![\"Ashley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ashley_cox_737x849.jpg\")
Ashley Cox, ADA, District Attorney\u2019s Office \u2013 Civil Division Credit: Staff photo.<\/p>\n
Ashley Cox, along with other attorneys in Lubbock County\u2019s Civil Division, were asked to find out how the Expo Center project got stalled, where it stands now and where it needs to go next.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe live in a world of critics, right? I have been one of them,\u201d Cox told the county\u2019s oversight board \u2013 the Local Government Corporation (LGC) on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot my circus, not my monkeys,\u201d she said was her sense of frustration with the project two years ago when she first started working for the county.<\/p>\n
Ashley Cox, ADA,
District Attorney\u2019s Office \u2013 Civil Division Credit: Staff photo.<\/p>\n
However, when Cox finished presenting an action plan Wednesday, several LGC members were optimistic along with county commissioners who also attended.<\/p>\n
In 2018, voters approved a hotel tax to pay for a multipurpose venue. The non-profit Lubbock County Expo Center, Inc. was formed that year as part of public\/private partnership with the county. LCEC donated land in 2021 to the county at North Loop 289 and North University Avenue. LCEC has been collecting donations to cover whatever a hotel tax and car rental tax do not.<\/p>\n
Cox pointed to a stack of architectural drawings on the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have $4-plus-million worth of design here and construction plans that we can\u2019t use,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
![\"Architectural](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/LGC_meeting_2025_dec_10_1920x1080_03.jpg\")
Architectural plans on the table in LGC meeting. Credit: Staff photo.<\/p>\n
What she described as a $54 million plan before COVID blew up to $120 million at one point. Construction costs went up everywhere, not just the proposed Expo Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not for lack of trying. It is not nefarious. \u2026 It just didn\u2019t work. And we couldn\u2019t have possibly foreseen that,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
LCEC\u2019s plan was pared back several times \u2013 currently a $67 million project mirroring design of Abilene\u2019s Taylor Telecom Arena.<\/p>\n
Two recent LGC meetings, including one with an LCEC presentation, were contentious.<\/p>\n
Take a look now<\/p>\n
More recently, Cox\u2019s boss, civil division chief Neal Burt asked her to join other attorneys working on the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you think the first thing I said was? And you\u2019ve heard it a million times. We are seven years \u2013 and what? \u2013 $7 million down the road. And does the county have anything to show for it?\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s important for us in the arena to know that that\u2019s not true \u2013 that we do have something to show for that. And I\u2019m convinced of that,\u201d Cox added.<\/p>\n
The pitch for her action plan to the LGC was, \u201cWe are the people in the arena who are going to build the arena. \u2026 We\u2019re the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
She introduced her plan with a list of accomplishments.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe critic doesn\u2019t know all the infrastructure out there the sewage, the drainage, the electricity. \u2026 Drake Street, about a half a mile of that, is built out to perfection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Permitting and zoning are done, she said, adding, \u201cThose are all battles that have already been won.\u201d<\/p>\n
Critics would say LCEC hasn\u2019t done enough with private donations, according to Cox. But she pointed out the Moody Foundation pledged a $6 million donation, of which, $2 million is in the bank, adding 80 acres donated to Lubbock County is worth almost $2 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are multiple people who have pledged more than $15 million. That has value and those people are part of the arena. The critic would say it\u2019s not enough,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
Within the last month, she asked LCEC board members to give her a tour of the site.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat last exit on University, we\u2019re going to close that off. And instead of it being an offramp, we\u2019re going to be an onramp,\u201d Cox quoted the LCEC board as saying.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m like, \u2018You all have gotten TxDOT to approve all that?\u2019 And they\u2019re like, \u2018Oh yeah.\u2019 \u2026 Think of all the meetings that that took. Think of all the hours and all the effort that went into that. \u2026 Our value isn\u2019t in just the $7 million. Our value is in all the work that has been done. \u2026 Those are big things \u2026 to be proud of and to be honored,\u201d Cox told the LGC.<\/p>\n
Action items<\/p>\n
Cox then went through a list of things needing to be done.<\/p>\n
First, LCEC needs a contract with Parkhill \u2013 which designed the Abilene arena. Cox was clear, LCEC needs to pay for it \u2013 referencing a stack of drawings by MWM Architects.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore the county puts any more money into another design, because the county paid for this one, the taxpayers paid for this one \u2026 they bring their money to the table first,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere needs to be some sort of presentation so that the commissioners can see it, and the voters can see it. \u2026 We need for LCEC to come and knock everybody\u2019s socks off with the new design that they\u2019ve paid for,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
Cox asked the LGC to discuss in January a resolution for county commissioners to approve.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done resolutions before, and they haven\u2019t done anything. I\u2019ve heard that comment. This resolution will do something. \u2026 That proposed resolution will include three things,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
Cox said:<\/p>\n
\u201cNumber one, the resolution will state that the county approves of the contract between LCEC and Parkhill to proceed with the Taylor County Telecom Arena design.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNumber two, LCEC will pay for the design itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNumber three, the resolution would affirm basically the North University location.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to know whether the county wants to proceed or not by the end of this resolution process,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAffirming\u201d the North University location is important because the city invited the county to consider putting the Expo Center at the Civic Center site in downtown, which LubbockLights.com covered here.<\/p>\n
A development agreement between the county and LCEC needs to be updated to reflect what\u2019s allowed under state law \u2013 in particular the use of hotel occupancy tax for operations, Cox said.<\/p>\n
She informed LGC the deeds for donated land have gone past their five-year revocation date \u2013 meaning the county had a five-year deadline to use the land for an event venue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to update the deed and make sure that that\u2019s correct,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
The idea would extend the deeds another five years.<\/p>\n
And the LGC needs to coordinate with county commissioners on the timing of taking on $30 million or more in debt in the form of bonds.<\/p>\n
An exact timeline is hard to pin down, but some of this can start in January. It might take months to both hammer out a contract and customize the Taylor Telecom Arena design for Lubbock. Construction might take 18 months.<\/p>\n
LGC member Gary Boren asked if 2028 would be the \u201cbingo date\u201d if everything goes well. The consensus was yes.<\/p>\n
Cox\u2019s written presentation on December 10<\/p>\n
ACTION ITEMS:<\/p>\n
January LGC Meeting \u2013 Civil and LCEC will answer any questions and provide the follow up information requested today, review the draft of the Resolution and the Parkhill contract, vote on whether or not you recommend approval of the Resolution by the Court.<\/p>\n
Commissioners Court Meeting 1 (both LCEC and LGC present)
Discuss and take action on proposed Resolution, which will include<\/p>\n
Approval of the contract between LCEC and Parkhill to proceed with the Taylor County Telecom Arena design<\/p>\n
LCEC will pay $375,000 for the design<\/p>\n
Affirm the North University Location (the deed?)<\/p>\n
Commissioners Court Meeting 2 (both LCEC and LGC present)<\/p>\n
Design and program and preliminary development budget<\/p>\n
Draft of the Guaranteed Maximum Price Construction Agreement<\/p>\n
Satisfy the Court that LCEC has raised, or will be able to raise, the additional funds needed to develop and construct the Expo Center \u2013 request Court take Bond action
All subject to approval by the Court<\/p>\n
Commissioners Court Meeting 3 (both LCEC and LGC present)<\/p>\n
The Court will consider the Bond Order for approval<\/p>\n
If approved, then the Court can approve the execution of the final construction agreement for the design and program, the final development budget, and the final Guaranteed Maximum Price Construction Agreement<\/p>\n
Document distributed by Ashley Cox at LGC meeting.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \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 \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 \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 \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 \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 \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 \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 \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 \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 \u2018We have a plan\u2019 \u2013 \u2018very comforting\u2019<\/p>\n Mike Dalby, commissioner for Precinct 1, said, \u201cEveryone in this room is tired. Yes, everyone in this room is frustrated. All sides. And I can see it. I\u2019m looking at everybody\u2019s facial expressions. I\u2019m looking at the body language. But more importantly, the citizens are tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want this project to succeed. I\u2019ve said it from day one, and I\u2019m saying it right now. I want this project to succeed, but I want it to be right. I want it to be legal. I don\u2019t want Lubbock County to be at risk,\u201d Dalby said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will be a historical moment in Lubbock County,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Boren responded to Cox using the word \u201ccritics\u201d several times in presentation.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think necessarily it\u2019s a critic. We\u2019re just trying to carry on our roles,\u201d Boren said.<\/p>\n LGC member Carl Isett said, \u201cEvery now and then the critic likes the movie. So, it is not a bad exercise to have people very critical of the process.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem that we\u2019ve had in this is, is that not all of us have the same information. \u2026 The finance committee \u2013 you guys have but we haven\u2019t seen \u2013 the rest of the group haven\u2019t seen it. I\u2019m tired of that. I\u2019m just plain tired,\u201d Isett said.<\/p>\n Chairman Gary Greenstreet disagreed, specifically referencing a term sheet for a proposed bank loan to LCEC.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not a soul on the, at least on the [LGC] executive committee, that has seen that,\u201d Greenstreet said.<\/p>\n Cox asked LGC members in a December 3 meeting to not be worried about the term sheet yet because it needed revision. <\/p>\n Cox also responded to Isett\u2019s concern.<\/p>\n \u201cThose problems are over. We are going to make sure that you have the information available to you,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n The procure will be for questions to be sent to her so answers can be distributed back to all LGC board members. Everyone will have the same information, she said.<\/p>\n LGC\u2019s decisions will be informed and educated, Cox said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is some confidential information related to donors and agreements,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n The county will respect confidentiality. But at the same time the county needs assurance that between the bond, the donations and the other revenue streams, there\u2019s enough money, she said.<\/p>\n Commissioners Jordan Rackler and Cary Shaw thanked Cox.<\/p>\n Rackler said, \u201cI want to thank you for taking the reins on this and finally getting us to where we\u2019re moving somewhere here.\u201d<\/p>\n LGC member Dwight McDonald said, \u201cThank you for your leadership getting us back on track here. We have a plan. That is very comforting. And now that everybody knows what the plan is we can move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Greenstreet concluded the LGC meeting with the words, \u201cAshley, I can\u2019t thank you enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
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