Opponents of the Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs push back against proposed noise ordinance at state legislature.
A March 12 Colorado Senate hearing promises to kick up quite a racket — and not only because the subject is a possible change to the state’s noise ordinance. Attendees are expected to include folks who already feel the sounds in their neighborhood are too loud, including members of the grassroots, as an attempt by “Big Entertainment” to “forever allow local governments to grant blank checks for unlimited noise.
This is not a minor policy tweak — it is a fundamental rollback of uniform statewide noise pollution safeguards that have protected Coloradans for over 50 years.” Senator Matt Ball, a Democrat representing District 10 in Denver, is a co-sponsor of the proposition, and he characterizes it very differently. In his words, “Senate Bill 98 restores local control over noise regulation. For decades, cities and towns across Colorado had the authority to issue noise permits for specific events. That longstanding practice changed after the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling in Colorado Municipal League , which represents cities and towns throughout the state. I’m not sure who opponents mean by ‘Big Entertainment,’ but I haven’t had conversations with any entertainment companies or industry groups about this bill.”, Ford Amphitheatre’s owner that is also in the process of creating a major venue in Centennial, did not respond to questions from. But the “About” section of its website bears the banner “Disrupting the Music Industry,” and maintains that “we exist to create extraordinary experiences that resonate deeply with the people who matter most: our community.”, alongside the likes of the Las Vegas Sphere and London’s O2 Arena. But when Ford debuted in August 2024 with OneRepublic as its headliner, the gig reportedly generated, including Beck, Leon Bridges, Miranda Lambert and legacy outfits such as Foreigner and Chicago — and the criticism of their clangor has continued unabated, too, as noted by Ford Hurts Families. An unnamed spokesperson for the group responding to‘s questions via email notes that “despite this groundswell ongoing response by ordinary residents from all walks of life, the real story here is not about any group of responders — it is about the unjust, unfair harm that families in pre-existing neighborhoods are experiencing at the hands of relentless amphitheater noise pollution, and the failure of their local government leaders to protect the citizens they were elected to serve.” Similar assertions can be found throughout the lawsuit against Ford, filed on behalf of eight named individuals. One section reads: “Plaintiffs purchased their homes and raised their families in these communities years, sometimes decades, before the amphitheater opened. They did not move to a concert venue; a concert venue moved to them. Now, families who invested in the tranquility of these neighborhoods find themselves unable to escape noise pollution that exceeds state law by multiples — 1,000% to 10,000% in sound level — and that has deprived them of the comfort of their homes.”The complaint’s examples of harm include “a mother forced to medicate her autistic son and place him in a sensory room with noise-cancelling headphones during concerts to prevent manic episodes; a disabled veteran with a diagnosed anxiety disorder who must flee his own home for hours on concert nights; schoolchildren unable to sleep on school nights because of thumping bass and profanity-laced lyrics audible through closed windows; people unable to use their own personal indoor spaces because of invasive pollution.” Debate over sound levels in the residential areas around Ford have raged for years. The amphitheater’s builders promised that neighborhood levels would typically top out at 47 decibels, under the 50 decibel limit established for the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. by therevealed that an independent study conducted in 2024 by Wisconsin’s Hankard Environmental Inc. found that Ford complied for the most part, with a handful of exceptions. But readings taken by lawsuit plaintiff Danielle Frye have been consistently higher: 70 decibels for a Dwight Yoakam concert in May 2025, 71 decibels for a Red Clay Strays show that September. And submitted as part of the suit was a June 2025 recording from the backyard of one resident that captured Three 6 Mafia repeatedly shouting “fuck that shit…fuck that shit…fuck that shit.” According to the Ford Hurts Families rep, the state legislature needs to address the following issues when considering the bill. This is about pollution, not “local control.” Noise is legally recognized pollution that impacts public health and the environment. It does not stop at city boundaries. The already allows true local flexibility. Municipalities and nonprofits are exempt from statewide limits if they co-sponsor events and accept noise responsibility. That balance has worked for generations. SB26-098 expands exemptions from noise limits to for-profit commercial entities. It would allow private corporations to bypass statewide pollution limits through local government permits. There is no limit to the noise levels, duration, and frequency of events that could be allowed through local government permits, if SB26-098 is enacted. If passed, harmed residents will have no legal recourse.case, the Colorado Supreme Court warned against an exemption that “swallows the rule.” This bill risks eliminating meaningful statewide limits in practice, resulting in a patchwork of noise limit jurisdictions across Colorado. If enacted, the bill would strip residents, already in court, of their legal protections mid-dispute. Changing the rules now undermines public trust in the rule of law. Along with Ball, the original sponsors of SB 26-098 were Senator Larry Liston, a Republican representing District 10 in Colorado Springs, and Representative Gretchen Rydin of District 38, which encompasses parts of Littleton and unincorporated Jefferson County. Liston hasn’t responded to‘s questions, but Rydin corresponded via email on March 2, pointing out that “as a former city council member, I value local control, especially when it comes to creating space for culture and fun.” She then added, “I think the opponents’ concerns are valid. Citizen voices matter. I’ve learned more about the backstory to this lawsuit in the last week than I knew before I signed onto the bill. As you know, the bill is starting in the senate, so I am keeping a close eye on what is happening there. If it makes it to the house, I will be very open to compromise.” Three days later, on March 5, Rydin followed up with an email sharing the names of two “new co-prime sponsor in the House,” Representative Mandy Lindsey, a Democrat for District 42 , and Representative Max Brooks, a Republican for District 45 . As for Ball, he acknowledges that “I wasn’t aware of the Ford Amphitheater situation until after the bill was introduced. I understand the concerns raised by residents in north Colorado Springs, and I’m sympathetic to them. Ultimately, Senate Bill 98 isn’t about the noise levels at any single venue or project — it’s about who has the authority to decide what those noise levels should be. Colorado’s communities have different needs and different expectations. I believe those decisions are best made locally, by elected officials accountable to their own residents, not by the state.” The Ford Hurts Families spokesperson counters that everyone backing the bill “needs to realize what they are doing, honestly look themselves in the mirror, and face the reality they have created: Is relentlessly harming hundreds or thousands of innocent Colorado families why you come to work each day? Is this the legacy you want to leave?”in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor’s degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master’s degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University. If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Denver’s music, events and entertainment scenes.
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