Plans to rehab the 1960s-era Crown Arena and Crown Theatre at the Cumberland County Crown Complex advanced on Tuesday when county commissioners voted to hire an architect and a firm to oversee the project.
The commissioners in 2025 decided to renovate the two venues on the southeastern outskirts of Fayetteville instead of completing their planned replacement, called The Crown Event Center in downtown. Citing escalating costs and other factors, the commissioners canceled the event center in June, about seven months after its groundbreaking ceremony.
The 3,000-seat event center was budgeted at $144 million, though by June the estimated cost rose to almost $152 million.
Cost estimates to rehab the Crown Arena and Crown Theatre are expected in early April, County Manager Clarence Grier told the commissioners.
On Tuesday, commissioners voted 4-2 to hire SfL+a Architects, which has offices in Fayetteville and Raleigh, to design the modernization and renovation project. And they voted 4-2 to hire Turner & Townsend Heery as the county’s designated “owner’s representative.” An owner’s representative firm oversees construction projects.
No prices for these services have been set. They are to be negotiated, according to county documents, and presented to commissioners later for approval.
Voting in favor: Commissioners Kirk deViere, Henry Tyson, Paven Patel, and Marshall Faircloth. Voting against: Vice Chair Veronica Jones and Glenn Adams.
Commissioner Jeannette Council was absent.
Jones and Adams did not discuss their reasons for voting “no.”
In June, they voted against the decision to cancel the Crown Event Center. In September they voted against proceeding with the renovation of the arena and theater after being told it could cost $100 million. Adams said it was a poor use of taxpayer money, and Jones said she was not comfortable with spending that much for a renovation.
The old-school civic center buildings now called the Crown Theatre and the Crown Arena Theatre were built in the late 1960s. Back then, they were known as the Cumberland County Memorial Auditorium and Exhibit Hall. The theater seats 2,400 and the arena holds up to 5,000. The well-known Crown Coliseum was built on the campus in the 1990s and holds larger activities and events than the theater and arena.
The theater and arena must be upgraded or replaced to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, following a lawsuit from a disabled patron who had difficulty navigating the crown’s grounds and buildings in her wheelchair. Also, a former county commissioner has said the old venues weren’t designed to accommodate the equipment used by today’s touring performers.
Thirteen firms submitted proposals for architectural services for the county staff to review, Grier said. SfL+a designed the now under construction Cape Fear Regional Theatre project in Fayetteville, he said, and has designed similar projects elsewhere.
“They by far, from the staff perspective, had an understanding of the projects and the needs and the scope moving forward,” Grier said.
He said 18 firms submitted proposals to serve as the owner’s representative for the crown project. Turner & Townsend Heery’s clients have included the Raleigh Convention Center, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
“They had a very thorough and concise presentation” to the county staff, Grier said, “and we all were in favor of moving forward with them.”
Senior reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at pwoolverton@cityviewnc.com.
Did you find this story useful or interesting? It was made possible by donations from readers like you to the News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to an informed democracy in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation so CityView can bring you more news and information like this.
