Highlights of the proposed expo center:<\/p>\n
Based on Abilene\u2019s Taylor Telecom Arena<\/p>\n
$55 million in construction cost<\/p>\n
Other expenses add up to $67 million total development cost<\/p>\n
129,000 square feet<\/p>\n
5,500 permanent seats<\/p>\n
7,000 total with floor seating<\/p>\n
Accommodation for concrete floor and dirt floor events<\/p>\n
Tensions ran highest in the LCG meeting when some county officials said they felt they hadn\u2019t received full answers \u2013 especially concerning money needing to be borrowed to make the project work.<\/p>\n
The board meets again in December to hear from specialized lawyers called \u201cbond counsel\u201d who will talk about the possibility of Lubbock County borrowing $32 million for constructing the building. That debt \u2013 if it happens \u2013 would be paid by a hotel occupancy tax Lubbock County voters approved in 2018.<\/p>\n
But there were also questions about LCEC borrowing up to $20 million to be paid back with private donations.<\/p>\n
A point of contention rose when some LGC board members had seen more documentation than others including the terms Plains Capital Bank offered on a potential LCEC loan.<\/p>\n
County Auditor Kathy Williams and the county\u2019s Civil Division Chief Neal Burt also had concerns.<\/p>\n
Williams said, \u201cWe\u2019ve met here for four years, and I\u2019m still not getting the questions answered that I need.\u201d<\/p>\n
LGC member Dwight McDonald demanded to know the terms of the loan and what would be the collateral. He was told some of the details are confidential. He was not satisfied with that answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m at a point now where I\u2019m not willing to \u2018Just take my word for this\u2019 anymore. Because back in March of 2024, we took their word for it. We \u2026 said, \u2018Hey, we\u2019re 6 or $7 million away from our $87 million budget. And then it turns out that we weren\u2019t anywhere close,\u201d McDonald said.<\/p>\n
LCEC Chairman Randy Jordan defended some of the need for confidentiality, saying, \u201cI would not want you to take that term sheet and make that a matter of public record.\u201d<\/p>\n
Banks need to keep some details private, Jordan said. And the loan is needed because pledges of private support are sometimes spread across three to five years on bigger gifts.<\/p>\n
The LCEC has nothing to hide, Jordan said, but sometimes donors and private partners want confidentiality.<\/p>\n
LGC board member Gary Boren said, \u201cI understand what you\u2019re doing because you\u2019re thinking exactly like a businessman in a private sector does. But you all have come to the county, a public government, and said, \u2018We want you to participate with us in a public, private manner.\u2019 When you do that, you\u2019ve changed your dynamics of information.\u201d<\/p>\n
The plan also anticipates the expo center will lose an estimated $500,000 per year. That figure does not include revenue naming rights, personal seat licenses, a percentage of sales on merchandise and some other things. So, the operating loss might be less, according to the plan.<\/p>\n
The plan anticipates $2.4 million in revenue and $2.9 million in expenses on 64 events per year. The total estimated attendance is 212,000 per year.<\/p>\n
So how would the expo center cover the potential yearly loss?<\/p>\n
Consultant Greg Garfield told the LGC there will be leftover money from the hotel tax \u2013 possibly between $800,000 and $1 million per year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be excess venue tax over what has to be paid on county \u2026 debt service that will \u2013 that should be, in my opinion \u2013 the first source of revenue to pay operating expenses on the project,\u201d Garfield said.<\/p>\n
As the meeting went over two hours long, some members of the LGC board began to leave. The chairman adjourned the meeting.<\/p>\n
In Jordan\u2019s Wednesday press conference, he said he hoped the LGC would approve the plan and bring it to County Commissioners this month for final approval. But LGC took no action and scheduled the December meeting. Beyond that, when a decision could happen is not clear.<\/p>\n
While Jordan and Garfield were challenged in the LGC meeting, Jordan was able to make his case the day before in a press conference without interruption.<\/p>\n
![\"Randy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/LCEC_press_conference_1920x1080_01.jpg\")
Randy Jordan, LCEC chair, during a press conference at Terry County Tractor in Lubbock. Credit: Staff photo.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel that this plan for the Lubbock County Expo Center is affordable, viable, and let\u2019s just get started with phase one of a multi-purpose event venue,\u201d Jordan said.<\/p>\n
Fundraising took longer than it should in part because of COVID and some donor support was lost, he added.<\/p>\n
But \u201ccountless\u201d donors remain, he said, because of \u201ctireless work\u201d on fundraising.<\/p>\n
The original plan was affordable, Jordan claimed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of record inflation and construction cost, we watched the cost of those plans balloon,\u201d Jordan said in the press conference.<\/p>\n
The expo center, when finished will be a glorious time, Jordan said \u2013 hosting concerts, monster trucks, motocross, livestock events and perhaps most importantly the ABC Rodeo which is the primary fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Lubbock.<\/p>\n
Jordan freely admitted it may lose money each year on operating costs, saying, \u201cI\u2019m just going to be frank with you. Most of them do.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the same claim about operating loss a joint city\/county study made back in October, which LubbockLights.com covered here<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThe venue is not necessarily \u2018for profit,\u2019 but the economic impact of bringing people to Lubbock \u2013 serving our restaurants, buying fuel, shopping, staying in our hotels and motels. That is what the multi-event center will do for Lubbock,\u201d Jordan said.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/volunteer_activism_96dp_000000_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz48.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n