With a ceremonial turning of dirt shovels, Cumberland County officially launched construction of the Crown Event Center downtown at 2 p.m., Oct. 25.
The $145 million project is being built on the County Courthouse parking lot on Gillespie Street between the old county courthouse and the current county courthouse. It’s scheduled to open in spring 2027.
Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Glenn Adams addressed attendees at Friday’s groundbreaking, referencing the milestone in construction of the downtown venue.
“This facility will not only enhance our community’s cultural landscape but also serve as a catalyst for economic growth in Cumberland County,” Adams said. “We are proud to move forward with a project that reflects the aspirations of our community and positions Cumberland County as a regional leader in the arts and entertainment sector.”
The Event Center is to replace the Crown Arena and Crown Theatre at the Crown Complex on Coliseum Drive off U.S. 301 South and Owen Drive.
The Arena and the Theatre were built in the late 1960s. A county news release says the Event Center is intended to be a multipurpose center for concerts and performances, banquets and conventions, and other activities.
The Event Center will have about 134,000 square feet, with a three-story main event hall for audiences of about 3,000, the news release says, and plans call for a rooftop terrace.
“Equipped with state-of-the-art back-of-house facilities and performer spaces, the center is designed to provide an exceptional experience that will keep both patrons and artists coming back to Cumberland County,” the news release says. “Additionally, there will be several meeting spaces available for use either independently or in conjunction with the other areas in the building.”
The Event Center is being paid for with revenue from Cumberland County’s restaurant food sales tax. Also called a prepared food-and-beverage tax, the county began levying this 1% tax on prepared food and beverages in the 1990s to pay for construction of the Crown Coliseum.
The Event Center has been years in the making, since the county was sued in 2014 under the Americans With Disabilities Act by a woman who used a wheelchair. She said she struggled with getting through doors, reaching her seat, using restrooms and otherwise attending events at the Crown Complex.
The Crown Complex includes the Crown Coliseum, the Crown Expo Center, the Crown Arena, the Crown Ballroom and the Crown Theatre.
To settle the lawsuit, the county commissioners in December 2015 promised to make all the facilities ADA-compliant.
The county made upgrades to the Coliseum, Ballroom and Expo Center to make them more accessible to people with handicaps and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These venues will continue to operate. The commissioners decided to replace the 1960s-era Arena and Theatre with the Event Center with a modern facility.
At the Oct. 25 groundbreaking ceremony, Cumberland County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe said the venue would provide an important space for actors, musicians and other artists in the area.
“This facility is not just about meeting today’s needs; it’s about anticipating the future as Cumberland County continues to grow,” Keefe said.
Parking lot being erased
With construction of the Event Center, the parking lot in front of the courthouse is shut down. It has been a go-to parking lot — with no charge for parking — for people who visit the courthouse and other nearby county offices, and who patronize downtown businesses and events. The parking lot is to be replaced with a $33 million parking deck that is due to open in spring 2026.
In the meantime, visitors with business at the county courthouse are advised to park at several other parking lots in the vicinity.

(Photo: Cumberland County officially launched construction of the Crown Event Center on Oct. 25. Photo courtesy of Cumberland County)