What happened April 29: Everett City Council approved a $10.6 million package to complete the design of the Everett Outdoor Event Center — the planned downtown home of the AquaSox and two USL soccer teams. The vote authorizes finishing the blueprints. It does not authorize construction. The total project still exceeds $120 million and no construction funding has been committed.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Everett City Council voted to approve $10.6 million in design funding for the Everett Outdoor Event Center. The vote moves the project from preliminary design to completed design — a necessary step before the city can make any decision about whether and how to build the facility. Here is the complete guide to what was actually authorized, what it costs, and what has not been decided.

The Two Components of the $10.6 Million

The April 29 package had two distinct parts, both approved at the council meeting at 3002 Wetmore Ave.:

$4.8 million in contract amendments with four design contractors already engaged on the project. These amendments authorize the additional design work needed to complete the full design package for the Everett Outdoor Event Center — covering architectural drawings, engineering, site planning, environmental review, and the technical documentation required before construction can begin.

$7.4 million state grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce, directed to the stadium design budget. This grant offsets a significant portion of the expanded design costs.

The $4.8 million in contractor amendments is funded through an interfund loan from the city’s general fund balance — a borrowing mechanism from city reserves that must be repaid. The $7.4 million is grant funding that does not need to be repaid.

What Design Funding Actually Means

The distinction between design funding and construction funding matters. Design covers the complete package of documents — architectural drawings, structural engineering, utility coordination, environmental review, and permit-ready specifications — that defines exactly what will be built and what it will cost to build it. You cannot break ground without this package.

Wednesday’s vote pays for finishing that package. The council is not yet deciding whether to build the stadium. That is a separate decision that comes after design is complete.

Why $10.6 Million More Was Needed

The original design contract did not include the full scope required to get the project to a build-ready state. As the design process progressed, scope expanded — particularly around the complexity of the downtown site, utility infrastructure, and the multi-use programming requirements of a venue serving baseball, soccer, and community events. The city applied for and received the $7.4 million Commerce grant specifically to offset these expanded costs.

What the Stadium Is Designed to Be

The Everett Outdoor Event Center is designed as a multi-use downtown venue with 5,000 seats and full ADA accessibility throughout. A premium club can seat 200 fans with 400 standing on a covered deck. The facility would serve as the home ballpark for the Everett AquaSox — the Seattle Mariners’ Single-A affiliate that has played at Funko Field (Everett Memorial Stadium) since 1984. The venue is also designed to host two new Everett teams in the United Soccer League, a professional league expanding across the Pacific Northwest.

Public park amenities are part of the design, positioning the site as a community asset on non-game days. The city has been targeting a Fall or Winter 2027 completion — timed to open before the AquaSox 2027 season.

The Budget Context

The total estimated project cost exceeds $120 million. Wednesday’s $10.6 million brings additional design funding into the project but leaves the bulk of capital financing — more than $100 million — still to be determined. The city has received $17 million in team commitments from the AquaSox and USL partners, but the major construction funding sources have not been publicly committed.

The vote lands against the backdrop of Everett’s projected $14 million 2027 budget gap. The interfund loan structure means the $4.8 million in contractor amendments is borrowed from general fund reserves — money that must be returned. Council previously explained this mechanism in detail before Wednesday’s vote.

What Has Not Been Decided

Wednesday’s vote does not authorize construction. It does not determine how the remaining $110 million-plus in construction costs will be financed. It does not commit to a specific groundbreaking date. It does not resolve the debate over whether downtown Everett can absorb the long-term financial obligations of a $120 million public venue while simultaneously managing a $14 million structural budget gap.

Those are subsequent decisions. The council has approved finishing the design package. The harder decisions come after the blueprints are done.

For the full pre-vote background on the interfund loan mechanism and how it works: The complete guide to Everett’s $10.6M stadium interfund loan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Everett City Council approve on April 29, 2026?

The council approved a $10.6 million package to complete the design of the Everett Outdoor Event Center. The package included $4.8 million in contract amendments with four design contractors (funded through an interfund loan from the general fund) and acceptance of a $7.4 million state Department of Commerce grant.

Does the April 29 vote authorize building the stadium?

No. The vote authorizes completing the design package — architectural drawings, engineering, environmental review, and permit-ready specifications. Construction authorization is a separate decision that has not been made. The total project cost exceeds $120 million and construction financing has not been committed.

What is an interfund loan?

An interfund loan is a borrowing from the city’s own general fund balance — its reserves — to cover a project cost. Unlike a bond, it does not involve outside borrowing, but it does reduce the general fund balance and must be repaid, reducing future flexibility.

When is the Everett Outdoor Event Center expected to open?

The city has been targeting Fall or Winter 2027, timed to open before the AquaSox 2027 season. That timeline depends on construction authorization and funding being secured after design is complete.

What teams would play at the new stadium?

The Everett AquaSox — the Seattle Mariners’ Single-A affiliate that has played in Everett since 1984 — and two new Everett teams in the United Soccer League (USL). The venue is also designed for concerts, festivals, and community events.

How does the stadium vote connect to Everett’s budget gap?

Everett faces a projected $14 million structural budget gap heading into 2027. The $4.8 million in contractor amendments is funded via an interfund loan from the general fund balance — reserve money that must be repaid. The city is managing both the stadium design costs and the broader fiscal challenge simultaneously.

What happens next after the design is complete?

Once the design package is finished, the council must decide whether to authorize construction, how to finance the $110 million-plus remaining cost, and on what timeline. That decision has not been made.

What did Everett City Council approve on April 29? The council approved a $10.6 million package to complete the design of the Everett Outdoor Event Center — the future home of the AquaSox and two USL soccer teams. The package includes $4.8 million in contract amendments with four design contractors and acceptance of a $7.4 million state Department of Commerce grant.

What the Council Approved

Everett’s City Council cleared the next major hurdle in the downtown stadium project on Wednesday, voting to approve $10.6 million in design funding for the Everett Outdoor Event Center — a vote that green-lights the final design phase but stops well short of breaking ground.

The $10.6 million package had two components, both approved at the April 29 council meeting at 3002 Wetmore Ave.:

$4.8 million in contract amendments with four design contractors already engaged in the project. These amendments authorize additional design work needed to complete the full design package for the Everett Outdoor Event Center.

Acceptance of a $7.4 million state grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce directed toward the stadium project.

Together, the two actions bring an additional $10.6 million into the stadium design budget. The $4.8 million in contractor amendments is funded through an interfund loan from the city’s general fund balance — a mechanism the council previously established and explained in detail before Wednesday’s vote.

What “Design Funding” Actually Means

The $10.6 million funds the completion of the design for the Everett Outdoor Event Center. Design work covers architectural drawings, engineering, site planning, environmental review, and the technical documentation required before construction can begin. It does not fund construction itself.

The total estimated project cost exceeds $120 million. Wednesday’s vote moves the project from preliminary design to completed design — a necessary step before the city can make any further decision about whether and how to build.

Think of it this way: the city is now paying to finish the blueprints. Whether to build what the blueprints describe is a separate decision that comes later.

What the Stadium Is Supposed to Be

The Everett Outdoor Event Center is planned as a multi-use sports and events venue in downtown Everett. It would serve as the home ballpark for the Everett AquaSox, the Seattle Mariners’ Single-A affiliate that has played at Funko Field (formerly Everett Memorial Stadium) since 1984.

The facility is also designed to host two new Everett teams in the professional United Soccer League (USL), which has been expanding in the Pacific Northwest. Public park amenities are part of the design, positioning the site as a community asset beyond game days.

Why $10.6 Million More Was Needed

The original design contract did not include the full scope required to get the project to a build-ready state. As the design process progressed, the scope of work expanded — particularly around the complexity of the downtown site, utility considerations, and the multi-use programming requirements of a venue serving baseball, soccer, and community events.

The city sought and received the $7.4 million state Commerce grant specifically to offset the expanded design costs. This is not unusual for large public construction projects, where design costs frequently increase as the project becomes more technically defined.

The project has faced scrutiny over its cost trajectory. The total price tag of $120 million-plus is significantly above earlier estimates, and the city is simultaneously managing a projected $14 million budget gap heading into 2027. The interfund loan structure means the stadium design costs are borrowing from the general fund balance — money that will need to be repaid.

What Hasn’t Been Decided Yet

Wednesday’s vote authorizes completing the design. It does not authorize construction, determine how the remaining $110+ million in construction costs will be funded, or commit the city to building the stadium.

The next major decision point comes when the completed design and a full project budget are presented to the council for a construction vote. That vote — substantially larger in scope — has not been scheduled.

Mayor Franklin’s administration has argued that completing the design is a prerequisite to any serious conversation about how to fund and structure the full project. Without a completed design, there’s no firm cost basis and no project to bid.

What AquaSox and USL Have at Stake

City officials have stated publicly that without a new stadium, the AquaSox’s long-term future in Everett is uncertain. Minor League Baseball has been consolidating franchises and upgrading stadium standards nationally, and aging facilities have been a factor in franchise relocations in other markets.

For USL, the new stadium would anchor professional soccer in a region that has seen significant growth in the sport. A purpose-built configuration — not a converted baseball park — is part of what makes the site viable for USL play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the council vote to build the stadium? No. The April 29 vote authorized completing the design. A separate construction vote is required before any building begins.

Where does the $4.8 million come from? It comes from the city’s general fund balance through an interfund loan — essentially, the city lending itself money from its reserves. The loan is expected to be repaid from future stadium-related revenues or other sources.

What is the $7.4 million state grant for? The Washington State Department of Commerce grant is directed toward the stadium design project. Accepting it was part of the April 29 vote package.

How much will the whole stadium cost? Total estimated project costs exceed $120 million. How that will be funded — through public bonds, grants, private contributions, or a combination — has not been finalized.

When would the stadium open? No construction timeline has been established. That depends on when and how the construction funding is resolved and a construction vote passes.

What to Do Next

• Follow the project: Search “Outdoor Event Center” on everettwa.gov for updates as design progresses.
• Attend council meetings: Regular council meetings are Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. at 3002 Wetmore Ave. Meetings are streamed on the city’s YouTube channel.
• Track the budget: The city’s 2026 budget page and future 2027 planning documents will reflect how the interfund loan is managed.
• View the full agenda: All council meeting agendas are posted in advance at everettwa.gov/agendacenter.