SEDONA, Ariz. – The city of Sedona issued a Request for Information (RFI) inviting private entities to share their interest and ideas for the restoration and operations of the Sedona Cultural Park Amphitheater, a 5,500-seat outdoor performance venue located on city-owned land in West Sedona called the Western Gateway.
The outdoor amphitheater was in operation primarily as a music venue from 2001-2003 and hosted nationally recognized artists. The city purchased the property in 2022 and is now exploring options to bring the venue back as a cultural and economic asset for residents and visitors.
The city is seeking responses from private organizations and businesses with expertise in developing, operating and managing outdoor amphitheaters, performing arts venues or comparable entertainment facilities. The RFI is an information-gathering step that may lead to a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) process for a ground lease of up to approximately 25 acres of the city property. The city intends to lease the property at fair market value, with renovation and operating costs the responsibility of the private party.
Respondents are encouraged to share creative ideas for programming, business models, community benefit components and approaches to comply with Sedona’s sound attenuation requirements. The city is particularly interested in how a restored venue could serve residents and complement Sedona’s arts and tourism economy.
Organizations interested in scheduling a site visit may contact the city to arrange access during regular business hours with 48 hours advance notice.
The RFI package contains additional information, including a structural condition assessment, a site diagram, site photographs, zoning documents and a non-exclusive Letter of Intent available to respondents upon request. To learn more and to respond to the RFI, visit https://sedonaaz.bonfirehub.com/portal. Applications are due no later than Sept. 30, 2026.
3 Comments
Restoring that amphitheater could really liven up the cultural scene. I wonder what kind of events they’ll plan for it.
First find somebody ready to invest. Then find what it will take to get it open. How much work does it need? Need to find someone interested in running it for a profit….This is all years away, even if they found someone today!
From a Google search:The average concert ticket costs approximately $130 to $132. However, prices vary wildly depending on the artist and the venue.Here is how ticket costs generally break down:Top 100 Tours: Average around $127 to $132.Local or Tribute Acts: Can range from $15 to $65 (e.g., local venues in the Cottonwood/Prescott area often charge $15 for indie bands and $60 for tribute shows).
Probably absolutely nothing Cultural or even significant. I love that the city plans to rent the facility rather than sell it (probably because they know that as a music venue it is doomed to fail). Also love the fact that whoever does rent it will also be responsible for re-building it and making it all legal and safe for use which will exclude city responsibility for anything that can and will go wrong there. Kind of a “Renter Beware” clause in the deal. I’m certain all of the music venue cheerleaders were hoping to outright purchase and profit from the amphitheater as a music venue sitting upon a “cultural site”. It gives me great joy knowing the scheming profiteers have failed in their quest to make city government a self enrichment tool. I’d love to see cultural events like local tribal Pau Wau’s, African music and dance, Middle Eastern food and dance, art shows etc. But sadly we all know that isn’t even close to happening in today’s cancel truthful history culture and it’s racist ideology now is it?