Though Willie Nelson's presence proved catalytic, he by no means anchored the progressive country aesthetic that persisted at the Armadillo. Nelson's relationship with the venue proved to be a relatively short and intense one during the years of 1972 and 1973. Nelson and the Armadillo then endured a falling-out in the wake of Nelson's first picnic over a series of financial, personnel, and firearm-related misunderstandings.21 In fact, Willie Nelson supported and patronized the nearby Texas Opry House (later renamed the Austin Opry House) as an alternative venue to the Armadillo World Headquarters.

Nelson's split with the Armadillo and the rise of the Opry House draws our attention to the fact that the progressive country phenomenon enabled the success of an array of venues in Austin and across the state. The proportionate decline in country bookings at the Armadillo after 1975 did not necessarily reflect a decline in Austin's interest in country music. Instead, the proliferation of other local venues for progressive country often took away country acts that might have otherwise performed at the Armadillo.