DTX-MCK: Impact 10/20/2025

🎶 New renderings for the Sunset Amphitheater coming to McKinney feature the venue’s multiseason design.

Officials from Venu, the owner and developer of the amphitheater, shared the new project renderings along with details of technology planned to be integrated within the facility in an Oct. 16 news release.

The context: The $300 million project, which was announced in March 2024, will bring a 20,000-seat entertainment venue to McKinney. A groundbreaking was held for the project in July, and the facility is expected to open in 2026.

The gist: The multiseason design enables the outdoor amphitheater facility to be used year-round for live entertainment and events, the release states. A variety of technology and features will be included in the venue to enable the multiseason approach, the release states, including:

• Wind wall technology
• Canopied roof structure
• Integrated radiant heating systems
• Multiconfiguration staging

🍪 Interested in news from businesses in the McKinney area? Check out 12 businesses now open, coming soon and other updates from the areas of west McKinney.

1. Black Rock Coffee Bar: The drink menu features a variety of beverages including coffee, tea, smoothies and energy drinks while the food menu features breakfast items including a bacon and gouda sandwich and coffee cake.

• Opened Sept. 30
• 9701 W. University Drive, McKinney

• Opened Sept. 19
• 6650 Alma Road, Ste. 100, McKinney

👥 McKinney City Council will soon consider a set of guiding principles for a new initiative aimed at navigating symptoms and causes of homelessness.

Council members will discuss and potentially vote on the initiative, called Stronger Together, at an Oct. 21 meeting. The upcoming meeting agenda also includes two ordinances related to sitting or sleeping in public spaces, which were previously tabled by the council.

The setup: The Stronger Together initiative aims to help city officials and stakeholders create a comprehensive roadmap for community-based solutions that support all residents, according to a city document. Council members are expected to discuss the initiative during an afternoon work session.

At the regular meeting scheduled later that day, council members will consider and vote to formally adopt a set of principles that guide the initiative.

Get involved: McKinney City Council will meet within the City Council chambers at McKinney City Hall, located at 401 E. Virginia St. The meetings will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

✈️ New flights and destinations from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport started in early October from EVA Air and Frontier Airlines. In addition, construction projects that are part of DFW Forward continue. Check out this list of four updates from the airport.

1. EVA Air holds a ceremony for inaugural flight: EVA Air held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 3 with dignitaries from the airline, the airport and the city of Fort Worth for a new flight between Dallas and Taiwan.

2. Roadwork continues at DFW Airport: Crews from Mario Sinacola & Sons Excavating Inc. have started to pave portions of the East West Connector project. The 1.65-mile roadway will extend Rental Car Drive from International Parkway to SH 360.

🚒 Collin County residents in select unincorporated areas will consider the creation of an Emergency Services District during the November election.

The situation: Collin County’s commissioners unanimously approved calling for the election at a July 28 meeting, roughly six months after the county judge received a petition calling for the creation of Emergency Services District No. 1, or the ESD. The proposition for the creation of the ESD will be on the ballot of any Collin County resident in the unincorporated areas of cities that opted in for the program.

The impact: If approved, the created district would have an associated property tax that would be used to fund fire protection and ambulance services to residents within the district’s boundaries.

The set up: Collin County cities and towns with unincorporated areas are currently providing emergency services to those areas, which is partially funded through the county. In October 2024, officials from three municipalities including McKinney, notified county officials of their intention to leave the contract in a year, citing the need for more funding.

Early voting in the Nov. 4 election begins Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. During early voting, registered voters can cast ballots at any polling place within their county of residence, according to the secretary of state’s office.

What to bring: Voters must bring one of seven forms of identification to the polls:

• A Texas driver license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety)
• A Texas personal ID card (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas handgun license (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas election ID certificate (issued by the DPS)
• A U.S. military ID card with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. citizenship certificate with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. passport

As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, is relaunching as the InCIder this month.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

The InCIder program currently gives donors access to a special Saturday email edition across each metro: Austin, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio.

Memberships are currently $10 per month or $110 annually. A membership will include the previously mentioned perks, as well as:

• Quarterly discounts at local businesses 
• Invites to in-person events
• Optional naming and “thank you” in our newspaper
• Community Impact swag
• InCIder anniversary gift