Greer council approves $19.08 million early release for Sports and Events Center

The Greer City Council on Sept. 23 approved a $19,078,636 early release package to buy structural steel, precast concrete and integrated sports equipment for the city's Sports and Events Center, Council members said.

Staff told council the early release is intended to keep the project on schedule for an early 2027 opening by letting the contractor order long‑lead items now. "Because of that long lead time, we're asking to include that gym equipment early release as well so that we can get that equipment manufactured, ordered, and then sent to us and ready to go when it's time to install those items," Mike Veil, project lead for the Sports and Events Center, said during the hearing.

The early release covers cast‑in‑place and site concrete, precast panels, structural metal framing and integrated sports systems. Veil told council the package price of $19,078,636 represents roughly half of the total project budget when combined with an earlier early release and other contract elements; staff cited a combined early release total of about $27,000,000 when adding prior releases. Funding for the package will come from the Corporation for Greer, staff said.

Council and staff outlined contingency and fee components that remain in the project budget: a design contingency (staff referenced a $175,000 design contingency set aside for unresolved design elements), a contractor fee of about 3.25% and an owner allowance of about 1.5%. Veil described the contingency as reserved for schedule or scope choices made before final subcontractor selection; unused contingency will remain with the project.

Veil and staff also supplied a scope summary for the integrated sports equipment included in the early release: 18 overhead, side‑folding basketball systems across the main and auxiliary gyms; 13 center‑drive curtain dividers for the main gym and one for the auxiliary gym; 18 Skymaster overhead volleyball systems; wireless control mechanisms for curtain/equipment operation; and protective pads for both gyms.

Public comment during the meeting touched on naming rights for upcoming parks and facilities connected to the same capital program. Rodney Hinton, a resident, asked council to consider naming elements of future parks for local figures and said he would "love to be able to give some money and put his name on a park if y'all would so consider it." Mayor and staff said the city is reviewing naming policy and guardrails and that council may return the matter for formal discussion.

Council members asked about signage, schedule and whether the city could shorten the completion date. Veil said the current completion target is in 2027 (staff referenced a completion date in early 2027, with work under way to compress the schedule) and that the project team is "in the 85 to 90% range" of finalizing the guaranteed maximum price. Staff said they are working with Harper General Contractors and design partners to avoid "self‑inflicted delays," complete permit reviews faster, and keep the project on schedule.

The motion to approve the early release package was made, seconded and approved on a recorded roll call with unanimous support.