Lane Events Center master plan advances after public open house; hotel, expanded convention space proposed

County staff and consultants presented updated concepts for the Lane Events Center master plan to the Lane County Board of Commissioners on May 6, following an April open house and continuing visioning work.

"We were really pleased with the energy in the room," Jessica Bolt, consultant with Consort Consulting, said of the April open house, which drew about 80 participants. The team reported broad support for the draft guiding principles and for flexible, multiuse space; reactions were mixed on a proposed hotel and on the Lane County History Museum's role in the plan.

The refined site concepts shown to the board call for an expanded convention center to the east and north of the current footprint, plus three multiuse buildings to the north, south and west of the site and a multiuse pavilion. One concept includes a hotel north of the convention center and a road separating the hotel from the expanded center; another omits the hotel. The plan emphasizes preserved and enhanced green space, improved pedestrian and bike access, and better site entries and circulation.

Corey Buhler, Lane Events Center division manager, said the north multiuse building could accommodate indoor-sports tournaments or an indoor track, and Jessica Bolt estimated that an indoor track footprint under consideration would be on the order of "20,000 to 30,000 square feet." The team cautioned that programmatic and economic analyses will guide any final decisions about building uses.

Public feedback from the April open house included: support for flexible spaces and expanded sports facilities, enthusiasm for using and improving green space along Amazon Creek, mixed reaction to a hotel (some neighborhood concerns about traffic and noise, mixed interest in economic benefits), and concerns that the Lane County History Museum was not clearly identified in some site diagrams. The open house comment form results the team reported: about 20 respondents said the draft principles "fit very well," 20 "somewhat well," five "not very well," and none "not at all."

Commissioners discussed next steps and potential effects. Commissioner Treager noted that incremental facility improvements, such as more resilient lobby flooring and upgraded HVAC, make spaces usable for a wider array of events year-round. Commissioner Quire asked about space for the history museum; staff said one concept labeled the museum and that the project team will continue to work with the museum as design options are developed.

The project team announced two upcoming public engagement opportunities: an in-person open house on Thursday, May 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lane Events Center, and a virtual open house and Q&A on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 p.m. Registration is required and available on the project website (lecmasterplan.org). Staff said they will continue visioning work through June with a goal of producing a draft report over the summer and a final report in July, which would frame the next steps such as business planning, facilities analysis and partner outreach.

No formal board action or funding decisions were taken at the May 6 presentation; staff framed the meeting as an update and an invitation for further public input.