Surrounded by a lush forest, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater that provides the Greater Houston region with an array of performing arts and contemporary entertainment in a setting of unparalleled beauty. The Pavilion is owned and operated by The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, and is governed by a volunteer board of directors.

Following an extensive facility expansion in 2000-01, The Pavilion accommodates up to 16,550 guests. Beneath it’s soaring white fabric roof is covered reserved seating for 3,000. There is room for 1,900 guests in the uncovered reserved area and nearly 12,000 on the hillside lawn.

From chron.com:
All the ticket stubs have been counted, and with half of 2007 in the books, the No. 1 busiest, most heavily attended amphitheater concert venue in the world is the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands.

No. 1 in the world!

So far, 106,723 music fans have poured through the turnstiles at the CWMP.

It’s worth noting that our “shed” (that’s what amphitheaters are called in the concert trade) is the only one without a grabby corporate sponsor in its name.

“There are several reasons why we’re having such a big year, but one of them isn’t the weather. The weather’s been pretty lousy,” said Jerry MacDonald, president of the Woodlands Pavilion.

“Of course, the most important reason for our success is the number of concerts. We’ve been very busy. We’ll do about 33 contemporary-music concerts this year. For a comparison, the outdoor facility in Dallas will do about 25 shows, and the one in San Antonio will do about 15.

“We’re more than just a concert venue now. People see the Woodlands Pavilion as a destination. They enjoy coming here. They can eat, shop and even spend the night in a hotel right next to the facility. The restaurant choices are pretty varied. Tommy Bahama’s, P.F. Chang’s, the Cheesecake Factory, Jasper’s, Fleming’s and Kirby’s are all within walking distance. You can have dinner and then come to the concert.

“There’s plenty of parking, and if you want, you can even take a water taxi to the pavilion on the waterway.”

Other Houston concert venues making the ranks: Toyota Center (No. 26 arena in the world), Verizon Wireless Theater (No. 32 theater), Warehouse Live Ballroom (No. 57 club) and the Meridian (No. 80 club).