Everett Seeks $10.6 Million to Finish Stadium Design

City council to vote on additional funding for downtown event center project.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:08pm

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A minimalist studio still life photograph featuring a collection of sleek, reflective metal and glass objects arranged in a clean, geometric composition on a solid grey background, conceptually representing the complex financial and strategic considerations behind Everett's proposed stadium project.As Everett weighs a major investment in a new downtown stadium, the city must carefully balance the financial risks and strategic planning required for such a significant civic project.Everett Today

Everett city staff are requesting an additional $10.6 million in funding from the city council to complete the design phase of a proposed downtown stadium project that would host the Everett AquaSox minor league baseball team and United Soccer League teams. The city has already spent $7.2 million on the project, known as the Outdoor Event Center, and this latest funding measure would be an interfund loan from the general fund balance that the city plans to repay through a future bond measure to finance the full stadium construction.

Why it matters

The upcoming city council vote represents a major milestone in the stadium project, which has been in development for several years. The additional design funding would allow the city to finalize plans before seeking broader approval and financing for the full construction costs, which are expected to be significant.

The details

The $10.6 million in additional funding would go towards completing the design of the Outdoor Event Center site, which is planned to host the Everett AquaSox minor league baseball team as well as men's and women's United Soccer League teams. The city has already spent $7.2 million in capital funds on the project, and this latest request would come in the form of an interfund loan from the city's general fund balance that would later be repaid through a future bond measure to finance the full stadium construction.

  • The city council is expected to vote on the $10.6 million in additional funding in the coming weeks.
  • If the funding is approved, the city plans to finalize the stadium design by July or August 2026.

The players

Everett

The city of Everett, Washington, which is proposing the downtown stadium project.

Scott Pattison

Everett's city project manager overseeing the stadium project.

Ben Franz

A consultant working with the city on the stadium project.

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What they’re saying

“This round of spending still does not signal final approval of the stadium project. That will come when a funding plan is developed and approved, likely in July or August.”

— Scott Pattison, Everett City Project Manager

What’s next

If the $10.6 million in additional design funding is approved by the city council, Everett plans to finalize the stadium design by July or August 2026 before seeking broader approval and financing for the full construction costs.

The takeaway

The Everett city council's upcoming vote on $10.6 million in additional stadium design funding represents a critical step forward for the proposed Outdoor Event Center project, which aims to bring minor league baseball and professional soccer to the city's downtown. While this latest funding would not signal final approval, it would allow the city to complete the design work needed to pursue the full construction and financing plan in the coming months.