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Lynnwood Event Center

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Coordinates: 47°49′17.4″N 122°17′01.3″W / 47.821500°N 122.283694°W / 47.821500; -122.283694
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Lynnwood Event Center
The convention center's exterior, 2015
Map
Address3711 196th Street Southwest
LocationLynnwood, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates47°49′17.4″N 122°17′01.3″W / 47.821500°N 122.283694°W / 47.821500; -122.283694
OwnerLynnwood Public Facilities District
OperatorOak View Group
Built2004–2005
OpenedApril 30, 2005
Construction cost
$31 million
Enclosed space
 • Total space53,985 square feet (5,015.4 m2)
Website
lynnwoodeventcenter.com

The Lynnwood Event Center is a suburban convention center located in Lynnwood, Washington, near Seattle. The $31 million facility opened in 2005 and is managed by Oak View Group (OVG). The convention center was first proposed in the 1980s, but was rejected by voters on three occasions; the formation of a public facilities district in 1999 funded its construction.[1]

History

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Lynnwood, historically a bedroom community of Seattle and nearby Everett, began pursuing a convention center and performing arts venue in the late 1960s.[2] Boosters from the Edmonds Community College attempted to lure a state-sponsored "festival center" in 1977, but failed to garner support over a site near Federal Way.[3][4] A 3,000-seat arts-and-convention center on the college campus was also proposed in 1980, but failed to receive funds from the Washington State Legislature.[2][5][6] In the November 1982 election, voters in south Snohomish County (including Lynnwood and nearby cities) rejected the formation of a special district to develop the arts-and-convention center, and also repealed a local sales tax, planned to be used to fund its construction.[7][8] The boosters later decided against scheduling another public vote on the arts-and-convention center,[9] and ultimately decided in 1985 to split the projects into two: a performing arts center on the college campus, and a convention center elsewhere in Lynnwood.[10] A ballot measure was attempted again in 1988, but failed because of low voter turnout.[11]

In 1995-96 The South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce, representing over 800 businesses in the county, conducted a feasibility study to build a convention center. Several sight locations were viewed such as the Holiday Inn location on 128th in Everett and the Chevron gas station on the corner of 44th & 200th St. in Lynnwood. The Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in laying the ground work for the future convention center.

A second, major campaign to build an 800-seat, $45 million arts-and-convention center in Lynnwood began in 1998.[12] The proposal was sent to local voters in May 1998, with mixed support from politicians, and was rejected by 75 percent.[13] In 1999, the city government established a public facilities district, a type of local special district that would be able to fund a convention center using a state sales tax rebate.[14] The estimated cost of the 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2) convention center led the city to reconsider its plans in 2000,[15] instead opting for a smaller, 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) facility costing $32 million.[16] The final design for the convention center, with 55,000 square feet (5,100 m2) of total meeting space, was unveiled to the public in November 2002.[17] The convention center was funded by $27.9 million in issued bonds, as well as rebate sales taxes from the state government and hotel-motel taxes collected by the county and city.[18]

Construction on the convention center began in October 2003.[19] Howard S. Wright Companies was selected to build the facility, while SMG was awarded the rights to operate it.[20] The convention center opened on April 30, 2005,[19] and immediately came into competition with the Everett Events Center (now Xfinity Arena) in downtown Everett.[21][22] After completion of the convention center, the Lynnwood Public Facilities District attempted to build a 200-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel on an adjacent property.[23] The proposed hotel was scrapped in 2008 after the main developer withdrew from negotiations, citing the then-ongoing financial crisis; by then, the convention center had an annual attendance of 82,000 people.[24][25] A 155-room hotel was eventually built on the property a decade later under a different developer in conjunction with an eight-story apartment building.[26]

In its first decade in operation, the Lynnwood Convention Center hosted over 3,900 events and a total attendance of 753,000 people. An estimated $24.8 million in economic impact was generated by the convention center in 2014.[19][27] The facility was renamed the Lynnwood Event Center in 2022 as part of plans to develop an entertainment district in the surrounding area.[28]

Facilities

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The Lynnwood Event Center is located on 196th Street Southwest, a block west of Interstate 5 in central Lynnwood. It is southwest of the Alderwood Mall, and within the city's planned city center.[18]

The convention center has a total floor space of 53,985 square feet (5,015.4 m2), and a grand hall that can accommodate 1,200 people.[27][29] The facility has been managed by Oak View Group since 2022.[30]

References

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  1. ^ Sheets, Bill (April 24, 2005). "Lynnwood has a heart". The Everett Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Bergsman, Jerry (April 21, 1982). "Group to seek vote on regional center". The Seattle Times. p. G1.
  3. ^ Kuo, Keming (February 2, 1977). "Two areas vying for Northwest festival center". The Seattle Times. p. H6.
  4. ^ Kuo, Keming (February 16, 1977). "Trump card in site of festival?". The Seattle Times. p. H1.
  5. ^ Macdonald, Sally (September 10, 1980). "Backers in final push for arts complex". The Seattle Times. p. F2.
  6. ^ Bergsman, Jerry (June 9, 1982). "Dispute could delay center for arts, conventions". The Seattle Times. p. G1.
  7. ^ Bergsman, Jerry (December 15, 1982). "Arts center may get another test". The Seattle Times. p. G1.
  8. ^ Bergsman, Jerry (November 3, 1982). "Sales tax repealed; cultural arts plan stumbles". The Seattle Times. p. F1.
  9. ^ Bergsman, Jerry (May 2, 1984). "Center approval put off". The Seattle Times. p. G1.
  10. ^ Matthee, Imbert (July 17, 1985). "Arts enter split into projects". The Seattle Times. p. H1.
  11. ^ Casey, Carolyn (June 20, 1988). "Arts-center supporters consider bowing out". The Seattle Times. p. B3.
  12. ^ Zoll, Adam (May 5, 1998). "South county votes again on arts center". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
  13. ^ Brooks, Diane (May 20, 1998). "Final curtain for arts complex? South county voters again defeat bid to build center". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
  14. ^ Brunner, Jim (August 24, 1999). "Lynnwood approves PFD". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  15. ^ Burkitt, Janet (May 2, 2000). "Convention center too costly; Lynnwood officials may scale back plans". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
  16. ^ Brooks, Diane (January 26, 2002). "Lynnwood taps convention expert to help plan center". The Seattle Times. p. B4. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  17. ^ Thompson, Lynn (November 27, 2002). "Lynnwood to become host city". The Seattle Times. p. H14.
  18. ^ a b Brooks, Diane (February 16, 2005). ""All the bells and whistles" at new convention center". The Seattle Times. p. H6. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  19. ^ a b c Financial Statements Audit Report: Lynnwood Public Facilities District, Snohomish County (Report). Washington State Auditor. September 28, 2015. p. 10. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  20. ^ Brice, Pamela (March 20, 2004). "Construction to start on Lynnwood Convention Center". The Everett Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  21. ^ Brooks, Diane (December 21, 2005). "Lynnwood succeeds with new "gateway" convention center". The Seattle Times. p. H18.
  22. ^ Thompson, Lynn (July 30, 2003). "It's a convention of contention: Lynnwood complains that Everett is barging in on efforts to draw conferences". The Seattle Times. p. H12.
  23. ^ Brooks, Diane (January 30, 2008). "New hotel would boost convention-center traffic". The Seattle Times. p. H3. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  24. ^ Halpert, Oscar (May 20, 2008). "Convention Center hotel deal scrapped". The Enterprise. Lynnwood, Washington. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  25. ^ Brooks, Diane (March 5, 2008). "Snohomish County PFD projects". The Seattle Times. p. H6. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  26. ^ Davis, Jim (April 25, 2017). "$26 million hotel being built in Lynnwood's City Center". The Everett Herald. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Lynnwood Convention Center Celebrates Ten Years" (Press release). Lynnwood Public Facilities District. May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Exhibitor Online.
  28. ^ "Lynnwood Convention Center unveils new name". MyEdmondsNews.com. December 14, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  29. ^ "Lynnwood Convention Center". City of Lynnwood Tourism Division. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  30. ^ "Operator of Climate Pledge Arena chosen to oversee Lynnwood Convention Center operations". MyEdmondsNews.com. February 1, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
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