COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo — Colorado's new under-construction outdoor amphitheater has a new name.
Sunset Amphitheater will now be called Ford Amphitheater.
The builder and operator of the venue, Notes Live, announced Ford has acquired the naming rights to the new 8,000-seat amphitheater, which is set to open Aug. 9.
"A world-class amphitheater deserves a world-class name, and no name is more iconic than Ford," said Notes Live Founder and Chairman JW Roth. "They’re built ‘Ford Proud,’ as the slogan goes, and we are proud to showcase one of the great American brands right at the base of America’s mountain, Pikes Peak."
"Your local Ford stores are proud to be an integral part of the community we serve," said Kevin Shaughnessy, President and CEO of Phil Long Dealerships. "From college athletics to professional sports and all the activities and associations that matter most, your local Ford stores are honored to be woven into the fabric that brings us all together. We are excited to support the all-new Ford Amphitheater and look forward to many unforgettable moments under the Colorado sky."
Colorado Springs' own OneRepublic will headline the first concert on Aug. 9 at Ford Amphitheater, which is under construction in north Colorado Springs at the Polaris Pointe development near the Air Force Academy. OneRepublic will also be performing Aug. 10 and Aug. 11.
Notes Live said Ford Amphitheater is part of a $90 million entertainment campus that will host large touring acts with a top-of-the-line audio-visual system, a self-draining grass berm, and more than 90 luxury fire pit suites.
Notes Live said the venue will have "an unparalleled view of the sun setting over Pikes Peak, America’s mountain, right behind the stage as each concert begins, flanked by the United States Air Force Academy stadium on the left and the iconic Air Force chapel on the right."
The concert venue will be booked in partnership with concert promoter AEG Presents.
OneRepublic is a Grammy nominated band formed in Colorado Springs in 2002. OneRepublic's lineup currently consists of Ryan Tedder, Zach Filkins, Drew Brown, Brent Kutzle, Eddie Fisher, and Brian Willett.
Ford Amphitheater
First announced in April 2022, Ford Amphitheater was given final approval by the Colorado Springs City Council in January 2023.
"These are some of the fastest-growing cities in America, but the live entertainment options haven’t caught up to the population," said Roth. "Notes Live venues will cater to these upscale demographics looking for a place where the overall experience is as good as the music itself."
"People know that I go over the top, it’s just what I do," said Roth. "I want it to be perfect, and I want that perfection to be translated into everything we do."
“In collaboration with Notes Live, we look forward to bringing a wide array of world-class artists to Colorado Springs and it’s surrounding communities. [Ford] Amphitheater will be the perfect outdoor venue to host these events,” said Brent Fedrizzi, Co-President and COO of AEG Presents Rocky Mountains.
Ford Amphitheater is one of several venues Notes Live has been opening across the country in "entertainment deserts" where there are growing populations but a lack of high-quality venues.
Notes Live opened another Colorado Springs music venue, Boot Barn Hall, in February 2019.
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