Launching Waco’s New Concert Experience

For world-class concerts and entertainment, Baylor University and the City of Waco are establishing the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion and Waco, Texas, as the premier mid-market experience.

Inaugural Concert Kicks Off Exciting Lineup

With the first concert in Foster Pavilion’s event lineup, a sold-out crowd welcomed GRAMMY-nominee and double Dove Award-winning artist Forrest Frank, B.B.A. ’17. As a part of his Child of God Tour Part 2, Frank took the stage on April 22, bringing his faith-driven lyrics and uplifting energy to the packed house. 

Early in his career, Frank toured and performed as a member of the viral hit-producing duo Surfaces. Frank rose to international fame amid a successful national tour promoting the August 2024 release of his debut Christian album, Child of God. 

Opening for Frank in Waco was Claire Leslie, a rising singer-songwriter and worship leader at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. Leslie also travels nationwide to perform and lead worship at various events. Her authenticity has gained a large following on social media.

In an encore performance, the final song of the night was Frank’s “Never Get Used to This,” which provided the driving energy behind Baylor’s 2024-25 national commercial showcasing the vibrant Baylor experience. 

“Foster Pavilion is going to provide a one-of-a-kind concert experience in a very intimate setting,” Jason Cook, A.B.C. ’20, Baylor’s vice president of marketing and communications, said of the concert experience. “Fans will be right on top of the stage. There’s lots of dinner options available within walking distance of Foster Pavilion. Local guests can avoid a late-night, post-concert drive home, and out-of-town guests can find an array of reasonably priced hotels within blocks of the Pavilion. You just don’t get this total concert experience anywhere else.”

Home to the Baylor men’s and women’s basketball programs, Foster Pavilion transforms into a premier entertainment venue in the offseason. The 7,000-seat basketball venue will seat approximately 5,700 ticketed concert attendees with the addition of stages, additional sound equipment and dynamic lighting rigs.

Baylor has committed to hosting at least 10 public performance events over the next two years, spanning music, theater, comedy and non-Baylor sports competitions. 

Partnering with Noise New Media to Bring Top Talent to Waco

Baylor and Waco found a world-class partner in Nashville-based entertainment and digital marketing agency Noise New Media, LLC. Under a three-year exclusive contract, Noise New Media will oversee event booking, marketing and consulting, working closely with the University to attract top talent across music, comedy, artistic performances and non-NCAA sports events. The partnership will create enriching experiences for Baylor students, faculty, staff, citizens of Waco and Central Texas and cities within a few hours of Waco.

“Foster Pavilion is officially open for business as we look to bring a variety of events to this wonderful facility,” Cook said. “We are grateful to the City of Waco for its generous contribution to Foster Pavilion and for partnering with Baylor in our vision to create a new entertainment and dining hub along the river for downtown and the entire Waco community.”

This collaboration already has yielded tremendous success, bringing unforgettable entertainment to Central Texas, with much more to come.