Travel Lane County on Oct. 20 presented updated market research and cost estimates for an indoor multiuse facility that advocates say would reduce winter seasonality and generate hotel stays.

What Travel Lane County told the board: Samara Phelps, president and CEO of Travel Lane County, said updated studies show an indoor sports facility sized to host tournament play should include a minimum of eight basketball courts (equivalent to 16 volleyball courts), 25‑foot ceilings for competitive play and climate control. That configuration, Travel Lane County said, is the minimum market shape to attract winter tournaments and generate overnight stays that support transient lodging tax (TLT) revenue.

Cost and land estimates: Travel Lane County provided high‑level cost opinions: roughly $50 million plus land for a facility meeting the eight‑court minimum; $60 million to $80 million plus land if indoor track and additional equipment are included. Land needs were estimated at about 9 acres for the baseline facility and up to 13 acres for a larger facility with track.

Funding and next steps: Travel Lane County’s board set aside $2 million in available cash from prior‑year TLT carryover to support facility development work. The organization said the funds come from prior revenue carryover and are not a commitment of future TLT revenue. Travel Lane County and Lane County staff said they are evaluating a potential adaptive reuse of the former Royal Caribbean (North Gateway) site in Springfield; Travel Lane County said a mid‑November earnest‑money decision would be needed to preserve that option.

Operations and partnerships: The presenter said ownership and operating models remain open: a private operator, a public operator, a nonprofit or hybrid could be considered. Travel Lane County said the priority outcome is winter overnight stays; sports tournament use is the most direct route to that outcome but the facility should be multiuse for community practices, events and emergency response.

Commissioner remarks and board direction: Commissioners expressed broad support but asked for additional modeling and for staff to coordinate the lane event center visioning work with Travel Lane County’s analysis. Several commissioners volunteered to champion the project and asked Travel Lane County to return in December with shared models addressing site, operations and funding scenarios. Travel Lane County said it will partner with county staff and expects to return with models in December.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to work with Travel Lane County on scenarios for sites, owner/operator structures and funding models; the board flagged the Lane Events Center and the former Royal Caribbean site as primary options under current evaluation.