The developers of the new outdoor Ford Amphitheater have agreed to implement additional measures intended to address noise levels that residents living in the surrounding area have described in recent weeks as excessive. VENU founder, chairman and CEO JW Roth and company President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Mudd met with Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade and City Council President Randy Helms on Wednesday to discuss possible additional noise-mitigation strategies "that aim to reduce unintentional impact on our community," the city and VENU said in a joint written statement Wednesday evening. While sound reporting shows the amphitheater has complied with city-approved noise limits and mitigation requirements since it opened three weeks ago, "we all recognize the need to try alternative mitigation strategies to address noise," the city and developers wrote.
Neighbors living up to 3 miles away from the venue told the City Council this week they have been subjected to unwanted noise from the amphitheater and it has affected their quality of life and their mental health. By Sunday, residents had also filed roughly 650 complaints with the city about the sound levels emanating from the facility. Residents asked VENU, formerly known as Notes Live, to consider implementing several other mitigation measures to reduce noise.
These included building more sound barriers on the northern and southern sides of seating areas, in addition to the existing sound barrier on the eastern si.