Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Event Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners discuss a $4M+ event center at the 212 exit and partnership options with school and city
Summary
Commissioners explored building an open‑air event center at the 212 exit (estimated $4–4.5M), possible grant support and EMA staging uses, and an alternative to partner with the school board on a track/stadium to reduce operations costs.
Commissioners spent substantial time evaluating options for an event center tied to the county’s 212 exit property and alternatives that would pair county land with city and school board projects.
A speaker described a prospective building about 150 feet by 300 feet with a 40‑ft eave height intended to host rodeos, motocross, large indoor/outdoor events and regional track meets. That presenter said, “We know at this point right now the way the numbers we have put together uh probably 4 to 4 and 1/2 million would get a building up and parking lot.”
Commissioners discussed possible ways to reduce operating costs, including a partnership in which the school board would take over operations of a nearby track and field facility and share parking. Don Mitchell of Blount County (referenced by a commissioner) and the Blount County example were cited as local experience where event centers became financially viable when booked consistently.
Speakers flagged practical obstacles: the county’s Adair parcel could be landlocked and require ALDOT agreement or acquisition of right‑of‑way to create access; floodplain and drainage constraints could increase site preparation costs; and the availability of grants for the building itself is limited. Commissioners encouraged staff to pursue partnership options with the city and school board to lower operational burdens and to return with more detailed cost estimates and access analyses.
No formal decision was made; commissioners agreed to keep the opportunity under review pending written proposals and further coordination with the city and school board.
