City outlines entertainment and destination projects: $300M amphitheater, Cannon Beach lagoon and Byron Nelson extension
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Summary
Economic development staff described several large projects at a Feb. 28 joint meeting: a 20,000‑seat Sunset Amphitheater with a targeted mid‑2026 opening, a Cannon Beach lagoon complex and an extended agreement for the Byron Nelson golf event through 2033.
City economic development presenters described multiple large destination projects at the Feb. 28 joint meeting, saying the developments are intended to increase tourism, hotel demand and year‑round activity in McKinney.
Presenters said Venue, a publicly traded amphitheater developer, plans a 20,000‑seat Sunset Amphitheater at the Southgate site with an estimated $300,000,000 investment, more than 300 private fire‑pit suites and a targeted groundbreaking in early April 2025 and opening by mid‑2026. The presenter characterized the amphitheater as Venue’s flagship product and said the company expects at least 45 shows per year in the initial format.
The city also described a proposed Cannon Beach development at Stacy and U.S. 121: a mixed‑use entertainment district built around a roughly three‑acre engineered lagoon and white‑sand beach, with hotel and restaurant components. The presenter said the Cannon Beach concept is expected to be about a $200,000,000 investment, create roughly 700 jobs and draw several hundred thousand annual visitors.
Officials provided an update on the Byron Nelson professional golf event, saying the city and tournament organizers have negotiated an eight‑year extension of the event agreement, which will run through 2033. Presenters said the title sponsor for the year was the CJ Corporation and noted the tournament’s late April schedule for 2025.
Presenters also reported that the NCAA football events hosted in recent years brought sizable visitor counts and hotel usage; one city presenter said economic studies for a recent NCAA event showed approximately $3,100,000 in local economic impact and record attendance for games held in McKinney.
City staff said developers are working on site plans and mitigation measures — for example, sound buffers for the amphitheater — and that the projects are expected to spur hotel demand and downtown and southside visitation if they proceed to construction.
