EVERETT, DEC.13: The Stadium Fiscal Advisory Committee (SFAC) expressed support for the downtown site location for the Outdoor Multipurpose Facility after months of deliberation. The city council will vote on the site location Dec. 18.
In response to new requirements from Major League Baseball (MLB), the Everett AquaSox requires an updated or new stadium facility. The city has been weighing two options to ensure the AquaSox stay in Everett.
One option is renovating and expanding the current site, Funko Field, owned by the Everett School District. The other is building a site adjacent to the Angel of the Winds Arena. If no choice is made, the city could risk the AquaSox leaving Everett.
“By taking no action, I can 100% guarantee you, you will not have a new partner at United Soccer League, and we will lose our beloved AquaSox,” Scott Pattison, Special Projects Manager for the Mayor’s office said during Wednesday’s council meeting.
Renovation of the current site is estimated to cost between $70-80 million, while the downtown site would cost between $100-120 million, according to the proposed ordinance.
Ben Franz, a consultant hired by the city with Shiels Obletz Johnsen, presented the final summary and recommendations from the Stadium Fiscal Advisory Committee, which has been meeting since January.
The SFAC recommends pursuing the development of a new Downtown Multipurpose Stadium, finding that it would be the most fiscally beneficial option for the city compared to renovating the already existing School District site.
The Downtown site is estimated to bring in close $5 million per season, according to preliminary estimates. The Funko site revision could bring in $809,500 per season.
For funds, the SFAC recommends acquiring funds from Snohomish County, state and private funds when investing in either site. Despite this, both sites will have a gap of $39 million in funding that would have to be negotiated. The city will also be looking at Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Bond funding.
CIP funds are restricted and can only be used for permanent capital investments like building a new facility, or renovations, Mayor Cassie Franklin said. CIP funds cannot be used for salaries or city services.
Other private investors require a site decision before committing to any partnership, Franklin said.
The AquaSox pledged to invest up to $10,000, and potential partner and investor the United Soccer League will (USL) only invest if the project is downtown, said Franz.
The USL is also looking to build a practice facility, possibly on Casino Road for both the men’s and women’s soccer divisions, Pattison said. The facility would be open to the general public when the teams aren’t practicing.
According to studies done on the two sites, the downtown site can accommodate more parking, allow for more multipurpose events, and add pedestrian and transit connections.
The city is preparing for light rail, with four stops expected in Everett. The downtown location has been identified to have better light rail access according to studies. Downtown would also allow for a higher capacity for concerts, while the School District site is limited, Franz said.
Local resident and owner of the Snohomish Running Company Grant Harrington said he had “huge concerns” for potential impacts on the Everett Public Schools District.
“I haven’t heard enough on the impact is on the school district to this if they [AquaSox] move away from Funko Field… what is the lost revenue to the school district? Half of our schools are falling apart,” Harrington said during the meeting.
Pattison said that there would be minimal impact on the school district if the AquaSox were to relocate downtown.
“The financial impact is very minimal on the Everett School District, between the minimal rent paid from the AquaSox and the regular maintenance on the field, it is really a wash… if we choose the downtown site, it is not like the Funko site will fall into disarray, in fact probably just the opposite,” Pattison said.
Another resident said, “I think the stadium would be a good fit and there’s enough people in the surrounding counties that would fill that stadium all the time.”
The downtown site would likely evolve in multiple phases due to limited funds, Franz said. The school district site would not be able to be phased out.
The council is requested to decide on a location site at next week’s city council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Whichever site is chosen, construction will begin in 2026, with an anticipated completion date of April 2027.
