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Crown Event Center Committee

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The Crown Complex 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.

Over the past two decades, the Complex has remained an important asset to the local community and the region, however the Theatre and Arena have undergone minimal capital improvements over the last half century, and the condition of the venues has deteriorated. A number of studies have been done including the 2015 Crown Theatre Modernization Study, which determined that significant upgrades were needed to meet current ADA standards and modernize the venue, and that the cost of those upgrades would approach the cost of building a brand new facility.

In 2018, the Cumberland County Civic Center Commission recommended to the Board of Commissioners that the Theatre be replaced with a new state-of-the-art venue and a feasibility study be conducted on how best to proceed.

The Board of Commissioners announced in early 2020 that the Crown Theatre and Arena will close by November 2025. The Board also engaged Convention, Sports & Leisure International (CSL), Steinberg Hart, and Public Participation Partners (P3) to conduct a Market & Financial Feasibility Study. The study, which was completed in September 2021, recommended constructing a new multi-purpose event center with a maximum capacity of 2,500 that can accommodate a variety of uses.

The Board of Commissioners hired MBP as the owner’s representative for the project and established a three-member Crown Event Center Committee, which includes Commissioner Jeannette Council, the committee chair; Commissioners Chairman Glenn Adams; and Commissioner Jimmy Keefe. Civic Center Commission Chairman Joe Quigg serves on the Committee in an ex-officio capacity. County government staff and representatives from Spectra, which manages the facility, also provide support.

The Crown Event Center Committee held a kick-off meeting for the new Crown Event Center project on April 20, 2022.

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



Commissioners Move Guiding Principles Forward for Crown Event Center Project

Aug 18, 2022, 09:11 AM by Loren Bymer

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Crown Event Center Committee voted Tuesday to move a revised set of guiding principles forward for the project to construct a new multipurpose event center. The guiding principles are a project-specific set of values or statements that will be used to establish a common direction for the project and serve as high-level goals to inform future project decisions.

MBP Carolinas, the owner’s representative for the project, presented the Committee with the recommended guiding principles, which were revised following a series of workshops during which project stakeholders reviewed the draft guiding principles and provided feedback. The Committee, which is comprised of Commissioners Jeannette Council (who serves as chair), Jimmy Keefe, and Board Chairman Glenn Adams, voted to accept the recommended guiding principles as amended and move them forward to the full Board for consideration at their September 6, 2022, meeting.

The recommended guiding principles for the Crown Event Center project include the following:

  1. A local and regional asset that builds upon existing economic development infrastructure and is a catalyst for existing and new businesses to flourish.
  2. A venue that enhances and elevates our community as a premier destination for entertainment, events, and gatherings.
  3. A quality, evolving, and efficient venue that provides a first-class experience with a lasting impression.
  4. Premier, welcoming, and accessible experience available to all patrons.
  5. Flexible and functional venue with multiple spaces to accommodate a variety of programming:

      • Capitalize on market gap for 500-3,000 capacity
      • Diverse programming that appeals to broad ranges of interests
      • Affordable spaces to accommodate local and regional cultural programs hosted by schools, universities, arts organizations, and community organizations.
  6. An engaging community amenity that is financially self-sustaining.

 

MBP is also planning to hold an informational session next month for local architects, engineers and contractors to encourage local participation and provide an opportunity for them to connect with regional and national firms that are interested in the project. Additional information about this session will be shared once a date and location have been finalized.

In addition to considering the recommended guiding principles, the Board will also be asked on September 6 to approve a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an Architect for the project.

The Crown Event Center Committee went into closed session to discuss Real Property Acquisition pursuant to NCGS 143.318.11(a)(5).

For more information on the Crown Event Center project, go to https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/commissioners-group/commissioners/crown-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