REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 22, 2026
FROM
TERRY W. THOMPSON, Director, Real Estate Services Department
BEAHTA R. DAVIS, Director, Regional Parks Department
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Revenue Lease Agreement with Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, for the Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardino
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the approval of Amendment No. 15 to Revenue Lease Agreement No. 92-1023 with Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Section 15301 - Existing Facilities (Class 1).
2. Approve Amendment No. 15 to Revenue Lease Agreement No. 92-1023 with Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, to:
a. Extend the term of the revenue lease agreement for one year, from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027, for approximately 39.68 acres of County-owned property, located at 2475 Glen Helen Parkway in San Bernardino, comprising a portion of Assessor’s Parcel Number 0348-161-01-0000, and additional parking identified as portions of Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 0348-161-01-0000, 0349-191-18-0000, and 0349-191-22-0000, for the Regional Parks Department.
b. Revise the rent structure to require the greater of the annual fixed rent or the percentage of Net Ticket Sales, plus the Percentage of Excess Total Other Revenue, subject to a minimum total annual rent amount.
c. Provide for a potential additional one-year extension from January 1, 2028 through December 31, 2028, subject to mutual agreement of the parties and approval by the Board of Supervisors.
d. Increase the total anticipated revenue lease agreement amount by $1,540,000, from $35,990,644 to $37,530,644 (Four votes required).
3. Direct the Real Estate Services Department to file the Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
(Presenter: Terry W. Thompson, Director, 387-5000)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Pursuant to Amendment No. 15 (Amendment) to Lease Agreement No. 92-1023 (Lease), Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. (Live Nation) will pay the greater of either the annual fixed rent of $1,000,000 or Percentage of Net Ticket Sales Rent equal to 7.75% of Net Ticket Sales. In addition, Live Nation will pay 12.5% of Total Other Revenue in excess of $3,000,000 generated during the extended term. Total Other Revenue is defined as Total Gross Revenue minus Net Ticket Sales. Live Nation will pay the greater of the annual Fixed Rent or the Percentage of Net Ticket Sales Rent, plus the Percentage of Excess Total Other Revenue. Notwithstanding the foregoing, total rent for the extended term will not be less than $1,540,000. Live Nation will continue to pay the Regional Parks Department (Parks) $1,500 for each Electronic Dance Music (EDM) event up to a maximum of four events per year. Lease payments will be directly deposited into the Parks’ budget (6522312750).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The recommended action will extend the term of the Lease for the period of January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027, under substantially the same terms and conditions contained in the existing Lease, as previously amended. The Amendment revises the rent structure, while retaining the existing Percentage of Net Ticket Sales Rent provision, adds a 60-day advance notice requirement for events that require park closure or materially limit public access and provides for a potential additional one-year extension through December 31, 2028, subject to mutual agreement of the parties and approval by the Board of Supervisors (Board).
On October 19, 1992 (Item No. 59), Parks entered into the Lease with Amphitheater Entertainment Corporation for approximately 39.68 acres located at 2475 Glen Helen Parkway in San Bernardino (Property), which is now referred to as Glen Helen Amphitheater (Amphitheater), for a 25-year term with two five-year options to extend. In the 33 years since the Lease was originally approved, the Board has approved the following 14 amendments to change the name of the Amphitheater, reassign the Lease to different operators, including Live Nation, revise revenue calculations, update insurance provisions, revise the premises, add to the County’s allowance of events, allow EDM events, exercise Live Nation's first option to extend the Lease term, and amend various operational and business provisions of the Lease.
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Amendment No. |
Approval Date |
Item No. |
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1 |
March 22, 1993 |
30 |
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2 |
April 5, 1994 |
56 |
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3 |
January 13, 1998 |
49 |
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4 |
January 13, 1998 |
49 |
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5 |
June 9, 1998 |
28 |
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6 |
April 8, 2003 |
55 |
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7 |
August 25, 2009 |
13 |
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8 |
January 29, 2013 |
61 |
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9 |
March 3, 2015 |
53 |
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10 |
June 26, 2018 |
51 |
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11 |
June 8, 2021 |
76 |
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12 |
November 14, 2023 |
72 |
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13 |
December 3, 2024 |
47 |
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14 |
November 18, 2025 |
77 |
On June 29, 2026, Parks requested that the Real Estate Services Department (RESD) process a one-year extension of the Lease for the period of January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027. During the amendment process, Parks and Live Nation agreed to revised business terms, including a revised rent structure and the potential for an additional one-year extension through December 31, 2028, subject to mutual agreement of the parties and approval by the Board. The extension will provide operational continuity for the 2027 concert season while the County proceeds with a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for the long-term operation of the Amphitheater. The Amendment preserves the County's discretion to enter into a lease or other occupancy agreement for the period following the applicable extended term with a party selected through the RFP process or otherwise pursuant to applicable law and County policy.
County Policy No. 12-05 does not apply to amendments of existing leases, provided that if an amendment (other than the exercise of an option by a Park, tenant or concessionaire) would change the level of the lease procedure from a Short-Term Lease to Solicitation of Proposal (SOP), Parks and RESD shall bring the Lease to the Board for direction on how to proceed. The proposed Amendment is intended to provide continuity of operations during the 2027 concert season while the County completes the RFP process for a successor lease agreement. In cases where a SOP would be required under this policy, the Board may approve the use of an alternative procedure whenever the Board determines that compliance with the SOP requirements would unreasonably interfere with the financial or programmatic needs of the County, or when the use of an alternative procedure would otherwise be in the best interests of the County. The Board has the authority pursuant to Government Code section 25536 to approve all leases of Park real property developed under the SOP or alternative procedures of this policy but must do so by a four-fifths vote.
The project to approve the Amendment was reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined to be categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 - Existing Facilities (Class 1) because the proposed Amendment is to secure property to operate within the existing structure with negligible or no expansion of existing use and there is no possibility that the Amendment will have a significant effect on the environment.
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Summary of Lease Terms |
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Lessee: |
Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware Corporation Geni Lincoln, President, California Regions |
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Location: |
2475 Glen Helen Parkway, San Bernardino; comprising of a portion of Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 0348-161-01-0000, and additional parking identified as portions of APNs 0348-161-01-0000, 0349-191-18-0000, and 0349-191-22-0000 |
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Size: |
Approximately 39.68 acres |
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Term: |
One-year, January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027 |
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Extension: |
Potential additional one-year extension through December 31, 2028, subject to mutual agreement and Board approval |
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Rent: |
Greater of $1,000,000 annual Fixed Rent or 7.75% of Net Ticket Sales; plus 12.5% of Total Other Revenue in excess of $3,000,000; Minimum Total Rent of $1,540,000 |
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Improvement Costs: |
None |
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Custodial: |
Provided by Live Nation |
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Maintenance: |
Provided by County |
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Utilities: |
Provided by Live Nation |
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Insurance: |
The Certificate of Liability Insurance, as required by the Lease, is on file with RESD |
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Holdover: |
N/A |
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Right to Terminate: |
Neither party has the right to terminate for convenience |
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Parking: |
Sufficient for Live Nation’s needs |
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (John Tubbs II, and Suzanne Bryant, Deputies County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 16, 2026; Regional Parks (Beahta Davis, Director, 387-2886) on September 17, 2026; Purchasing (Jessica Barajas, Supervising Buyer, 387-2065) on September 16, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Elias Duenas, 387-4052, and Eduardo Mora, 387-4376, Administrative Analysts) on September 17, 2026.
(BR: 531-2674)