgrades. The home at 5604 Twin Cities Lane features a butler’s kitchen, a senior suite, a five-car garage, and custom finishes. It sits on an acre and offers access to an 18-hole championship Byron Nelson golf course. 

The home is listed by Realtor Juanita Uranga with Competitive Edge Realty LLC. 

Another stunner sits at 510 Creekside Drive, listed for $1.89 million. 

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom home in one of McKinney’s premier gated communities features a resort-style swimming pool and spa, gourmet kitchen, mother-in-law suite, breakfast room, and a four-car garage. 

Contact Realtor Stacey Zimmerman with Ebby Halliday-Frisco for a private showing. 

For those scoping homes that are perfect for downsizing in style, McKinney real estate expert Valarie Kerby has a fantastic listing in Fireside Village with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 1,680 square feet of exceptionally maintained interiors.

Kerby has listed the home at 816 Hearthside Way, which is already pending, for $432,500.