29 KiB
29 KiB
Mixed-Use Entertainment Development Intel Report
Last Updated: February 4, 2026
Coverage: Last 90 days (Nov 2025 – Feb 2026) + key mid-2025 announcements
Sources: Bisnow, REBusinessOnline, Sports Business Journal, BizJournals, Blooloop, GlobeSt, Connect CRE, PR Newswire, general news
🔴 HIGHEST PRIORITY — Actively Raising Capital / Seeking Partners
These projects are confirmed to be in fundraising, seeking JV partners, or have open RFPs.
| Project | Location | Developer | Est. Cost/Size | Stage | Key Details | Capital/Partner Status | Key People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forge Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | Webstar Technology Group / Urbantec Development Partners | $3.7B total ($756M Phase 1) / 8.4M SF on 10 acres | Site acquired Dec 2025; lining up financing for 2026 groundbreaking | Phase 1: 300-room hotel, 600 luxury condos, 60,500 SF retail + entertainment, sports entertainment complex; Full build: 2,300 residences, 600K SF office, 200K SF data center | ACTIVELY RAISING CAPITAL — $33.7M seller financing secured; pursuing $223.7M inducement from Dev Authority of Fulton County, institutional loans/equity, bond issuance, digital asset tokenization, condo presales, and forthcoming stock offering. Penny stock company (WEBSTAR) — high risk profile. | Ricardo Haynes (CEO, Webstar) | Bisnow |
| Ole Miss Vaught-Hemingway District | Oxford, MS | RFP OPEN — seeking developer partner | TBD / 25 acres | RFP issued Dec 10, 2025 | Mixed-use condotel (30+ condos), 35K+ SF retail/dining, entertainment district, stadium modernization (premium seating, student section), half-acre plaza; P3 (public-private partnership) structure | OPEN RFP — University seeking developer to design, build, finance, operate and maintain. Responses being collected. Brailsford & Dunlavey advising. | Keith Carter (AD, Ole Miss) | SBJ |
| VENU Holding Corp (Multiple Sites) | TX, FL, and other U.S. markets | VENU Holding Corp (NYSE: VENU) | $1.1B+ under construction; $5B+ pipeline | Active construction on multiple amphitheaters | Five new amphitheaters including 20K-seat Texas venue (Live Nation operated); Aramark F&B partnerships at five venues; Filed $1B S-3 shelf (Dec 2025) for securities issuances | ACTIVELY RAISING PUBLIC CAPITAL — Raised $34.5M+ in 2025; $1B shelf registration filed Dec 2025 for working capital, venue development, acquisitions, debt repayment. Publicly traded (VENU). Low-leverage structure. | — | StockTitan |
| Ovation Orlando | Orlando (Osceola County), FL | Accesso Partners / Meyers Group (JV) | $1B+ / 670K SF on 76 acres | Site acquired Jan 2026 ($73.3M); groundbreaking Q1 2026 | Master-planned entertainment district near Disney — 5 themed districts; retail, dining, musical restaurants, live music, 740 hotel rooms/condos; opening target 2027 | Likely seeking capital partners — $1B project with only $73M land purchase closed. JV structure between Accesso and Meyers Group. Full capital stack not disclosed — significant equity gap. | — | ConnectCRE |
🟡 HIGH VALUE — Major Projects Recently Announced (Last 90 Days)
| Project | Location | Developer | Est. Cost/Size | Stage | Key Details | Capital/Funding Status | Key People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Street Tampa Entertainment District | Tampa, FL | Strategic Property Partners (SPP) / Vinik Sports Group (VSG) | Part of $3B+ Water Street Tampa / 4 acres | Announced Dec 2025; planning phase | 3,500-seat live music venue for mid-tier artists, 250-room hotel, 100K SF retail/dining/entertainment, structured parking; across from Benchmark International Arena | Privately financed — SPP/VSG partnership. Jeff Vinik's portfolio. Arctos Partners, Doug Ostrover, Marc Lipschultz are VSG minority investors. | Jeff Vinik (VSG founder); Arctos Partners (minority) | REBusiness |
| KC Chiefs Stadium & Entertainment District | Wyandotte County, KS (near Legends) | Kansas City Chiefs / State of Kansas | $3.3B total ($3B stadium + $300M HQ); $700M-$1B entertainment district | Agreement announced Dec 2025; STAR bond package | 65K-seat domed stadium (opens 2031 season), new HQ/training facility (Olathe), shopping/dining/hotel/entertainment districts in both locations | Public-private partnership — State STAR bonds funding up to 60% of costs; team covers 40%. $500M+ in public financing. Major public subsidy structure. | Clark Hunt (Chairman, Chiefs); Gov. Laura Kelly | KS Commerce |
| MidCity Arts + Innovation Subdistrict | Huntsville, AL | RCP Companies | $300M / 12 acres (within $2.2B MidCity District) | Announced Dec 2025; planning phase | 3,000-seat indoor music venue, 200-room music-branded hotel, boutique hotel, Innovation Tech Campus, 60K SF retail/entertainment, relocated outdoor venue (The Camp) | Public-private partnership — Part of larger $2.2B MidCity District (one of SE's largest mall conversions). Specific capital stack not disclosed. | — | Axios Huntsville |
| Current Landing | Kansas City, MO | Palmer Square Real Estate Mgmt / Angie & Chris Long (KC Current owners) | $1B / 23 acres | Under construction; Phase 1 opening Spring 2026 | Waterfront mixed-use district anchored by CPKC Stadium; restaurants, 2-acre town square, hundreds of apartments (River's Edge, Confluence buildings), retail, entertainment; timed for 2026 FIFA World Cup | Funded and under construction — First apartment pre-leasing Jan 2026. Construction moving rapidly. | Angie Long, Chris Long (KC Current co-owners) | SBJ |
| Sphere at National Harbor | National Harbor, MD (DC metro) | Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) / Peterson Companies | TBD (est. multi-hundred million) / 6,000 seats | Intent announced Jan 18, 2026 | Second U.S. Sphere; first smaller-scale design model; immersive entertainment venue at National Harbor destination | $200M in state/local/private incentives announced. Sphere is public company (SPHR). Peterson Companies is established local developer/owner of National Harbor. Additional capital structure TBD. | James Dolan (Sphere Entertainment); Jon Peterson (CEO, Peterson Companies); Gov. Wes Moore | Sphere Entertainment |
| Metropolitan Park | Queens, NY (Citi Field area) | Steve Cohen / Hard Rock International | $8.1B / 50 acres | Casino license approved Dec 15, 2025 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5,650-seat music venue, sportsbook, 1,000-room hotel, "Taste of Queens" food hall, 5,000 slot machines, 375 table games, 25 acres of parkland; 7 subway station renovation | $500M upfront license fee paid to state. $850M estimated annual tax revenue. Cohen self-funding (hedge fund billionaire). Fully private capital. | Steve Cohen (Mets owner); Hard Rock International | SBJ |
| Indianapolis Boxcar/Gainbridge District | Indianapolis, IN | Boxcar Development LLC (Herb Simon / Simon family) | $350M | Groundbreaking Jan 7, 2026 | 13-story Ritz-Carlton hotel (176 rooms), 4,000-seat Live Nation music venue, pedestrian bridge to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, underground parking; acquiring additional surrounding properties | $40M+ in TIF/city incentives under consideration. Simon family self-funding bulk. $300M+ private investment. 300+ FTE jobs. | Herb Simon (Pacers owner); Rick Fuson (CEO, PSE) | Live Nation |
🟢 SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS — Under Development / Advancing
| Project | Location | Developer | Est. Cost/Size | Stage | Key Details | Capital/Funding Status | Key People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams Village at Warner Center | Woodland Hills (LA), CA | Kroenke Organization | $10B / 52 acres (100 acres total holdings) | Plans announced Apr 2025; filing with city imminent; shovels by early 2027 | Rams HQ + training facility, two entertainment venues (5,000 + 2,500 capacity), residential, retail, hotel, offices, parks; decade-long phased build | Privately funded by Stan Kroenke (billionaire). No public subsidy disclosed. Gensler is master architect. | Stan Kroenke (Rams owner); LA Councilmember Bob Blumenfield | Commercial Observer |
| Centennial Yards | Atlanta, GA | CIM Group / Centennial Yards Company | $5B+ / 50 acres | Under construction; first openings targeting 2026 FIFA World Cup | 5,300-seat Live Nation concert venue, Cosm venue, retail, hotel, residential; near Mercedes-Benz Stadium & State Farm Arena. "Epicenter of sports and entertainment for the SE U.S." | CIM Group (major institutional investor) leading. Live Nation signed long-term lease. Major institutional capital already deployed. | Brian McGowan (President, CY Company) | BusinessWire |
| Raleigh Sports & Entertainment District | Raleigh, NC | Pacific Elm Properties / Gale Force Sports & Entertainment | $1B / 80 acres | Phase 1 kicked off Dec 2025 | Phase 1: 200K SF entertainment/lifestyle retail, 150K SF office, 150-key hotel, 500+ apartments, 4,300-seat Live Nation venue, 600-ft tailgating promenade; 15-year timeline | Private development with Centennial Authority partnership (arena lease extension). Rezoning filed. | Brian Fork (CEO, Hurricanes Holdings); Philip Isley (Chairman, Centennial Authority) | NHL.com |
| Salt Lake City Entertainment District | Salt Lake City, UT | Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) / Live Nation | $1.4B (est.) | Active planning; 6,000-seat music venue announced Aug 2025 | Delta Center remodel ($525M) + district development ($375M from tax revenue); new 6,000-capacity indoor music venue (200 events/year); master architects selected Sep 2025 | $900M from Capital City Revitalization Zone tax revenue (public). $500M gap being addressed. SEG private investment. Live Nation as venue partner. | Ryan Smith (SEG); Live Nation | KSL TV |
| Staybolt Street Entertainment District | Mansfield, TX | City of Mansfield / House of Tangram / REV Entertainment | $2.5B / 100 acres | Multiple phases; some elements opening late 2025 | Multi-sport professional stadium (REV Entertainment/FC Dallas affiliate), 30-acre sports park, 45K SF High 5 Mansfield FEC, 288-room Carbon Mansfield hotel, 33K SF convention center, retail, dining, housing | Public-private partnership — House of Tangram acquired 30 acres (Jul 2025). AI-powered hotel concept. Multiple private developers within master plan. | — | Mansfield Gov |
| The Development at Cadillac Square | Detroit, MI | Bedrock LLC (Dan Gilbert) | Multi-hundred million (specific total TBD) | Groundbreaking Apr 2025; Cosm opening Fall 2026 | Cosm live sports video dome, retail, residential, entertainment; adjacent to Campus Martius Park. Phase 2 scheduled Oct 2026. | Bedrock (Gilbert's RE arm) is primary capital source. $14M in public Revitalization & Placemaking Grants for surrounding areas. | Jared Fleisher (CEO, Bedrock); Kofi Bonner (former CEO, Bedrock) | Crain's Detroit |
| The Gallery | Madison, MS | Bellamare Development | $60M / 70 acres | Approved & under construction (started Jun 2025) | Anchored by Spinners (120K SF indoor/outdoor FEC — bowling, skating, arcade); "Royal Street" New Orleans-style dining area; boutique retail, office space | 100% privately funded — no public tax dollars. Mississippi-based developer. WBA Architecture and MP Design Group. | Mayor Mary Hawkins (Madison) | Clarion Ledger |
| Village at Gateway / Evo Entertainment | Forney, TX | Forney Legacy Holdings LLC / Evo Entertainment | Part of 120-acre mixed-use (82K SF Evo venue) | Under construction (broke ground Dec 2025; opening Fall 2026) | Largest Evo in Texas — cinema, bowling, gaming, F&B; within larger development with Target, H-E-B, Home Depot anchors | $4M city incentive agreement. Privately developed. | — | ConnectCRE |
📊 MARKET CONTEXT
Live Nation $1B Venue Investment Program
- Announced mid-2025: $1B to build 18 new/revitalized live music venues across the U.S.
- Many venues co-located with sports stadiums/arenas as part of mixed-use developments
- 2025 capex: $900M–$1B
- Significance: Live Nation is the anchor tenant for multiple projects on this list (Raleigh, SLC, Indianapolis, Centennial Yards). Their venue investment creates partnership opportunities.
Rockingham Grand Casino (New Hampshire)
- Developer: Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI)
- Cost: $180–200M
- Details: 160K SF casino, 900-seat live entertainment venue, F&B; expanding from 19K SF existing facility to full casino in state's largest mall
- Status: Planning board approved Dec 2025; announced Jan 2026
- Capital: CDI is publicly traded (CHDN). Internal financing.
Portland Foreside
- Location: Portland, ME
- Developer: Foreside Development Company / JV partners
- Cost: $600–700M next phase
- Details: 10-acre waterfront mixed-use: 400 residential units, 128-room luxury hotel, 50K SF retail/entertainment, marina
- Status: Planning board approved; under development
- Capital: Not disclosed publicly. Multiple phases.
🎯 CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY SCORING
Tier 1 — ACTIVE CAPITAL NEEDS (Outreach Targets)
- Forge Atlanta — Webstar is a penny stock company actively seeking institutional loans, equity, and bond issuance for a $756M Phase 1. High risk but massive upside. Pursuing unconventional capital (tokenization, stock offering).
- Ole Miss Vaught-Hemingway — Open RFP seeking a full development partner. True ground-floor opportunity for a developer/investor team.
- VENU Holdings — Publicly traded, $1B shelf registration filed, actively raising capital for amphitheater development pipeline. Public market opportunity.
- Ovation Orlando — $1B project with $73M land acquired. JV between Accesso and Meyers Group. Likely significant equity gap for the remaining $900M+ build-out. Groundbreaking Q1 2026.
Tier 2 — POSSIBLE CAPITAL/PARTNER NEEDS (Worth Monitoring)
- MidCity Huntsville — $300M expansion within $2.2B district; P3 structure suggests capital partner opportunities.
- Salt Lake City District — $500M funding gap identified beyond $900M in public tax revenue. SEG may need partners for district elements.
- Raleigh Sports & Entertainment District — $1B, 15-year development. Phased approach suggests ongoing capital needs across phases.
- Sphere National Harbor — Early-stage intent; full capital structure not yet disclosed beyond $200M in incentives.
Tier 3 — WELL-CAPITALIZED (Monitor for Vendor/Service Opportunities)
- Metropolitan Park NYC — $8.1B, Cohen self-funded
- Rams Village — $10B, Kroenke self-funded
- Centennial Yards — $5B+, CIM Group institutional capital
- Water Street Tampa — $3B+, Vinik/SPP well-capitalized
- Current Landing KC — $1B, under construction, funded
- KC Chiefs Stadium — $3.3B, STAR bonds + team equity
🆕 NEW FINDS — February 2, 2026 Scan
🔴 HIGH PRIORITY — Capital/Partner Opportunities
| Project | Location | Developer | Est. Cost/Size | Stage | Key Details | Capital/Partner Status | Key People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Marvel (Spurs Arena & Entertainment District) | San Antonio, TX (Hemisfair area) | San Antonio Spurs / City of San Antonio | $1.3B+ ($500M arena + $500M private development + $60M community) / 60+ acres | Land acquisition phase; $30M federal building purchase approved Jan 15, 2026; developer selection upcoming | New NBA arena (60-month build timeline), expanded convention center, mixed-use (apartments, restaurants, shops, offices, hotels), new Missions baseball stadium also in district | ACTIVELY STRUCTURING FINANCING — Spurs pledged $1B+; city pursuing bond funding for infrastructure; convention center hotel on pause pending utility relocation study. Developer to design arena + surrounding district not yet selected. Complex multi-party P3 structure with significant remaining capital needs. | Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones; Ben Gorzell (City CFO); Spurs ownership | SA Report / BizJournals |
| FC Cincinnati Entertainment District | Cincinnati, OH (West End) | FC Cincinnati / TBD entertainment venue operator | $332M / two 13-story towers | Final planning approval Nov 2025; $26M Ohio tax credit secured; groundbreaking Spring 2026 | Tower 1: 167 apartments, office, 5 retail tenant spaces. Tower 2: 182-room boutique hotel (Davidson Hospitality operating), condos, 1,100-1,200 capacity underground entertainment venue (200-250 events/yr). Near TQL Stadium. 2,102 construction + 1,699 permanent jobs. | SEEKING VENUE OPERATOR — Entertainment venue will be partner-operated (not FCC). Hotel has operator (Davidson Hospitality) but no brand yet. $26M state tax credit suggests additional financing in play. Possible equity/debt gaps for $332M total. | Chad Munitz (CRO, FC Cincinnati); Davidson Hospitality Group | WCPO / BizJournals |
| Six Flags Over Georgia Entertainment District | Mableton, GA (adjacent to Six Flags) | Six Flags Entertainment / City of Mableton | TBD | Very early-stage discussions (Jan 2026) | Entertainment district adjacent to 290-acre Six Flags Over Georgia park. New businesses, restaurants. Mableton considering Tax Allocation Districts (TADs) to finance infrastructure. Six Flags parent posted $1.2B loss — motivation to monetize adjacent land. | VERY EARLY STAGE — PARTNER/DEVELOPER OPPORTUNITY — TAD being explored for financing. Six Flags needs capital partners given parent company losses. Ground-floor opportunity for a developer willing to co-invest. | Mableton Mayor; Artie Jones (Economic Dev Director, Mableton) | BizJournals Atlanta |
🟡 SIGNIFICANT — Recently Announced / Advancing
| Project | Location | Developer | Est. Cost/Size | Stage | Key Details | Capital/Funding Status | Key People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears Arlington Heights District | Arlington Heights, IL | Chicago Bears / McCaskey family | $5B ($2B stadium + $3B mixed-use district) / 326 acres | Legislative push; renderings released Oct 2025; seeking state infrastructure support | 100K-seat domed stadium, retail, restaurants, housing, hotel, tailgating plazas. 56,000 construction jobs. $10.9B one-time economic impact. $1.3B annual economic activity. | Seeking state legislation for infrastructure funding. Team claims 100% private funding for stadium ($2B) but needs public investment for roads, utilities, transit. $3B mixed-use district likely needs development partners. Massive multi-year opportunity. | Bears ownership (McCaskey family); Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes; IL Legislature | NBC Chicago |
| Miami Freedom Park Entertainment District | Miami, FL (131 acres) | Inter Miami CF ownership (Mas brothers, Beckham) | $1B+ (est.) / 131 acres, 1M+ SF retail/entertainment/office + 750 hotel rooms | Phase 1 tenants announced Dec 2025; opening 2026 alongside stadium | 25,000-seat stadium, 58-acre public park, 500K SF Phase 1 retail/entertainment. First 125K SF leased: Fever (30K SF immersive experiences), PopStroke (75K SF Tiger Woods golf entertainment), Toroverde (24K SF adventure park). 750 hotel rooms across full build. | Likely well-capitalized (Mas brothers, Beckham). But 1M+ SF total retail/entertainment build-out across phases = potential JV/tenant/anchor investment opportunities. Phase 2 and 3 not yet announced. | Devon McCorkle (President, MFP); Jorge Mas; David Beckham | Inter Miami |
| Four Mile District | Glendale, CO (Denver metro) | Central Street Capital (Rob Salazar family office) | $150M / 10 acres | Phase 1 construction underway (infrastructure); Alamo Drafthouse opening late 2026/early 2027 | Walkable entertainment district: Alamo Drafthouse (40K SF, 9 screens), outdoor plazas, creekside promenade, beer garden, event stage/lawn. Open consumption district (Vegas-style). Future phases: hotels, additional retail, late-night dining. | Family office funded (Central Street Capital / healthcare entrepreneur Rob Salazar). Phase 1 in progress. Future phases may need capital partners for hotel and expanded retail components. | Rob Salazar (Central Street Capital) | Naked Denver |
| NE Revolution Stadium District | Everett, MA (Mystic River) | Kraft Group | $500M+ (stadium) / 25,000 seats | $138M deals with Boston/Everett signed Jan 2, 2026; permitting phase | 25,000-seat MLS soccer stadium on Mystic River. $48M community benefits package to Boston (15 yrs). $90M+ to Everett (20 yrs). $13M Sullivan Square improvements. | Privately funded by Kraft Group. Limited capital opportunity — but vendor, design, and construction contract opportunities on a $500M+ build. | Robert Kraft (Kraft Group) | Bisnow |
🆕 NEW FINDS — February 4, 2026 Scan
🔴 HIGH PRIORITY — Capital/Partner Opportunities
| Project | Location | Developer | Est. Cost/Size | Stage | Key Details | Capital/Partner Status | Key People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek Entertainment District | Norman, OK (Rock Creek Rd & 24th Ave NW, near I-35) | Team Norman (coalition) / OU Foundation / City of Norman | $1B / multi-acre district | LEGAL CLEARANCE GRANTED FEB 3, 2026 — OK Supreme Court dismissed petition challenge; phasing plan approved 8-1 by city council; construction imminent | New OU arena (basketball + gymnastics), dining district, entertainment venue, retail centers, parking garage. Developer issued notice of default to city (risked $230M lawsuit) forcing the vote forward. | $600M via TIF (public) — sales tax revenue from district repays debt. $400M+ from private donors/investors — specific private capital partners NOT publicly identified. 80/20 private/public split claimed. With legal challenges now cleared, capital deployment begins immediately. Significant private capital opportunity — $400M+ in private investment needed with no named institutional backers yet. | Mayor of Norman; OU Foundation; "Team Norman" coalition | KOCO / KGOU |
🟡 SIGNIFICANT — Recently Announced / Advancing
| Project | Location | Developer | Est. Cost/Size | Stage | Key Details | Capital/Funding Status | Key People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascadia Entertainment District | Greeley, CO (Highway 34, west side) | The Water Valley Company / City of Greeley | Multi-billion est. (not publicly specified) / 300 acres | Pre-Development Services Agreement approved Apr 2025; construction starting 2026; major components by mid-2028 | 8,600-seat arena (Colorado Eagles, NHL Avalanche affiliate), year-round indoor waterpark resort, full-service conference hotel, regional transit hub, restaurants/shops, ~11,000 housing units. 50 miles north of Denver with highway/rail/DIA access. | Public-private partnership — City incentives + Water Valley Company private investment. Multiple future council actions still required (lease agreement, land acquisition, business incentive agreements). Greeley Merge infrastructure project supporting it. Scale suggests major capital partners needed beyond Water Valley. | Martin Lind (CEO, Water Valley Company); Mayor John Gates; City Manager Raymond C. Lee III | CCD Magazine |
| USF Fletcher District | Tampa, FL (former Claw golf course, USF campus) | ACE Fletcher LLC (Capstone Development Partners, Capstone Communities, Aureate Development, Ellison Development) / USF | $268M / 138 acres (Phase 1: 27 acres) | Approved by FL Board of Governors Nov 2025; groundbreaking early 2026 | P3 mixed-use: 700 student housing beds, 150 market-rate multifamily, 150 cottages, hotel, research facilities, conference space, retail. $509M rental revenue to USF over 40 years. Long-term ground subleases. | Primarily private investment through ACE Fletcher LLC consortium. P3 structure with university. Development team already assembled (4-company JV). Less entertainment-focused — more academic/institutional mixed-use. | USF Board of Trustees; ACE Fletcher LLC partners | BldUp |
Updated Capital Opportunity Scoring
Added to Tier 1 — ACTIVE CAPITAL NEEDS:
- Rock Creek Entertainment District, Norman, OK — $1B project with $400M+ private capital needed and NO named institutional backers. Legal clearance just granted Feb 3, 2026. Construction timeline is urgent (developer already issued default notice). Ground-floor opportunity for private capital/equity partner.
Added to Tier 2 — POSSIBLE CAPITAL/PARTNER NEEDS:
- Cascadia, Greeley, CO — 300-acre mega-district with arena, waterpark, hotel, 11,000 housing units. Multiple council approvals still needed. Water Valley Company likely needs JV partners for scale of this build-out.
Report compiled from public sources. Capital status assessments are analytical inferences — verify directly with principals before outreach.