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Commissioners advance Lubbock County Expo Center resolution after debate over funding deadline and reserve
Summary
After a Park Hill schematic presentation, the court approved a resolution to advance the Lubbock County Expo Center project and authorized a CMAR agreement; judges and stakeholders debated a funding deadline and whether the county reserve should be $5 million or $10 million before final funding is secured. The resolution passed 4–1.
Lubbock County Commissioners Court voted to advance the Lubbock County Expo Center project on March 23, 2026, approving a resolution to move the venue forward and authorizing a construction-manager-at-risk agreement with Lee Lewis Construction Inc.
Park Hill representatives presented schematic designs and renderings for a phased facility at the proposed North University site, showing a Phase 1 arena with warm-up area, ADA parking and vendor spaces and noting seating capacity targeted near 5,500. "We've talked a ton about just the flow of traffic on-site, preserving as much of that original concept and utilities and drainage as previously discussed," said Alan Wolf of Park Hill during the presentation.
During debate over the resolution, Judge Parrish proposed an amendment that would make the resolution void unless Lubbock County Expo Center, Inc. (LCEC) secured finalized funding by June 22, 2026; that amendment did not receive a second. A second suggested amendment, offered by the county judge, sought to raise the operations/endowment reserve requirement from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. That proposal prompted extended discussion about pro forma revenue assumptions, the role of the venue (which may not be income producing), and the county's hot‑tax balance.
Randy Jordan, identified in the meeting as chairman of Lubbock County Expo Center, said the $5 million reserve is a "very comfortable number" that allows construction to proceed while the reserve grows from ongoing venue tax receipts. "We're saying don't ever drop below $5,000,000," Jordan said, describing hot‑tax receipts and pro‑forma expectations. Commissioners questioned worst‑case assumptions and asked for clarity on bond capacity; court comments referenced a bond capacity estimate of approximately $32,000,000.
After the debate the court approved the resolution by a 4–1 vote and authorized the County Judge to sign the CMAR agreement with Lee Lewis Construction. The record shows the court also approved Amendment No. 2 to the development agreement to allow use of venue-tax funds as statutorily permitted (construction, debt service and operations).
