{"id":140269,"date":"2026-01-27T21:37:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T21:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/140269\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T21:37:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T21:37:18","slug":"expo-center-next-steps-approved-by-commissioners-over-objections-by-county-judge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/140269\/","title":{"rendered":"Expo Center, next steps approved by commissioners over objections by county judge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite claims the Expo Center project failed to raise enough money, Lubbock County commissioners approved next steps Tuesday afternoon on a 4-1 vote.<\/p>\n

Randy Jordan, chairman of the non-profit Lubbock County Expo Center Inc. (LCEC), presented the latest plan and a resolution to the commissioners for approval.<\/p>\n

The resolution calls for a new design which largely copies the Taylor Telecom Arena in Abilene.<\/p>\n

As LubbockLights.com previously reported<\/a>, the resolution confirms the location at North Loop 289 and North University Avenue \u2013 rejecting an alternative to move the venue downtown. The resolution also gets the county to work on borrowing roughly $32 million of the estimated $67 million total cost.<\/p>\n

The remainder of the money comes from private fundraising by LCEC. Jordan said pledges of $25 million have been made. That does not mean it\u2019s money in the bank, and those pledges might be paid over a number of years.<\/p>\n

County Judge Curtis Parrish expressed concern and voted \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parrish told Jordan in the meeting, \u201cMy problem is I don\u2019t believe you have the best interest of the county in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parrish told Jordan he had the best interest of the project \u2013 not the county \u2013 at heart.<\/p>\n

An attorney, Ashley Cox, who works for the county, said she and her colleagues were intricately involved in protecting the county\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n

Auditor Kathy Williams said Lubbock County must know the total cost of the project. But she hasn\u2019t seen enough in terms of financial documentation.<\/p>\n

Cox said more documentation would be provided at the right time to show the money is available.<\/p>\n

Cox admitted there has been a communications breakdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one has done a good job with that. We don\u2019t know what we\u2019re doing,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n

But Cox said communication will get better. And an Expo Center must be built.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot un-ring that bell,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would decades to litigate and figure out,\u201d Cox said of more than $20 million of hotel and rental vehicle taxes that have already been collected since voters approved them in 2018.<\/p>\n

By contrast, the current plan is workable Cox said.<\/p>\n

And if the documentation is not good enough by the time final plans come up for a vote, then commissioners can vote against it, according to Cox.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Expo\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tExpo Center plans for north side of Lubbock now waiting for commissioner approval after LGC advances project<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJanuary 14, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"County\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCounty attorneys give Expo Center supporters \u2018to-do\u2019 list to get project moving forward, get approval<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 12, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Has\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tHas Expo Center project \u2018failed,\u2019 or does it \u2018just need a little boost?\u2019 Oversight board pushes for answers and urgency<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 4, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Expo\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tExpo Center\u2019s future makes two pit stops this month \u2013 both in front of county oversight board<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 2, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Next\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tNext few weeks will tell if oversight board\u2019s Expo Center questions are answered enough to get decision<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNovember 17, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"County\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCounty oversight board withholds blessing for expo center, wanting more answers on financial issues<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNovember 14, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Study:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tStudy: No matter where expo center goes, outdated Civic Center, surrounding areas need dramatic improvements<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 20, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Future\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFuture of Civic Center, Expo Center on line in City Council, Commissioners Court meetings<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 14, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"New\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tNew law soon lets Lubbock raise money for Civic Center project<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAugust 7, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"County\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCounty deadline proposed for Expo Center; if Corley\u2019s proposal passes, 120 days to finish planning or the county goes it alone<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 7, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Plans\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPlans being discussed to move Expo Center downtown, paired with updated Civic Center; Expo leader still hopes it works on north Lubbock site<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 21, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Parrish offered two amendments to the resolution \u2013 both failed for lack of second.<\/p>\n

The first amendment said the Expo Center \u201cmay\u201d be located at North Loop and North University. <\/p>\n

The location is important because proponents of the latest plan rejected the city\u2019s partnership offer. Under the city\u2019s alternative, the Expo Center would go on the same site as a renovated Civic Center with a new flagship hotel nearby. But critics point to traffic flow, lack of parking and the lack of room for future facility expansion.<\/p>\n

The second amendment said Lubbock County will not incur any design cost. But in the meeting, LCEC said the only cost on the table right now is $375,000 for design work, and LCEC is paying \u2013 not Lubbock County. <\/p>\n

The vote Tuesday is not quite the last word. Commissioners will still need to approve the final new design and a construction project which will need to specify a guaranteed maximum price.<\/p>\n

This story was posted as developing news shortly after the commissioners voted. Be sure to check back with LubbockLights.com for updates.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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