Operator selected for Sunset Amphitheater in Broken Arrow

By John Dobberstein, Editor

Live Nation, a publicly traded company based in California, has been chosen as the operator for Broken Arrow’s Sunset Amphitheater.

Colorado Springs-based Notes Live, which is proposing the 12,500-seat venue, announced the decision Thursday.

Live Nation will be responsible for booking major artists and working with food-and-beverage vendors and working cooperatively with Notes Live on the security package. This will be the case for up to 40 major touring shows a year, but there will be 20-25 other shows and community events where Notes Live takes the lead.

Notes Live CEO and chairman JW Roth told the Sentinel Live Nation was chosen for a lot of reasons, “but the key is they’re just strong in the market. They were willing to commit to 40 big shows and a significant number of ticket sales. And at the end of the day they were our best choice.”

Roth said the sale of firepit suites for the venue is “way ahead of schedule” with “millions and millions of dollars” already sold. “It’s one of the strongest markets we’ve ever sold in. I think it’s just a very strong arts and culture community there in Tulsa and Broken Arrow, and they just gravitated toward It. A lot of families and corporations have purchased multiple firepits.”

Notes Live hasn’t unveiled a naming rights deal yet for the venue, but Roth and Notes Live’s sponsorship team were in Broken Arrow and Tulsa this week and met with two “really strong groups.” The bidding process continues and a decision could be announced this summer.

The decision comes as an important date is coming for the proposed $71.5 million development in southeast Broken Arrow, just north of the Events Park. Traffic, parking and site plans submitted to the city by Notes Live earlier this year are scheduled to be presented to the Broken Arrow Planning Commission on Feb. 8.

The Planning Commission and City Council have already approved a special taxing district to help pay for the $28 million in infrastructure improvements needed to accommodate the venue.

Notes Live is expected to close on the property for the amphitheater this spring, and if all goes as planned, construction could begin later this year with an opening in summer 2025 with the promise of bringing in major touring artists.

Notes Live recently opened a new venue in Gainesville, Ga. and announced new music and entertainment complexes in the growing markets of Colorado Springs, Colo., Murfreesboro, Tenn. and Mustang, Okla., near Oklahoma City.

Based in Beverly Hills, Calif., Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) bills itself as the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. 

Live Nation reported in November that it logged revenues of $8.2 billion in the third quarter and operating income of $619 million. The company said 140 million tickets had been sold year-to-date for Live Nation shows, up 17% year-over-year and already surpassing full year 2022 total of 121 million.