The Woodlands board to seek dialogue with Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on concert concerns

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- During The Woodlands Township board of directors meeting on June 25, board members discussed resident feedback regarding artist performances at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and voted 7-0 to propose requesting a seat for a township representative on the Pavilion's board to represent local residents.

What happened

The outdoor amphitheater pavilion, which opened in 1990, serves as part of the nonprofit The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands. In addition to presenting live music through LiveNation, the Pavilion offers free events through its Performing Arts Series each year.

Several residents spoke at the podium during the township meeting to express concern for what they described as loud, explicit, live music. Betty Anderson, who said she is chair of the Montgomery County Republican Party's Election Precinct 31, said that though she loves the Pavilion, the music can be heard on the inside of homes.

"Our problem is that when we moved here, there wasn't a Pavilion with loud music, but things do change, and we have seen progress," Anderson said. "Our family has enjoyed the Pavilion, but the issue tonight is there are now a number of bands that produce anti-Christian music and spout horrible lyrics that I really don't want my children and grandchildren listening to. I would appreciate [if] the board [could] brainstorm over ways that the township could limit the volume and nature of what the bands are producing."

The background

As a special-purpose district, The Woodlands cannot establish ordinances, according to discussion at the meeting. In 2009, Senate Bill 2515 adjusted the township's enabling legislation to allow it to collect event tax, which is collected from Pavilion ticket sales. The township approved an event tax in 2011 after the measure passed in 2009, township attorney Bret Strong said. The event tax is up to 5% of ticket sales, and the township has a 20-year agreement with the Pavilion from 2011-30.

The agreement doesn't address content, but it covers the details on how the township shares event tax, Strong said. A total of 90% of event tax collected by the township goes to the Pavilion to promote cultural arts related to activities such as educational use, Strong said.

The agreement can only be modified with mutual consent between the township and the Pavilion, he said. According to the agreement, there is no contract that would allow the township to force the Pavilion to adhere to certain requirements until the contract is reviewed, Strong said. After review, changes could be considered.

Strong also said in regards to the noise level complaints at the Pavilion, the Pavilion has a self-imposed curfew for monitoring decibel levels past 11 p.m to keep volume at a certain level.

The Pavilion responded to resident concerns with the following statement, read by township President and CEO Monique Sharp at the meeting:

"The Pavilion prides itself on presenting a diverse option of musical genres, including orchestra, country, rock, heavy metal...etc. While we understand that not all artists appeal to everyone, we do not dictate artistic expression or censor freedom of speech on our stages."

Some residents also suggested reaching out to the Federal Communications Commission in an effort to restrict lyrics used at the Pavilion.

Board director Cindy Heiser said the FCC doesn't regulate live music. It covers radio, telegraph, TV, and cable.

"The FCC would have to change something at the federal level to cover live music and its contents. It has frequencies and systems, but not artistic content and not the site," Heiser said.

Heiser said the matter of a governing body restricting speech would fall under the scope of First Amendment rights.

According to the township

Board director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said their request is not to get the FCC involved, but to be heard.

"I think we are asking for self-control coming from the Pavilion that they would take the initiative based on the community's request. They were starting to become a cultural destination that George Mitchell knew was going to be a great thing. They were not started to degrade and promote violence ... that was never in George Mitchell's vision or any of the founders of The Woodlands," Sekula-Gibbs said.

The action taken

The board discussed writing a letter and having a discussion with the Pavilion about their concerns. Sekula-Gibbs suggested writing a letter to the Pavilion board and CEO to set up voluntary regulations similar to the FCC that could regulate obscenity and profane content.

Instead of writing a letter, board director Adam Lamb suggested having a conversation with the Pavilion's board about community concerns.

"We are all residents here, we are all neighbors. I think having communication is where this starts. When we start drafting letters and start talking about the FCC, that doesn't bring us together as a community. ... That creates division, and I think a solution potentially is a conversation with people that may be able to make a decision," Lamb said.

Chair Brad Bailey said the Pavilion provides the community with enrichment in the arts, which is where the ticket tax goes.

According to information on the Pavilion's website, 41,805 people attended free performing arts shows in 2025, and the Pavilion also awarded $879,000 in arts grants and $401,000 in arts scholarships that year. For LiveNation shows, it hosted almost 350,000 fans in 2025. Bailey said local nonprofits also raise money by operating the concession stands, and the Pavilion partners with Conroe ISD's arts programs.

"If we are going to give the ticket tax like this, I would like the board to work through Monique to say they have board members that [are] on there. We should have a board seat at the Pavilion to make our case. It can be the CEO, or it can be the chairman that serves on that board ... maybe not a voting member, but they are in the room representing the interests of our community and our board," Bailey said.

He said the Pavilion has the right to decline the proposal.

Community Impact reached out for further comment from The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, but did not receive a response as of press time.

Also of note

The board also discussed covenant administration department fee, or CAD waivers, for residents who are dealing with damage to property after natural disasters such as tornadoes, fires, and hurricanes. Community Impact previously reported new CAD fees going into effect July 1. The township agreed to continue the discussion at the public hearing on July 16 with a 7-0 vote.

This article comes from our ABC13 partners at Community Impact Newspapers.