Public asks for indoor sports at Lane Events Center

Presenter: Lane County commissioners heard public comments Aug. 26 about the Lane Events Center. Martine Wadke:

Martine Wadke: My name is Martine Wadke and I’m with Webfoot Juniors, a youth volleyball program out of Lane County. Our athletes range from elementary through high school, and like many youth sports organizations, we struggle to find consistent indoor facilities for practice and competitions.

[00:00:25] Too often we have to travel to Portland, Bend, or even out of state for tournaments. That means families spend their weekends on the road and their money, their hotel dining and entertainment dollars, are spent outside our community. If we had a tournament-ready facility at the Lane Events Center, we could host events like these. That keeps dollars local and gives our kids the chance to compete on their home court. The demand is very real.

[00:00:57] The 2016 sports facilities study documented it and we experience it every week when gym space is full or when we have to turn away families because there’s no more room. A multiuse indoor facility with multiple courts would allow more kids to play, more families to participate, and more visitors to experience what Lane County has to offer. This is more than a building. It’s an investment in our youth, our families, and our local economy. I urge you to make it the first project of the Lane Events Center master plan.

[00:01:30] Allen Hancock: My name is Allen Hancock. I live in Eugene. I am a member of the Better Eugene Springfield Transportation. I am also a member of the Active Transportation Committee for the city of Eugene, have been a member for approximately 12 years.

[00:01:47] I want to commend the staff and consultants on working on the Lane Events Center master planning process. Unfortunately, I was unable to take part in that process and only recently become aware of it.

[00:02:02] And so after having an opportunity to look at the master plan, it clearly indicates that citizens want access to the events center by foot, by bicycle, and have neighborhood connectivity.

[00:02:18] But there is an oversight in the plan and before it gets finally adopted, I think it needs some amendment to acknowledge that the Lane Events Center is part of a transportation corridor running north and south on Monroe and Friendly Street from 1st to 28th Avenue.

[00:02:39] At one time, you could walk or roll a wheelchair through the Event Center. That was 10 or more years ago, and as a result of security issues, the gates were closed, and so that’s no longer so readily possible.

[00:02:55] To put that in context, it would be like you were driving up I-5, and all of a sudden a Walmart store appeared in the middle of I-5 and to continue north to Portland, you have to go through neighborhood streets and parking lots with few signs to direct you how to continue the route.

[00:03:12] So the route is part of this city of Eugene’s transportation system plan and I’m hoping that the Lane Events Center master plan will recognize this and emphasize and preserve and enhance the access, connectivity, convenience, comfort, and safety from Monroe Street through to Friendly Street.

And that would include upgrading the pedestrian bridge, which is not up to standard, and providing a surface through the overflow parking lot so that there’s a smooth surface for people in wheelchairs who are walking, people who are elderly, so that not only people can access the events center for all of the events, but also continue on through to other parts of the city. Thank you very much.

[00:03:59] Samara Phelps: I’m Samara Phelps, and I’m president and CEO of Travel Lane County. Our mission at Travel Lane County is to grow overnight visitors for a vibrant and year-round countywide economy.

[00:04:10] I appreciate the thoughtful leadership of the Lane Events Center staff as well as additional county staff and the consulting team on the Lane Events Center plan. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to have served on the visioning committee and the range of options from the Lane Events Center is exciting, and the alignment among the committee members is truly inspiring. It was a great process.

[00:04:35] Our engagement as Travel Lane County in this process has once again underscored the need for the community for indoor space that both generates economic activity during the winter months, including overnight stays, and serves the community. Lane County’s economy experiences a steep seasonal downturn in winter. You’re well aware of this.

[00:04:54] To sustain if not grow the benefits of tourism here in Lane County, we must address this core issue of seasonality. Strategic investment in tourism infrastructure is needed to do this. The plan focuses on multiuse space and that is very strategic and will serve the county well.

[00:05:13] I’m here today to urge the county to prioritize multiuse space that can host regional sports tournaments. Why first? Because it will generate new year-round lodging tax revenue that will help fund every improvement that is included in this plan.

[00:05:28] The Lane Events Center succeeds as an enterprise fund when it secures events that meet the community’s needs to drive those overnight stays. Youth and amateur sports are one of the most reliable drivers of overnight stays and visitor spending and a multiuse venue will attract tournaments and competitions in our shoulder seasons and winter seasons. That means hotel stays, restaurant business, and retail sales at times when our businesses really do need it.

[00:05:55] Modern flexible indoor venues can host sports tournaments for youth and amateur athletes, expos, meetings, and emergency response operations. These facilities serve as economic drivers while providing much-needed space for our community to gather, play, and compete.

[00:06:11] Feasibility and pro forma studies for regional sports complexes have already been completed, and success stories from across the Pacific Northwest show how effective these investments can be.

[00:06:22] Prior Lane Events Center plans have identified space for indoor multiuse sports facilities as a high priority, and it’s turned up once again. Travel Lane County’s top priority is solving for winter demand. Indoor multiuse facilities that incorporate sports tournaments are a key part of that solution. We are actively exploring opportunities countywide and we urge you to focus on winter demand when you’re making these tourism and infrastructure investments as a long-term win for our economy as well as our quality of life.

[00:06:53] As we move forward, Travel Lane County is here as your partner.

[00:06:56] Presenter: County commissioners hear public comments Aug. 26 on the master plan for Lane Events Center. To learn more, see the project website or our repository of local government documents.