City issues noise hardship permit for Ford Amphitheater 2026 concert season

The City of Colorado Springs issued a noise hardship permit yesterday for the Ford Amphitheater's 2026 concert season. The permit allows events at Ford Amphitheater within the Polaris Pointe area to operate above standard City decibel limits within that defined area. Outside of Polaris Pointe, City and State noise standards remain in effect.

The City's approach to sound levels at Ford Amphitheater continues to be grounded in measured data, established standards, and ongoing engagement with the community. This approach has guided ongoing coordination with the venue following its initial concert season in 2024. The Venue Arts and Culture Foundation operates Ford Amphitheater with lessees AEG Presents and Sunset Operations.

In January 2025, the City entered into a mitigation and monitoring agreement with VENU, outlining additional sound reduction measures and expanded oversight. All the mitigation efforts in the agreement have been completed, including sound walls, sound system reconfiguration, enhanced monitoring, and defined enforcement protocols tied to sound levels.

"The City is committed to clear communication and transparency with residents as we continue to monitor sound impacts at Ford Amphitheater," said Mayor Yemi Mobolade. "We will take community concerns seriously, ground our decisions in data, and ensure we strike the right balance between preserving neighborhood quality of life and supporting the economic and cultural benefits this venue brings."

Sound data from the 2025 concert season is now available at ColoradoSprings.gov/FordAmphitheaterProject. The webpage includes current and historical sound data, as well as information about the venue. Data from prior concert seasons shows sound levels generally operating within established criteria, with a limited number of exceedances occurring within isolated five-minute intervals that were addressed in real time during events. No penalties were triggered under the terms of the City's agreement with VENU.

The City will continue to review sound data from each concert season, including third-party analysis and operator-provided reporting, and to work collaboratively with residents, the venue, and other stakeholders to evaluate sound impacts and identify solutions that serve the broader community.