Everett is doubling down on its downtown ballpark gamble, asking the City Council this week for another $10.6 million to wrap up design work and buy up the last pieces of property for a new stadium that would house the Everett AquaSox, host professional soccer and pull in other events. The extra cash would carry the project out of the planning weeds and up to the starting line for construction, at a time when cost estimates keep climbing and officials are hustling to stitch together a final funding deal.
City asks council for a $10.6M loan
City staff laid out a plan for a $10.6 million interfund loan that would later be repaid with bond proceeds, saying the move is needed to finish design and keep property acquisitions rolling. As reported by HeraldNet, staff also warned that if a future bond fails, the city could be stuck covering millions out of the general fund. Council members listened to the pitch this week but held off on taking a final vote.
Design-builder picked and downtown site set
Everett has already locked in a Progressive Design-Build team led by Bayley Construction with DLR Group to steer the project, and the chosen footprint lands just east of Broadway near Angel of the Winds Arena. The city says the design-build setup should speed things along and cut down on nasty surprises by keeping architects and builders in the same huddle from day one. Project goals and the roster of who is running what are laid out on the city’s project page, according to the City of Everett.
Economic case and community trade-offs
City-commissioned studies and the city’s own economic analysis say a new multipurpose stadium could churn out tens of millions of dollars in additional business revenue and create or support hundreds of jobs. Supporters keep those numbers handy when they argue for spending public money. Skeptics focus on the fine print, pointing out that the projections are not guaranteed and warning that overruns and long-term debt costs could soak up taxpayer funds instead. KUOW has walked through that debate and the different financial scenarios the city has modeled. Backers of the downtown location argue that putting the stadium in the core would capture the biggest share of the projected benefits.
Price tag and who would pay
Project estimates have climbed since the early talking-stage phase, and staff now say the overall budget could land well into the triple digits once land costs and inflation in construction are added in. Everett staff told council members the emerging funding plan leans on a mix of bonds, state appropriations, county contributions and private partner pledges as part of a broader package, per HeraldNet. Under the proposed lease setup, the teams would be on the hook for day-to-day upkeep, while the city would keep responsibility for major capital repairs.
What’s next and local reaction
Local TV crews were in the room for the council briefing, capturing residents who are all-in on the stadium dream and others who are wary about how much of the tab taxpayers will ultimately pick up. That mix of cheers and side-eye shows up in a short segment from KIRO 7. City staff say they are still assembling the full funding plan and that any votes on construction would come only after design work is finished and the bond details are nailed down.
