Regional Sports Complex

 BACKGROUND

As a response to research intended to gauge the quality of life and potential growth of the Wenatchee Valley, Our Valley Our Future released a five-year (2022–2026) Action Plan, which recommends building a Regional Water Park and Indoor/Outdoor Aquatics Facility. 

In September of 2022, months after Our Valley Our Future released its Action Plan, stakeholders – including city officials, county commissioners, port commissioners, and chamber representatives – held their first meeting to discuss collaborating on the project. Stakeholders arrived at two conclusions:

  1. The project should not solely be based on an aquatics center but rather a regional sports facility.

  2. A Steering Committee is needed to facilitate and lead a feasibility study to determine viability and define what a regional sports complex would include. 

If the study finds the project feasible, the data will inform the planning, development, and execution of the project. Once it has been determined if building a Regional Sports Complex would be economically beneficial to the Valley and not compete with current facilities, citizens will have the opportunity to vote on whether the project will commence and how it will be funded.


STEERING COMMITTEE

Members

Meetings

All meetings will be open public meetings.

How Can I Be Involved

Here are ways to stay connected and involved in this exciting process:

  • Email Stacie@cdrpa.org to be added to the meeting notification list

  • Email Stacie@cdrpa.org if you and/or your sports group/facility would like to be part of future focus groups

  • Check this website often for updates


FEASIBILITY STUDY

Consultant Selection

On January 26, 2023 the CDRPA issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from consultants or teams of consultants to conduct a Regional Sports Complex Feasibility Study. 

The study will consist of an existing conditions/facility survey, demographic/market analysis, public input, regional and local facility comparison, facility options (including programming and capital costs), site analysis, estimates of financial performance, economic impact, and funding options.  The study area includes all of Chelan and Douglas counties which has a total population of 124,000 people.

On February 23, 2023 the following seven Statements of Qualifications were received:

On February 28, 2023 a sub-committee consisting of Commissioner Overbay, Commissioner Struab, and Mr. Betancourt evaluated the SOQs on the following criteria:

  • Qualifications of key personnel including sub-consultants on both sports complexes and aquatic facilities

  • Community involvement approach

  • Demonstrated staffing and resource capacity to meet timeline

  • Experience completing studies of comparable scope, budget, and complexity

  • Clarity of proposal

  • Discretionary

The following three firms were shortlisted and are moving on to provide a presentation to and be interviewed by the Steering Committee on March 15, 2023: 

  • BerryDunn

  • Hunden Strategic Partners

  • Johnson Consulting

On March 15, 2023 the following presentations were given to the consultant selection sub-committee:

The consultant selection sub-committee met on March 22, 2023 and selected Berry Dunn. A contract was executed on April 17, 2023.


Potential Funding Source of Complex

One aspect of the Sports Complex Feasibility Study will look at options for funding sources. A potential option is a voter-approved two tenths of 1% (0.2%) sales tax increase via an additional public facilities district (PFD).

Below is an estimate of what the potential annual revenue streams would be based on locations.


Media Coverage