COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – A controversial music venue is gaining international recognition.

Ford Amphitheater was named one of Billboard’s top music venues for 2026. They have been recognized as the Top West Coast Amphitheater, ranking among other venues like the Sphere in Las Vegas and the O2 Arena in London.

In a statement, the parent company, VENU, said this reinforces “Colorado Springs’ growing influence on the national and global entertainment stage.”

The recognition identifies “28 venues that define the live-music experience today,” according to Billboard’s website, which VENU has said is in-line with their vision for the location.

The amphitheater has drawn controversy locally, though, with hundreds of people issuing noise complaints with the city and some even filing lawsuits.

VENU has since spent millions to mitigate the noise.

“I think the amphitheater is great,” said Basil Sonin, who lives nearby. “It’s just the location that probably wasn’t thought out very well.”

Sonin was one of a few people who mentioned the noise when hearing about the recent award, despite mitigation efforts.

But some said they are happy to see such a large music venue in the Springs and are glad to see the recognition.

“I think it’s really cool that we have this right here in the Springs,” said one woman who lives nearby. “We needed something here and we love the Amphitheater. We’ve been to two different shows there. We took our kids to their first concert there and it was just really easy to get in and out of.”

She said things improved after VENU made improvements to help mitigate sound.

“Especially us living right here since they improved the retention wall,” she said. “We haven’t been able to hear it from our house as much. Which we didn’t mind before anyway because we could sit out on our deck and listen to the shows that we wanted to.”

VENU said they are honored to be among some of the most influential venues world wide and hope to continue expanding their influence in entertainment in the Rocky Mountain region.

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