Amphitheater project hoping for January 2024 construction start date

By Jacob Sturm
news@mustangpaper.com

The 12,000 seat Sunset Amphitheater plans revealed earlier this year are not too far away from
potential work getting started.

Notes Live, the group with plans to put the Amphitheater just east of the John Kilpatrick
Turnpike near 15 th street and Sara Road, hosted community members who surround the area
and gave a presentation, allowing them to give feedback to the group regarding the project in
advance of filing the project with OKC’s Planning Commission.

That presentation came through Bob Mudd, Notes Live Vice President of Real Estate
Development on the project team for Notes Live, and he indicated the group would not come
into places where they cannot be viewed as an asset to the city.

He offered a history of Notes Live, with some of the other amphitheaters the company has
worked on being included in his presentation.

“We assessed dozens of sites to consider its proximity to population, its ability to have ingress
and egress for parking and traffic, and its impact on local neighborhoods as well because
obviously sound is one of the concerns,” Mudd said. “We believe we have found an exceptional
location that is tucked into the southeast corner of I-40 and the John Kilpatrick (Turnpike).”

He said the anticipation is to host 50-60 shows per year.

Mudd said the facility is very flexible, and said the lower bowl could function as an independent
venue with 2,000 seats being in the area mentioned.

“We are in the hospitality business, and we’re not just in the hospitality business to try to sell
tickets,” Mudd said. “Our company focuses on a premium hospitality experience.”

Noise will be aimed away from all residential areas, according to Mudd’s presentation, and the
group will not allow tailgating in their parking lots. A thorough traffic study will also take place
and grade every intersection impacted, and that will also be submitted to city planning.

He also addressed some of the concerns of traffic, saying emptying the location in 40 minutes
will be the longest time allowed before they would hesitate to build the structure. He
mentioned Notes Live has brought in experts to make sure that time frame is possible.

Carol Hefner, the co-owner and agent of record on the sale of the property where the
amphitheater will be located, spoke to the Mustang Times and mentioned the holidays as a factor that is anticipated to slow the work down, making the January of 2024 the hope for the
project getting started.

Since the announcement regarding the project coming to the Mustang/Yukon area, Hefner said
the community has responded with nearly 40% of the Sunset Suites being claimed as part of the
project.

“There are 120 firepit suites, which are elevated with generous seating that is moveable,”
Hefner said. “They are served by waitstaff privately from an extensive menu.”

Hefner also said owners of the suites hold ownership for their lifetime, and get returns on their
investment through every ticket sold at the venue.

About 130 more inquiries have been made regarding the amphitheater suites, and Hefner
mentioned the suites are $250,000 or $500,000 for the suites. The development is also about
280 acres, with Hefner mentioning her Mustang Creek Crossing ownership group owns multiple
corners of the Mustang Road and 15 th Street intersection. The amphitheater part of the
development will sit on 21 acres.

“The stage will be positioned to the south, backing to the south so that all of the noise, all of
the sound will be abated, but it will go to the north,” Hefner said. “So, it will not impact any of
the neighboring areas (and) the residential areas.”

Parking for the amphitheater will be to the north and a little bit to the east, too. Hefner also
mentioned that the parking is not anticipated to be used year-round, with most of the 60 shows
for the year happening between May and October.

Hefner anticipated the parking to be utilized for other things for the months the shows are not
scheduled.

“We’ve decided to establish walking trails and green spaces around the water features,” Hefner
said. “This should be a fun place to come stay, hang out, spend the day or even the weekend.”

Hotel providers have been discussed, with Hefner saying the group will be really discriminating
on those providers to make sure they have meeting space, and allow for the community to
come and do extracurricular activities in those spaces.

Once operational, the amphitheater project is anticipated to bring $180 Million in economic
revenue to the city and Canadian County.

Another component of the project is hearing from the public on things they may want at the
location. Hefner said she peruses social media for that information. As a result, Hefner said the
public has put in some pretty cool requests, and that the group is working to try and fulfill some
of those suggestions.

“We’re trying to fulfill the neighbors and the residents wish list with regard to cool
entertainment and experience zone provisions,” Hefner said.

Hefner said the group wants their property (all of which is commercial zoning) to be something
that accentuates and improves the lives of the people living around it.

She also said the people in the area will also not see things in the development that invite
people to do things not helpful to the community.

More information is expected once the group goes through the Oklahoma City Planning
Commission step. The Mustang Times will continue monitoring the project and provide updates
as they unfold.