The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has selected the parking lot in front of the Courthouse as the site for the Crown Event Center, which is anticipated to open in October 2025 when the existing Crown Theatre and Arena are scheduled to close.

Cumberland County Manager Amy Cannon said the site selection process has been a priority of the Board of Commissioners Crown Event Center Committee to keep the project moving forward in order to meet the established deadline.

“The site that is being brought forward today is one that meets the guiding principles for this project, which were established through a significant community engagement process that started with the Board, the Crown Event Center Committee and then the community,” said Cannon in a press release. “We are very excited about this being downtown, right in front of our courthouse complex.”

The County worked with MBP Carolinas, the owner’s representative for the project, to engage the Timmons Group to assist with site review for the new facility. Timmons Group reviewed and evaluated potential sites within the three areas identified in the Market & Financial Feasibility Study completed by CSL in 2021 – the existing Crown Complex site, Downtown Fayetteville and the I-295 outer loop.

Their evaluation criteria included ownership, environmental issues, vehicular circulation and parking. Parking and accessibility will be an important part of the design process as the project moves forward, as well as looking at programming to maximize opportunities for events that take place at times that will allow for the maximization of available parking in the area.

Following Timmons Group’s initial evaluation, the Crown Event Center Committee and Board of
Commissioners narrowed the options down to two final sites for additional geotechnical evaluation and a phase 1 environmental site assessment. Following that evaluation, the Crown Event Center Committee recommended the final site to the Board of Commissioners for approval. 
“We are extremely excited today to be able to share with the community the site that has been selected for this facility,” said Commissioners Chairman Glenn Adams in a press release. “We believe this will be a transformative project, not only for Downtown Fayetteville but for all of Cumberland County as a local and regional asset that is accessible to all and that enhances and elevates our community as a premier destination for entertainment, events and gatherings.”

The Board of Commissioners also approved a contract for architectural services with EwingCole during Monday’s special meeting. The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the recommendation of the firm for selection during their Nov. 21, 2022, meeting and directed staff to negotiate a contract with EwingCole for consideration at the Nov. 28 special meeting.

Additionally, Cumberland County will hold a Contractor Information Session for contractors and subcontractors interested in participating in the construction of the Crown Event Center.
The County will host an in-person information session for local, regional and national construction industry companies to learn about the Crown Event Center project and make connections to form teams to respond to future construction services solicitations.

The session will be held Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, at 10 a.m. in the first-floor meeting room of the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, located at 1225 Ramsey St., Fayetteville.