Lane County Multi-Use Facility

The Power of No: Lane County Multiuse Facility

As much as we love to tell our clients yes, sometimes the right answer is no. That was the case with Lane County, who was seeking to build a multiuse facility anchored by a new stadium for the Eugene Emeralds baseball team. Located at the county-owned Lane Events Center, the proposed facility would also be able to host community events, serve as a concert venue, and accommodate regional baseball tournaments.

  • Location: Eugene, OR

    Cost: $90M

    Duration: 20 months

    Completed: November 2023

  • Client: Lane County

    Architect: Pivot Architecture

    Sport Specialist: Populous

  • Design-Build

    Stakeholder Management

    Community Engagement

    Cost Estimating

    Feasibility Analysis

    Operations Negotiations

Filling the gap

There was a lot riding on our assessment, which would be instrumental in determining the fate of the project. We started by building out the project scope and creating a detailed cost estimate based on preliminary designs. After a few rounds of budget alignment, it became apparent that our client had a significant funding shortage—in fact, they needed another $43 million.

To help close the financial gap, we spent nearly six months working with project stakeholders to identify and secure additional sources of funding. We also drafted an operational plan and negotiated agreements with Eugene Emeralds team management to determine how future operating costs and revenue would be shared.

After nearly a year of engaging stakeholders, building cost estimates, scoping project options, and defining a delivery schedule, our verdict was in: There simply wasn’t enough funding support to advance the project.

Honesty, always

It wasn’t the recommendation we wanted to give. However, it was honest, accurate, and based on in-depth analysis of each stakeholder’s needs. In the end, Lane County deeply appreciated and valued our candor, thoughtful evaluation, and local perspective.

Armed with a more realistic idea of what the project will require, the county has hit the pause button as they determine the best way forward. Like so many members of the community, we’ll be rooting for their success.