El Paso City Council set to finalize Notes Live amphitheater plan during Tuesday meeting

Adam Powell, El Paso Times
·2 min read

After a two-week break, the El Paso City Council is set to return to City Hall this week.

High on its to-do list is finalizing all of the details related to the amphitheater slated to be constructed in Northeast El Paso and managed by Colorado Springs-based hospitality and entertainment company Notes Live.

The 12,500-seat Sunset Amphitheater will be built on the site of the old Cohen Stadium. Representatives from the city's Economic Development said in April, when the City Council approved the plan, that the new venue is expected to open its doors by March 2026.

The 12,500-seat amphitheater, to be constructed on the site of the old Cohen Stadium, is expected to open its doors by March 2026.
The 12,500-seat amphitheater, to be constructed on the site of the old Cohen Stadium, is expected to open its doors by March 2026.

Though city officials have insisted that the new amphitheater project is separate from the voter-approved multipurpose cultural and performing arts center, it's likely that with the promise of a privately constructed venue the City Council will move away from the MPC plan.

During its meeting Tuesday, July 2, the City Council is set to approve its 380 Agreement with Notes Live, which will provide the company with tax incentives totaling just under $31 million and 17 acres of land at the northeast corner of Cohen Avenue and Gateway Boulevard North.

In exchange, Notes Live will invest $80 million into the amphitheater project and guarantee at least 40 national touring events each year.

City Council to consider pay raise for judges

Also on Tuesday, the City Council will decide on whether to give elected and Council-appointed judges servicing as municipal court judges an 8% pay raise.

Currently, there is one presiding judge, one appellate judge and four other judges. Municipal court judges have not seen a pay raise since September 2019, according to Tuesday's agenda.

Following is a breakdown of the new salaries if the City Council approves the increase:

  • Municipal court presiding judge: current salary, $64,800; after 8% increase, $69,984

  • Municipal court appellate judge: current salary, $54,000; after 8% increase, $58,320

  • Municipal court judge: current salary, $54,000; after 8% increase, $58,320

If approved, the new rates would take effect July 28, 2024.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso city Council poised to finalize Northeast amphitheater plans