EVERETT — The Everett City Council allocated another $4.8 million to its outdoor stadium project on Wednesday to pay for more design work and the initial costs of property acquisitions on the downtown site.
In total, $3 million of the allocated funds will be spent on bringing the stadium to 60% design, council documents show. Another $1.25 million will go toward initial costs of purchasing land where the stadium may be built. About a dozen businesses currently operate there, according to a city environmental impact study. An additional $550,000 will go toward consultant fees.
That $550,000 is split between three consulting firms. One, Intelligent Partnerships, will be paid $50,000 to support the city in creating a project labor agreement — a project-specific collective bargaining agreement between contractors and labor unions — for the stadium project. The second, Kimley Horn, will be paid $200,000 to start work on the acquisition of property at the stadium site and the relocation of businesses. The third, Shiels Obletz Johnsen, will be paid $300,000 to continue lease negotiations between private partners and refine funding plans, among other tasks.
The city has paid Shiels Obletz Johnsen about $1.1 million for work on the stadium since 2023.
Everett has already put about $2 million toward the project so far, spending that went toward site selection studies, consultants and initial surveying work at the stadium site. City staff expect another $2.45 million in city dollars would be necessary to complete the project, along with contributions from the state, Snohomish County, Everett AquaSox, United Soccer League and over $40 million in bonds backed by revenue from the stadium.
If the project goes forward, the total cost is expected to be $82 million, according to city staff. Under current plans, the city would not raise taxes or spend general fund dollars on the stadium.
Everett has been working toward building a new stadium for years since new Major League Baseball regulations meant Funko Field, the stadium where the Minor League Everett AquaSox currently play, would need major renovations or a rebuild to be brought into compliance with the new rules.
Everett studied locations across the city before choosing a downtown site, located on the east side of Broadway between Hewitt and Pacific Avenues, in December 2024. Along with the AquaSox, the stadium could host mens and womens United Soccer League teams.
The council has still not decided whether or not to build the stadium. That will come later in the process, city staff have said, once design is complete in late 2025 or early 2026. Property acquisition would not be necessary until construction starts, likely in early 2026, consultant Ben Franz said Wednesday.
If the project goes forward as planned, the stadium will open in 2027.
On Wednesday, the City Council approved three ordinances, approving the $4.8 million in spending, amending the city budget to reflect the investment and giving city administration the authorization to start property acquisition work.
If necessary, the city could use eminent domain to acquire the land needed to build the stadium, although it hopes to avoid needing to do so, city attorney David Hall said Wednesday.
Council voted 6-1 to approve all three ordinances. Council member Judy Tuohy voted against, citing a lack of detailed financial projections for the project even as the city’s investment in it continues to grow.
“This has been a very frustrating project for me to embrace,” Tuohy said. “I do want the AquaSox, and I do want soccer. I think they’re both really important for our community to be in Everett. But as a council member, there are realistic financial impacts to our city and our taxpayers.”
Other council members who backed the project said the stadium was a forward-thinking investment that could benefit the public.
“I think they’re [the AquaSox] an asset to the community, I think USL will be an asset.” council member Scott Bader said. “About 25 years ago, I was a skeptic of the Angel of the Winds event center, and I think my skepticism has been proven wrong.”
During public comment Wednesday, residents expressed mixed opinions on the stadium project. Those who opposed it raised concerns over the lack of detailed financial projections and said the stadium project has been rushed.
“It is my experience that it is in those times in which we live in fear that we make irrational decisions, and my belief is that the decisions being made are being made in haste and in fear, not based on legitimate financial projections,” said Grant Harrington.
Others who backed the project said it could boost the downtown area and provide opportunities for young soccer players to get professional experience.
“Building a new stadium is the first stepping stone to rejuvenating our downtown,” 13-year-old Rhys Stenhouse said.
AquaSox-funded studies have said that a new stadium could spur economic activity in Everett. Independent researchers, however, have previously found many stadium construction projects have little positive financial impact on cities, although some researchers say minor league baseball teams can be associated with economic benefits in cities.
On Wednesday, the council also voted to select a third-party nonprofit facilitator, Public Facilities Group, which could utilize a project delivery method that has a chance to reduce the city’s risk on the stadium.
Third-party nonprofit facilitators take on construction projects and issue bonds on behalf of municipalities. Once the stadium is constructed, the nonprofit would lease the facility back to the city, which would make payments to the nonprofit to pay back the bonds. Once the bonds are paid back, the city would own the property.
The city hasn’t decided whether or not to use the method, which has previously been used by King County, Redmond and Bothell for construction work.
Consultants working on the project say lease negotiations between the AquaSox and United Soccer League are still underway. The teams have agreed to take on the bulk of day-to-day maintenance at the facility, Franz said Wednesday, while the city would be on the hook for major maintenance and capital improvements of the stadium.
The city hopes to complete lease negotiations when design hits the 60% mark, likely in fall 2025, city staff said in a presentation.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
