FORT WORTH, TX (June 22, 2026) — What was once a dirt-floor cattle sale barn in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards is entering a new era as RFD Studios: Auction Barn, a one-of-a-kind live entertainment and television production venue that will be known publicly as Auction Barn Studio.
The public launch marks a major milestone in RFD Network’s growing investment in live entertainment, original productions, and storytelling rooted in rural America and the American West. Located inside the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, Auction Barn Studio blends the authenticity of the Stockyards with modern production capabilities to host live music, television productions, podcasts, rural town halls, speaker events, film premieres, and private events.
RFD Network first partnered with Stockyards Heritage in 2019 to help restore and revitalize the historic property, preserving its legacy while transforming it into a modern broadcast and live event venue. Originally constructed as a working livestock auction facility, the building served generations of ranchers, cattle buyers, and Stockyards visitors and remains an enduring part of the Fort Worth Stockyards story.
“It feels fitting that a media company where rural stories live is writing a new story for one of the most iconic spaces in the Fort Worth Stockyards,” said Raquel Gottsch Koehler. “We never wanted to erase the history of the building. We wanted to honor it and build something new around it. Today, you can still see the original wooden bleachers, the old scale room, and much of the character that made this place special. We simply updated it for a new generation.”
Auction Barn Studio will immediately begin hosting live music performances and special events, with additional artist announcements expected in the coming weeks.
The venue’s first public event will be Stockyards Gospel Night on Saturday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m., a special evening celebrating gospel music and western heritage featuring Sue Dodge, Todd Suttles, and Gene McDonald. For tickets and more information, visit www.auctionbarnstudio.com.
The venue recently served as a production hub for nationally televised programming during the PBR World Finals and also hosted a Rural Town Hall event with the Congressional Western Caucus and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
“This is much bigger than a venue,” said Gatsby Gottsch Solheim. “Auction Barn Studio represents an exciting new chapter for RFD Network. We are creating a place where entertainment, storytelling, and community come together in one of the most iconic destinations in the American West.”
Purpose-built for broadcast and live audience experiences, the Auction Barn Studio features multi-camera production infrastructure, live switching capabilities, LED stage lighting, a full control room, configurable staging, dressing rooms, green rooms, and dedicated production access. The venue seats approximately 375 guests and will also be available for private rentals, corporate events, productions, premieres, and special engagements.
Daily public tours of the venue are expected to launch soon, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the transformation of one of the Stockyards’ most historic buildings firsthand.
RFD Network continues to expand its investment in the Fort Worth Stockyards through media, entertainment, and live event experiences.
For upcoming events, venue information, and ticket announcements, visit AuctionBarnStudio.com or follow @AuctionBarnStudio on social media.
About RFD Network
RFD Network is an independent, family-owned, multi-platform media company dedicated to authentic rural storytelling. The network reaches more than 50 million households nationwide through its portfolio of television, streaming, digital, and audio brands, including RFD-TV, RFD+, and Rural Radio on SiriusXM. Built on a foundation of trusted live rural news, market coverage, and original programming, RFD Network delivers content rooted in agriculture, food, music, work, and rural community life. Headquartered in Nashville, RFD Network also operates RFD Studios: Auction Barn, a live entertainment and television production venue in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer St. Clair