Coconino County hears plan to invest in and possibly expand Pepsi Amphitheater seating

County officials and R Entertainment, the venue operator, briefed the Coconino County Board of Supervisors on the Pepsi Amphitheater’s 2024 season performance, recent capital work and potential capacity increases, and discussed next steps including budget requests and an early renewal of the operator’s contract.

Cynthia Nemeth, presenting for Parks and Recreation, said the amphitheater opened in February 2006 and has been managed under independent contractor agreements. Carrie Dunn of R Entertainment told the board the operator grew the annual schedule from three shows 13 years ago to about 40 last year and highlighted national acts that have performed at the venue. “We’ve really got to a point where all of our collective hard work has put this place on the map from a national perspective,” Dunn said.

Nemeth and R Entertainment described the venue as a revenue-generating county program with notable economic benefits. Company representatives said about 67% of attendees come from outside Coconino County and estimated total local economic impact at roughly $13 million in the prior year. Nemeth said the county’s revenue share since opening is “nearly…