Travel Lane County makes push for brand new occasions middle in Lane County

Lane County could finally get a multipurpose indoor facility that may host sports activities tournaments and different large-scale occasions.

Travel Lane County officers gave county commissioners an replace Tuesday on the group’s push to establish a location and craft a plan. At this level, the venture is with no confirmed location, funding in hand or a plan of who would run a facility giant sufficient to have at the least eight basketball courts.

For Travel Lane County, these uncertainties aren’t deterrents. 

Travel Lane County is a non-public group funded by a portion of the revenues from the transient lodging tax, which is charged on stays at resorts, motels, campgrounds and different services. Its objective is to extend in a single day guests, which in flip drives up the lodging tax revenues and fuels the tourism financial system.

The venture is particularly supposed to extend lodging within the winter, when lodge stays sometimes dip.

“We’re looking for things that generate those overnight stays,” Samara Phelps, president and chief govt officer of Travel Lane County, instructed county commissioners.

Phelps mentioned the flexibility to host indoor sports activities occasions would carry extra individuals to the area, and plenty of would keep in a single day.

The group estimates that the power may generate practically $528,000 in transient lodging taxes yearly.

Local officers and tourism leaders in Lane County have thought of the idea for greater than a decade. The facility additionally may host different sorts of occasions and supply a spot to assist individuals throughout pure disasters.

Travel Lane County has been working with a guide on an inventory of minimal necessities for a sports activities tourism vacation spot.

Those embody: eight basketball courts and a 25-foot-high ceiling, house that might be transformed for volleyball, wrestling and pickleball. The house additionally might be obtainable for neighborhood use on weekdays or when it’s not booked for tournaments or occasions.

If the cash is out there, officers additionally would really like the power to incorporate an indoor working observe.

It’s unsure the place the cash would come from to construct and preserve the middle. Initial estimates peg the prices at about $50 million, not counting the acquisition of land. An indoor working observe may carry the prices as much as $60 million to $80 million. Travel Lane County’s board has dedicated $2 million to display its dedication to the venture. 

A previous failed effort to carry a sports activities facility to Eugene may present among the vital funding, if the county agrees.

The county in 2023 handed a 2% lodge lodging tax for tourism services when the county was contemplating a minor league baseball stadium for the Eugene Emeralds on the Lane Events Center. But voters rejected a $15 million poll measure in 2024 that was vital for the stadium venture.

The 2% lodge tax has continued to build up since 2023, reaching about $9 million.

“We have a certain amount of funds that are sitting there that are designated for tourism infrastructure,” fee Chair David Loveall mentioned. “They’re not designated for anything else.”

There are loads of unknowns, although officers are scouting potential areas that embody the previous Royal Caribbean name middle in Springfield and the previous PakTech packing provide location in Cottage Grove close to that neighborhood’s airport. Another potential web site is the Lane Events Center, which county officers are already planning to overtake. 

They additionally may land on a wholly completely different web site and construct a middle from the bottom up reasonably than rehabbing an current constructing.

Phelps mentioned the group can work with county workers and current extra specifics on ideas for a facility in December.

It additionally stays to be labored out how the power can be managed, comparable to by way of a non-public contracted administration firm, an current neighborhood group or a brand new group.

County officers supported the overall concept of the power, although in addition they harassed the county’s monetary sources are restricted.

Commissioner Pat Farr mentioned he helps the idea and appears ahead to studying extra. Sports occasions sooner or later facility can unite a neighborhood for generations, he mentioned.

“The Sunday and Monday after a Ducks win, you never see Eugene more elevated than that,” Farr mentioned.