FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Cumberland County is taking a deeper look at the future of the Crown Arena and Crown Theatre after a detailed examination uncovered additional structural and building-system work that could significantly increase the cost of renovating the nearly 60-year-old venues.
The Arena and Theatre have been closed indefinitely while county officials evaluate the findings and determine how to move forward. The closure affects nearly two dozen scheduled shows and events, including upcoming performances by Zach Williams and comedian Daniel Tosh. Crown management is working with promoters to determine whether affected events can be relocated, rescheduled or otherwise accommodated.
The Crown Coliseum, Expo Center and Ballroom are separate facilities and remain open.
The latest findings came through the county’s current Crown modernization project. SfL+a Architects is serving as architect, while Turner & Townsend Heery is the county’s owner’s representative and project manager.
The broader design team has used a full 3D scan and specialists to examine structural conditions, accessibility, building codes, mechanical and electrical systems, theatre systems, acoustics, technology and hazardous materials.
More Work Found Inside the Arena and Theatre
At the Crown Theatre, the examination found that exterior walls, the balcony and the proscenium and structural support surrounding the stage require reconstruction. Accessibility improvements are also needed, along with upgrades or replacement of aging building systems.
At the Crown Arena, the concrete concourse slab needs to be rebuilt and the roof structure requires reinforcement. Demolition associated with the project could also trigger additional requirements under current building codes.
Both buildings have aging HVAC, plumbing, electrical and fire-protection systems requiring attention. Construction could also disturb asbestos and lead-containing materials, adding abatement work to the project.
The county had been working with an estimated $80 million to $100 million range for substantial modernization of the Arena and Theatre. The additional work identified during the latest examination is expected to push a more extensive renovation beyond that range, although a revised total has not yet been established.
The findings do not mean Cumberland County has determined that the Arena and Theatre cannot be renovated. Renovation remains possible, but the new information gives commissioners a more complete picture of how extensive and expensive that work could become.
Earlier Crown Options Reached Nearly $200 Million
The current examination is different from the work completed by Raleigh-based Davis Kane Architects during the county’s 2025 review of alternatives for the Crown.
Davis Kane developed five concepts involving renovation, modernization, expansion or replacement of portions of the Arena and Theatre.
The least expensive concept was estimated at $96.5 million and included renovation of the approximately 2,400-seat Theatre and Arena.
A more extensive Theatre modernization combined with Arena renovation was estimated at $132.9 million. Expanding and modernizing the Theatre to approximately 3,000 seats while renovating the Arena was estimated at $163.7 million.
Two concepts involving construction of a new 3,000-seat Theatre and renovation of the Arena were estimated at $192.3 million and $190.3 million.
The existing Arena can accommodate roughly 4,500 people, while the Theatre has 2,440 seats. The two are separate event spaces.
Davis Kane’s work provided alternatives and cost comparisons. It was not the detailed assessment that recently uncovered the additional structural conditions and led to the closures. That newer work is being conducted through the current SfL+a and Turner & Townsend Heery project team.
From a New Downtown Venue Back to the Crown
The latest developments come after Cumberland County discontinued plans for a new Crown Event Center in Downtown Fayetteville in 2025.
The downtown project was separate from the current Crown modernization effort and had a different project team. EwingCole was the architect, MBP Carolinas served as the county’s owner’s representative and T.A. Loving/Metcon was the construction manager at risk.
The final downtown concept called for an approximately 134,000-square-foot multipurpose venue with nearly 3,000 seats, retractable seating, meeting and event space, concessions, backstage areas and VIP spaces. It was intended to replace functions currently provided by the Arena and Theatre.
The county initially established an $82.5 million capital project budget for the Event Center. As planning progressed and the project grew, the budget increased to approximately $132 million before an updated estimate reached $163.5 million.
The county ordered a redesign to reduce the project’s size and cost and ultimately moved forward with a roughly $145 million version.
Groundbreaking was held in October 2024, but construction was paused in March 2025 while the county reviewed costs, contracts, parking and the overall direction of the project. By June 2025, completing the downtown Event Center was estimated to cost nearly $152 million.
Cumberland County discontinued the project that month.
Parking had also been a major consideration. The Event Center was planned for the former courthouse parking lot, requiring the county to address both the parking spaces displaced by construction and the additional parking needed for thousands of eventgoers.
Nearly $20 Million Was Ultimately Spent
When the project was discontinued, approximately $36 million had been spent or contractually committed.
A later accounting found that $16.4 million in obligations were canceled or recovered, leaving approximately $19.6 million actually spent.
Nearly $1.9 million was categorized as site-ready investment, including land, surveys, engineering, utilities and related improvements that could potentially remain useful for another development on the downtown property.
Another $17.9 million was identified as project-specific sunk costs that could not be recovered, including design, construction and professional services connected to the discontinued Event Center.
The project also resulted in a legal dispute between Cumberland County and EwingCole.
The architecture firm was initially hired for approximately $6.4 million plus reimbursable expenses. As the Event Center changed and expanded, its approved architectural contract grew to approximately $8.4 million.
A dispute later developed over additional design work and payments. EwingCole sued Cumberland County over unpaid invoices, while the county disputed portions of the charges and filed counterclaims.
The case ended in June 2026 with a $650,000 settlement, with neither side admitting fault.
What Happens to the Crown Now?
Attention has now returned to the Crown Arena and Theatre, which opened in 1967 — the same aging facilities the downtown Event Center was intended to replace.
The current examination is giving Cumberland County a more detailed look at the condition of those buildings before commissioners commit to a long-term modernization plan.
Renovation remains an option. However, with major structural reconstruction and building-system improvements now identified, the cost could become high enough for the county to also consider whether replacement facilities would provide better long-term value and a longer useful life.
Broadly, the county could continue toward repairing and modernizing the existing Arena and Theatre, consider replacement facilities at the current Crown Complex, or reassess the overall plan after the latest analysis and cost estimates are completed.
The decision could ultimately determine not only the future of the Arena and Theatre, but also the larger role of the Crown Complex and surrounding area in Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s entertainment and economic development plans.
For now, the Arena and Theatre remain closed as the county works to determine how much the necessary work will cost and what path makes the most sense for facilities that have served the community for nearly six decades.
Kres Thomas, FayToday News
kresthomas@faytoday.com
