Okaloosa commissioners approve design phase for Rigdon Center expansion at fairgrounds
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Summary
The board approved proceeding with the design phase and formation of a procurement committee for a proposed ~50,000-square-foot expansion of the Rigdon Center at the county fairgrounds. The motions passed 4–0 with Commissioner Mixon absent.
Okaloosa County commissioners on Feb. 17 voted to move the Rigdon Center fairgrounds project into the design phase, authorizing staff to pursue engineering and design work and to form a special procurement committee to oversee the process.
Craig Coffey, who presented the multi‑phase plan, described improvements already completed at the site and detailed a proposed roughly 50,000‑square‑foot addition that would include a 35,000–40,000‑square‑foot main hall capable of handling larger sporting and event tournaments, expanded parking and catering/concession space. Coffey said the expansion would position the county to attract events currently too large for the existing convention hall and outlined potential funding sources including golf consortium funds, state fairgrounds grants and tourism development funds.
Commissioner Patricia Kechel made the motion to proceed with the design phase and Commissioner Jeff Palmer seconded. The motion to approve moving into design and to authorize the procurement committee passed 4–0; Commissioner Paul Mixon was absent. Commissioners emphasized protecting legacy local events and committed to identifying legacy dates and accommodations for long‑standing local shows as part of the process.
Staff said design will take time — possibly a year — and that detailed cost estimates and funding sources will be brought back before construction authorization is sought. Coffey gave a rough benchmark: a 90,000‑square‑foot hangar project referenced during the presentation cost about $17 million; the Rigdon Center addition is smaller and will require engineering and grant work to refine exact costs.
What’s next: Staff will proceed with design work, return engineering estimates and a financing plan to the board and bring proposed procurement committee membership back for finalization before moving to construction‑phase requests.
