The long‑awaited McArthur Road Sports Complex hit a delay on Monday as the Fayetteville City Council held off on voting to approve a key construction contract, instead pushing the matter to an April 6 meeting for deeper scrutiny.
The sports complex—designed to include 12 fields, more than 500 parking spaces, and a central air‑conditioned concession hub—has been pitched as a major sports tourism driver and a long‑awaited amenity for local families.
City staff had asked council to authorize a $13.66 million contract with Group III Management of Kinston, N.C., to build the next major phase of the project: the ballfields, parking, and the stormwater and irrigation systems on a 72‑acre parcel near McArthur Road and I‑295.
But after more than 20 minutes of questioning during their meeting on Monday—much of it focused on grading expertise, drainage risks, and contractor experience—council members said they weren’t ready to move forward.
“We can’t afford to get this one wrong,” Council member Deno Hondros said, urging the delay. “Our tax‑paying residents deserve to get it right the first time.”
A Project Nearly a Decade in the Making
The sports complex traces back to a 2016 bond for parks and recreation. Voters approved a package that included about $7 million for a multi‑field facility. When the federal government later agreed to lease the city 72 acres of military land for 50 years, council shifted $3.5 million of that original allocation to the McArthur Road site.
As the project grew—more fields, more parking, more infrastructure—and inflation took hold, the budget climbed. The current estimate is about $18 million, including design and related costs. The $13 million construction package now under review represents the largest single step toward breaking ground.
Michael Gibson, director of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation, told council the recommended contractor, Group III Management, had passed licensing and reference checks. The firm also has completed work at Fort Bragg and in several North Carolina communities. He said the firm has hired a former parks and recreation director from Lenoir to serve as project manager for the complex.
But council members zeroed in on a different question: whether the company has the grading and utility experience needed for a project where stormwater performance will determine long‑term success.
‘This Is a Grading Project’
Mayor Mitch Colvin opened the line of questioning.
“What’s the background of the recommended group so we don’t have a problem down the road?” he asked. “Have we verified previous jobs? Do they have good references? Do they have insurance? Do they have bonds?”
The lowest bidder was disqualified for lacking a North Carolina general contractor’s license, making Group III the next eligible bidder, staff said. Much of the firm’s past work is building construction, not large‑scale site development, staff said.
Colvin pressed harder.
“This is a grading project, which is different than just a regular general contract license,” he said. “What is the experience level of them to do grading work that you’re making them your recommended person, other than the price?”
Gibson and City Manager Doug Hewett said they could return with more detailed documentation of the firm’s grading and utility work.
Council Presses for Clearer Oversight
Staff emphasized that the city has built a layered oversight structure for the project intended to prevent mistakes:
- Crawford Design (Dale Crawford) as architect
- Turner & Townsend Heery as owner’s advisor
- Freese and Nichols for engineering support
- City project managers and inspectors on site throughout construction
Gibson said the subcontractors—especially those handling grading, drainage, and irrigation—will “make the difference” in whether the fields perform properly. He said staff intends to closely vet subcontractors and even monitor the source of the turf grass.
But several council members questioned whether that level of involvement suggests the city is effectively acting as the general contractor.
Council member D.J. Haire put it bluntly: “I don’t want a mishap on this project.”
Others raised questions about minority participation goals and how subcontractors will be selected and monitored.
The discussion among council members comes in the wake of a project to build a new Fire Station 4 that resulted in lawsuits, mediation, and a vote to demolish the partially-built structure.
And in November, council members also asked State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office to audit six city construction projects left incomplete after contractor disputes and delays—an audit the state auditor agreed to conduct, according to public records obtained by CityView.
Why Council Hit Pause
By the end of the discussion about the sports complex, a majority of council members said they wanted:
- Detailed examples of Group III’s grading and utility work
- A clearer explanation of the oversight plan and how problems will be caught early
- More visibility into subcontractor selection
- Assurance that the city is holding one contractor accountable—not micromanaging the project itself
Hondros made the motion to send the contract to the April 6 meeting, which passed with no objection.
Hewett told council the delay would not derail the project, though staff had hoped to move quickly enough to coordinate a groundbreaking with Fort Bragg, which owns the land.
“We’re happy to allow council whatever level of scrutiny or detail you want,” Hewett said. “This is an important project, but it is not a complicated project.”
He added that “two weeks won’t kill the project” and said he would meet individually with council members in the meantime.
Government reporter Rachel Heimann Mercader can be reached at rheimann@cityviewnc.com or 910-988-8045.
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