Credit: Universal OrlandoUniversal Orlando Resort’s CityWalk will soon welcome a new entertainment venue thanks to country music star Luke Combs. This announcement has received mixed reactions from fans who enjoy the current dining and nightlife in the area. Universal has confirmed that Category 10, named after Combs’ hit song “Hurricane,” will be a three-story venue covering about 33,000 square feet. It is set to open in late 2027.
This project is a collaboration between Combs and Opry Entertainment Group. Category 10 will be the third location after a flagship in Nashville, which opened in 2024, and another in Las Vegas opening in fall 2026. Construction will start at CityWalk in summer 2026.
CityWalk is a popular spot in Orlando, attracting both locals and tourists with its mix of restaurants, shops, and nightlife. The addition of this large venue from a well-known country musician is a big change for the area.
However, it raises questions about what might need to change or be removed to fit such a large space. Universal has assured everyone that Category 10 will be a standalone venue, not replacing any existing attractions, which should help calm some concerns.
The Universal Fan Reaction
Social media responses to the announcement have been decidedly mixed, reflecting the complicated feelings longtime CityWalk visitors have about changes to a place they consider a regular part of their Orlando experience. On X, formerly known as Twitter, reactions ranged from confusion about the target audience to genuine concern about which existing venues might be affected.
One fan posted simply “Who in the world is asking for this?” capturing the sentiment of guests who don’t consider themselves Luke Combs fans and question whether a country music-themed venue fits naturally into CityWalk’s existing entertainment ecosystem. Another fan directed their concern specifically at Universal, asking where the new venue is going and whether Margaritaville is safe, highlighting the attachment locals and frequent visitors feel toward existing CityWalk staples that have become part of the fabric of the entertainment district.
Universal’s confirmation that Category 10 will be its own venue rather than a replacement for existing locations provides some reassurance, but the practical question of where a 33,000-square-foot three-story building fits into CityWalk’s existing footprint remains unanswered. Something has to give somewhere, and until Universal releases specific location details, speculation about which existing space is being repurposed or eliminated will continue.
What Category 10 Actually Is
Category 10 isn’t just a bar slapping a famous name on the door and calling it a day. The entertainment concept features live music, food, and spaces inspired by Combs’ music and personal passions across three floors of programming and dining. The name references the maximum classification of hurricane intensity, tying directly to “Hurricane,” the Combs song that became one of his signature hits.
The Nashville flagship opened in 2024 and established the brand’s identity as a serious entertainment venue rather than just a celebrity vanity project. A Las Vegas location is set to open in fall 2026, and the Orlando location arriving in late 2027 continues what appears to be a deliberate expansion strategy targeting major entertainment destination markets. Nashville and Las Vegas are two of the country’s biggest entertainment cities. Orlando, as a worldwide tourist destination that draws millions of visitors annually, fits that same category of market where a well-executed entertainment venue concept can find massive audience.
Combs himself acknowledged Orlando’s status as a global destination in his statement about the partnership, noting his wife’s Florida roots as additional personal motivation for bringing Category 10 to the Sunshine State. The combination of personal connection and market logic makes Orlando a natural third stop for the brand’s expansion.
CityWalk’s Entertainment Mix at Universal
CityWalk currently offers a diverse entertainment lineup that has evolved significantly over the years as Universal has responded to changing guest preferences and market trends. The complex functions as both the gateway to Universal’s theme parks during the day and a standalone entertainment destination at night, drawing locals who have no interest in theme parks but regularly visit for dining and nightlife.
The existing venues reflect a deliberate attempt to offer variety, from casual dining to upscale experiences, from themed bars to live entertainment. Adding a country music-focused venue from a major artist expands the entertainment variety but also introduces a more specific thematic identity into a complex that has generally avoided being too heavily associated with any single genre or brand personality.
Whether Luke Combs fans represent a meaningful portion of CityWalk’s regular visitors or whether Category 10 will primarily attract new visitors who weren’t already frequenting the complex is an interesting question without an obvious answer. Country music has enormous mainstream popularity that extends well beyond its traditional geographic and demographic base, and Combs specifically has crossover appeal that reaches audiences who don’t consider themselves devoted country fans.
The Orlando Context
Orlando’s entertainment landscape has intensified significantly over the past several years as venues compete for tourist and local spending beyond theme park gates. The city’s massive tourism infrastructure brings millions of potential customers within reach of any well-executed entertainment concept, creating opportunities for partnerships and venue openings that might not make financial sense in other markets.
For Universal specifically, CityWalk serves a strategic purpose of capturing guest spending before and after theme park visits while also driving traffic to the resort, even on days when guests aren’t purchasing park tickets. High-profile venue additions like Category 10 generate media attention and give guests new reasons to visit CityWalk beyond just the restaurants and shops they’ve been going to for years.
The timing of the Category 10 announcement also coincides with EPIC Universe’s upcoming opening nearby, an addition that will dramatically increase Universal Orlando Resort’s overall footprint and guest traffic. More visitors to the Universal Orlando Resort mean more potential customers for CityWalk venues, making the late 2027 opening timeline for Category 10 strategically smart, as it positions the venue to benefit from EPIC Universe’s traffic boost.
What Comes Next for Universal
Groundbreaking is scheduled for summer 2026, with Universal promising additional details about the project in the coming months. Those details will hopefully answer the most pressing questions fans are asking, including specifically where within CityWalk the venue will be located, which, if any existing venues are affected by its placement, and what the full programming and dining lineup will look like across three floors of entertainment space.
For Luke Combs fans in Florida and country music tourists, the late 2027 opening gives plenty of time to plan visits to experience the new venue. For CityWalk regulars worried about their favorite spots, Universal’s commitment to Category 10 being an additive rather than a replacement venue should provide comfort, even if the specific location details remain to be announced.
Category 10 coming to CityWalk represents a significant bet that country music entertainment can find a sustainable audience in one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations. Whether that bet pays off depends on execution, programming quality, and how well the concept integrates into the existing CityWalk ecosystem that guests have already decided they love.