A board member who participated in an EDC site visit described the Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville as a model for how an entertainment venue can catalyze surrounding development, then led a discussion about whether Whitehouse should explore a similar venue and what land and partnerships would be required.

The exchange matters because a large entertainment venue could reshape regional tourism, demand new infrastructure and require significant land and intergovernmental coordination; the board treated the discussion as preliminary brainstorming rather than a formal proposal.

The board member said the Huntsville amphitheater is an outdoor venue with roughly 8,000 seats and that the surrounding mixed-use area and event programming drew major touring acts. "It was beautiful, nice, 8,000 person amphitheater where they put in big names like, they had Stevie Nicks," the speaker said. He added that the site included shops, farmer's markets and other community uses and estimated the complex covered "30 something acres" for parking and supporting uses.

Participants discussed the need for significantly larger property (the estimate in the visit was roughly 30 to 40 acres), the potential to stage food competitions and other large events that could draw tens of thousands for signature events, and the possibility of partnering with neighboring jurisdictions or an Economic Development Corporation partner to size and finance a project.

Board members cautioned that such a project is a long-term, high-investment undertaking and suggested further study and potential partnership opportunities. The board agreed to keep the topic on future agendas for additional exploration rather than advancing a formal plan at this time.

No formal action or vote occurred; members framed the conversation as brainstorming and asked staff to include the item on future agendas for further consideration.