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Crown Event Center

Architect rendering of the Crown Event Center



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The Crown Complex, located at 1960 Coliseum Drive, Fayetteville is comprised of five venues, including a 2,440-seat Theatre and 4,500-seat Arena that opened in 1967; and a 10,880-seat Coliseum, 60,000-square-foot Expo Center and 9,200-square-foot Ballroom that opened in 1997.

The original Crown Theatre and Arena must close by November 2025, and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has approved the construction of a new state-of-the-art multipurpose event center (the Crown Event Center) to replace these facilities. The Crown Event Center will be located in Downtown Fayetteville at the intersection of Gillespie Street and Ottis F. Jones Parkway on the block between the County’s Historic Courthouse and the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.

In 2022, the Board of Commissioners hired MBP Carolinas as the owner’s representative for the project and established a three-member Crown Event Center Committee including former Commissioner Jimmy Keefe, Commissioner Glenn Adams and Commissioner Jeannette Council. Cumberland County Civic Center Commission Chairman McBryde Grannis served on the Committee in an ex-officio capacity. A Project Delivery Team (PDT) was also established, which is comprised of key County staff and representation from MBP Carolinas, current Crown Complex Manager Oak View Group (OVG), project architect EwingCole and Construction Manager-at-Risk (CMaR) TA Loving/Metcon.

The County held a kick-off meeting for the new Crown Event Center project on April 20, 2022. On Sept. 6, 2022, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved guiding principles for the project following an engagement process that included members of a Community Engagement Committee comprised of representation from current users of the Crown Complex, community members, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations, the business community, and municipal and civic leaders.

The guiding principles are a set of value statements intended to establish a common direction for the project and inform decision-making throughout the project.


graphic outlining guiding principles for crown event center

 

The project architect also engaged the Community Engagement Committee and other stakeholders to provide feedback on what they believe needs to be included in the new Crown Event Center to make it successful. This information was incorporated into the process

On Jan. 23, 2024, the Crown Event Center Committee approved a building program totaling 134,000 square feet and a total project budget of $145 million.

The architect completed the 100% Design Development package in April 2024, and on June 17, 2024, the Crown Event Center Committee authorized the project to move into the Construction Document development phase

On Sept. 16, 2024, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved a contract amendment with TA Loving/Metcon for sitework and demolition to allow the project to move into the construction phase. An additional contract amendment will be brought to the Board for structural steel and concrete, followed by an amendment that includes all remaining bid packages.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Crown Event Center was held on Oct. 25, 2024 at 2 p.m.

Architect rendering of people standing in an event center lobby

 

Additional information related to the project and the Crown Event Center Committee will be posted on this page throughout the duration of the project.


Commissioners Approve Multi-Purpose Event Center Items

Apr 4, 2022, 14:38 PM by Jon Soles
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the Capital Project Budget Ordinance to establish the budget for the Multi-Purpose Event Center.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners today unanimously approved the Capital Project Budget Ordinance to establish the budget for the Multi-Purpose Event Center capital project in an amount not to exceed $82.5 million and adopted a resolution of official intent to pursue tax exempt financing.

The budget includes the $80 million estimated cost that was part of the feasibility study presented in September 2021 to the Board of Commissioners. The additional cost is approximately $2 million contract for the Owner's Agent and $500,000 in estimated debt issuance costs.  Debt takeout is expected to occur in early 2024, before construction begins.  Until debt proceeds are received, the costs incurred on the capital project will be funded by fund balance of the County’s Food and Beverage Tax Fund.  Upon receipt of debt proceeds, the Food and Beverage Tax Fund will be reimbursed.

The following projected expenditures are appropriated for this project:

 

                                                                                  Expenditure

Surveying                                                                    $        48,000

License & permits                                                       $      100,000

Contingency                                                                $   9,052,000

Architect                                                                      $   5,500,000

Owners Agent                                                             $   2,200,000

Engineering (Geotech)                                               $      100,000

Construction                                                                $ 65,000,000

Debt Issuance Costs                                                  $      500,000

Transfer to the Food and Beverage Fund                  $   2,500,000

The following associated revenue is appropriated for this project:

                                                                                    Revenue

Proceeds from Debt Issuance                                    $ 82,500,000

Transfer from the Food and Beverage Fund              $   2,500,000

 

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and the Civic Center Commission determined to replace the Crown Theater rather than to spend additional funds renovating it. In accordance with the Commission Act, the Commission has worked with the Board of Commissioners in planning for the construction of a replacement facility for the Theater.

In other action related to the event center, the Board approved a contract with MBP Carolinas to serve as the owner’s representative for the project.

“It’s a big day for Cumberland County,” said Commissioner Jimmy Keefe, who is a board member on the Multi-Purpose Event Center committee.

  • Contact Us

    Phone: 910-678-7724
    Address:

    117 Dick Street
    Fayetteville, NC, NC 28301

    Email:
    email_envelope
    Contact: Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager

    Contact Us

    Phone: 910-678-7724
    Email:
    email_envelope
    Contact: Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager
    Address:

    117 Dick Street
    Fayetteville, NC, NC 28301