Largest Outdoor Amphitheater in the US: Texas Holds the Record

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas (Greater Houston) is the largest outdoor amphitheater in the United States, with a capacity of 16,500 (seated + lawn).

Opened in 1990, it hosts the Houston Symphony (summer), major concert tours, festivals, and community events. Its distinctive tensile-fabric roof covers the fixed seating; the lawn accommodates thousands more.

Runner-up: Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles, ~17,500 but includes bench seating; often cited as larger depending on configuration). Red Rocks (CO, ~9,525) is iconic but smaller.

Texas claims the title by standard amphitheater capacity metrics.