Live Nation Announces A New Music Venue in Downtown Bentonville, Arkansas

Live Nation is exploring plans for a new music venue in the heart of downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. In collaboration with the Momentary, the Bentonville Ballroom would be located adjacent to the vibrant arts institution and would host national touring acts, community events and local performances.

With a capacity of 2,500, it would fill a market need for an indoor, midsize performance space in Northwest Arkansas. The venue would open in 2028.

Bentonville Ballroom would represent a meaningful investment in the local community and the city’s long-term future by driving increased tourist and economic activity. It is estimated to generate $46.3 million in economic impact every year. The venue would support approximately 280 jobs. In addition, the project is expected to generate approximately $4.9 million annually in state and local tax revenue. The cost of the project was not released.

“Bentonville is a destination for arts and culture, and food, and the Momentary ignited the city’s music scene,” stated Tom Walton, chair of the Momentary Council in the announcement. “The Bentonville Ballroom will be a beautiful new cultural landmark. We’re happy to invite Live Nation to our campus. Their experience connecting artists and fans will accelerate our city’s momentum with year-round, quality music experiences for residents and visitors.”

The proposed concept by Blueprint Studio, Live Nation’s in-house design and development group, and BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and Polk Stanley Wilcox, reflects Bentonville’s connection to nature. Early concepts feature natural materials, warm wood tones and a layout that brings the Ozarks’ textures and light into the performance space. The vision is a venue that feels both modern and rooted, where art, architecture and landscape work together to create a memorable setting for live music.

“We’re honored to work with the Momentary to bring more music to Northwest Arkansas,” added Anthony Nicolaidis, Live Nation’s Arkansas Market President. “This is going to be a special room that brings major artists to Bentonville and creates a permanent cultural asset for the city – a place where local fans can see their favorite acts without having to travel.”

Every detail will be crafted with artists and fans in mind, from state-of-the-art acoustics and clear sightlines to comfortable gathering spaces and premium hospitality. The space will also be available for private and corporate events. The venue, including ticketing and programming, will be operated by Live Nation.

Live Nation will work with neighbors and city officials to review the proposal and share input. Priorities include a parking plan that utilizes the Momentary’s garage spaces and connects the venue to Bentonville’s strong cycling infrastructure.

“We’re excited to see this investment in Bentonville’s live music infrastructure and enthusiastically support the Bentonville Ballroom project,” stated Kalene Griffith, president and CEO of Visit Bentonville. “Live music delivers real economic value for Bentonville and attracts audiences from our community, the region and beyond. In addition to music, the Bentonville Ballroom will also strengthen our unconventional convention offerings and expand our capacity to host high-impact cultural and business events.”