EVERETT — The City of Everett announced on Thursday, July 16 that is has secured purchase and sale agreements for 11 of the 17 total properties needed to move forward with the Outdoor Event Center project and will be receiving Council approval to move forward with closing on four of these properties. This will give the City control of enough of property to move forward with the initial phases of site preparation – a major step forward for the project.
“This milestone represents years of collaboration and brings us one step closer to creating a destination that will serve Everett for generations,” said Mayor Cassie Franklin. “The Outdoor Event Center will be a vibrant, year-round gathering place that brings people together, supports local businesses, attracts new investment and helps shape the future of our downtown. I want to thank our Council for their strong support of economic development.”
At their July 15, 2026 meeting, the Everett City Council approved funding to purchase four key properties at the heart of the project site:
- Lot 1 – 2201 Pacific
- Lot 2 – 2202-2204 Wall St
- Lot 3 – 2121 Pacific
- Lot 5 – 3008 McDougall
“Projects of this scale require careful planning, responsible decision-making and steady progress,” said Council President Don Schwab. “Our recent action reflects years of work by this council, the Mayor, City staff and our partners to thoughtfully advance the Outdoor Event Center. We’re continuing to move forward one milestone at a time while keeping our focus on delivering long-term value for the Everett community.”
Funding for Lot 1 is part of the overall project funding provided by the City Council under a previous ordinance and funding for the remaining properties is from the project’s $7.4 million Washington State Department of Commerce grant.
The City authorized the project’s Progressive Design Build Team to advance design to construction documents and anticipates starting construction in early fall of this year.
This new downtown outdoor events facility will host the AquaSox and a new professional USL Soccer team, increasing the professional sports landscape in Everett.
“We’ve been proud to call Everett home for more than 40 years, and we are proud to have the best fans in minor league baseball!” said Chad Volpe of the AquaSox. “The Outdoor Event Center is an important investment in baseball and affordable, family fun in our community. We’re grateful for the City’s continued leadership and look forward to the day we welcome fans into our new home.”
“It’s been encouraging to see the enthusiasm the Everett community has shown for soccer during recent watch parties,” said Chris Boyajian, SVP of Expansion at the United Soccer League. “The City continues to demonstrate many of the qualities and local commitment we look for when evaluating potential expansion markets.”
Funko Field, current home of the Aquasox owned by the Everett School District, will continue as a dedicated youth athletics facility and could not have accommodated both professional baseball and soccer.
About the Outdoor Event Center Project
The Outdoor Event Center will be a year-round community destination, serving as the future home of the Everett AquaSox and future United Soccer League franchises in the heart of downtown. Beyond sports, the Outdoor Event Center will host concerts, festivals and other community events. It will also include an urban public park, a half-mile walking loop, public gathering spaces and a new festival street designed to support more events throughout the year. Located near Everett Station – and future light rail – it will provide convenient access by transit while helping connect downtown destinations.
The facility is designed to strengthen Everett’s economy, create jobs and support local businesses. It is projected to generate approximately $85 million in annual business revenue, support approximately 660 jobs, generate nearly $33 million in annual labor income, and provide new ongoing tax revenue to help support public services, according to an independent economic analysis. The venue is expected to host more than 100 events each year, drawing visitors from throughout the region to support Everett restaurants, hotels, retailers and other local businesses.
The next major milestone for the Outdoor Event Center project will be presenting the project’s full funding plan to the City Council later this summer.
Learn more at the project website: everettwa.gov/outdoorec
Press release distributed by the City of Everett.
Contact: Jason Kelly, communications director, 425-512-7296
Contact: Simone Tarver, communications manager & PIO, 425-535-5301