Blab Music
CityAud to Reopen Colorado Springs 1923 Municipal Auditorium as 4,000-Seat Venue in 2027
When the first notes of a new era are set to echo through Colorado Springs’ 221 E. Kiowa St., the city’s most iconic 1923 landmark is poised to reclaim its place on the Front Range stage. CityAud, a 4,000‑seat showcase, will debut in the first quarter of 2027 under the direction of promoter and entrepreneur Jesse Morreale, breathing fresh life into a building that has long been a canvas for everything from ballets to boxing bouts.
The Municipal Auditorium’s past is as varied as its future promises. It has hosted ballets, Shakespeare productions, grain‑and‑feed expositions, and boxing matches, and in the 20th century it welcomed touring rock acts such as Jimi Hendrix and Ozzy Osbourne. Yet despite its storied reputation, the venue has sat largely unused for the last decade, a quiet testament to the challenges of maintaining historic performance spaces in a changing entertainment landscape.
Morreale’s own journey mirrors that of the auditorium’s resilience. A University of Colorado Denver student in 1991, he began promoting concerts and later worked with Fey Concerts, Universal Concerts, and the late Barry Fey. Over the years he has staged shows for Creed, Foo Fighters, White Zombie, Weezer, A Perfect Circle, and Tool in Colorado Springs. His experience extends beyond music; he has opened restaurants and bars such as La Rumba and Mezcal, experiences that shape his vision for a venue that balances cutting‑edge performance space with an unforgettable fan experience.
The CityAud redesign will feature four levels of dressing rooms, artist lounges, and production offices, complemented by state‑of‑the‑art loading, storage, and technical systems. A 230‑seat theater with a separate entrance sits beneath a 68‑by‑50‑foot main stage that includes a fly system 60 feet above the floor. That generous stage footprint allows arena‑sized concert setups and touring Broadway productions—an ability that distinguishes CityAud from other mid‑size venues in the region.
Flexibility is a cornerstone of the new design. The open floor can accommodate general admission or reserved seating, while VIP boxes, a mezzanine, and a balcony offer options for a range of event types. Whether the room is filled with rock, country, comedy, sports, or theater performances, Morreale plans to book events from other promoters in addition to his own in‑house programming. He also intends to elevate hospitality—improving access, concessions, acoustics, and visuals—to enhance the overall fan experience.
Preserving the auditorium’s legacy is integral to CityAud’s mission. The venue’s past includes performances by Hendrix, Osbourne, and other touring acts that cemented its status as a regional landmark. It is described as the last standing building on the Front Range with a touring history comparable to Red Rocks that has not been converted into a different use, and the new venue aims to honor that heritage while meeting contemporary standards.
Construction of the front house, arena, and base building is in its final phases, with the project slated for completion this year. Morreale has already secured multiple bookings for the next calendar year, although he has not yet announced a specific opening date. The venue’s reopening is expected to serve not only Colorado Springs but also the broader Colorado region, including south Denver, Littleton, southeast Aurora, and Castle Rock—areas where travel to the city is often faster than to downtown Denver.
CityAud represents a significant investment in historic preservation and cultural infrastructure. According to the project’s description, the venue will become a key amenity for the State of Colorado, offering a modern performance space that honors the auditorium’s legacy of hosting iconic acts. The first show is anticipated in early 2027, marking the return of a landmark venue to the Front Range’s entertainment landscape.
The Municipal Auditorium’s past is as varied as its future promises. It has hosted ballets, Shakespeare productions, grain‑and‑feed expositions, and boxing matches, and in the 20th century it welcomed touring rock acts such as Jimi Hendrix and Ozzy Osbourne. Yet despite its storied reputation, the venue has sat largely unused for the last decade, a quiet testament to the challenges of maintaining historic performance spaces in a changing entertainment landscape.
Morreale’s own journey mirrors that of the auditorium’s resilience. A University of Colorado Denver student in 1991, he began promoting concerts and later worked with Fey Concerts, Universal Concerts, and the late Barry Fey. Over the years he has staged shows for Creed, Foo Fighters, White Zombie, Weezer, A Perfect Circle, and Tool in Colorado Springs. His experience extends beyond music; he has opened restaurants and bars such as La Rumba and Mezcal, experiences that shape his vision for a venue that balances cutting‑edge performance space with an unforgettable fan experience.
The CityAud redesign will feature four levels of dressing rooms, artist lounges, and production offices, complemented by state‑of‑the‑art loading, storage, and technical systems. A 230‑seat theater with a separate entrance sits beneath a 68‑by‑50‑foot main stage that includes a fly system 60 feet above the floor. That generous stage footprint allows arena‑sized concert setups and touring Broadway productions—an ability that distinguishes CityAud from other mid‑size venues in the region.
Flexibility is a cornerstone of the new design. The open floor can accommodate general admission or reserved seating, while VIP boxes, a mezzanine, and a balcony offer options for a range of event types. Whether the room is filled with rock, country, comedy, sports, or theater performances, Morreale plans to book events from other promoters in addition to his own in‑house programming. He also intends to elevate hospitality—improving access, concessions, acoustics, and visuals—to enhance the overall fan experience.
Preserving the auditorium’s legacy is integral to CityAud’s mission. The venue’s past includes performances by Hendrix, Osbourne, and other touring acts that cemented its status as a regional landmark. It is described as the last standing building on the Front Range with a touring history comparable to Red Rocks that has not been converted into a different use, and the new venue aims to honor that heritage while meeting contemporary standards.
Construction of the front house, arena, and base building is in its final phases, with the project slated for completion this year. Morreale has already secured multiple bookings for the next calendar year, although he has not yet announced a specific opening date. The venue’s reopening is expected to serve not only Colorado Springs but also the broader Colorado region, including south Denver, Littleton, southeast Aurora, and Castle Rock—areas where travel to the city is often faster than to downtown Denver.
CityAud represents a significant investment in historic preservation and cultural infrastructure. According to the project’s description, the venue will become a key amenity for the State of Colorado, offering a modern performance space that honors the auditorium’s legacy of hosting iconic acts. The first show is anticipated in early 2027, marking the return of a landmark venue to the Front Range’s entertainment landscape.
