Las Cruces Council Retains Control of Amador Live
The city will invest $1.1 million to repair the vacant downtown venue following an audit of unpaid rent.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The Las Cruces City Council voted to retain ownership of the 20,500-square-foot Amador Live facility and fund critical repairs. The building has remained vacant since January 2025 following a $6.5 million public-private partnership project.
Why it matters
Officials decided to take over maintenance after determining there is currently limited interest from private entities to purchase or occupy the entire property. The city plans to use the space for events while seeking future restaurant and bar tenants.
The city is allocating $1.1 million from Tax Increment Development District funds to cover repairs for doors, windows, and electrical systems. Audit findings highlighted $1.6 million in total outstanding rent and fees, including $351,260 in unpaid payments.
The players
Las Cruces City Council
This is the governing legislative body for the City of Las Cruces responsible for managing municipal assets and budgetary decisions.
Visit Las Cruces
This organization serves as the official convention and visitors bureau tasked with promoting tourism and managing local event facilities.
The details
Visit Las Cruces will manage the venue, which will host temporary gatherings such as holiday markets and food truck events. A phased repair approach will address plumbing and electrical failures that occurred during the 21-month vacancy period.
Timeline
The Amador Live facility first opened for business in 2019.
The facility has been vacant since January 2025.
An internal audit of the lease agreement concluded in February 2026.
The Las Cruces City Council held a work session on the facility on October 26, 2026.
Large-scale event rentals are expected to launch after the new year.
Market Landscape
The transition to city management reflects a broader trend of municipalities reassessing public-private partnerships when commercial anchor tenants fail to maintain viability. This move positions the local government to control the property's utility rather than letting the asset remain idle in a competitive downtown district.
Residents can expect new opportunities to access the venue for community gatherings, markets, and food truck events in the coming year. The city's investment aims to convert a vacant site into a functional public space that serves local needs instead of remaining closed.
The takeaway
The city is pivoting to a temporary event-based model to keep the facility active while waiting for long-term commercial interest. Local residents should monitor future announcements regarding public event bookings as the phased repair schedule progresses.
What happens next
The city plans to launch large-scale event rentals at the facility after the upcoming new year.
Further reading
For more information on other local venue developments, visit Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Las Cruces Sun-News.
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