North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Cumberland County has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking professional design and construction administration services for the modernization of the Crown Theatre and Arena.
The RFQ, issued Oct. 13, 2025, seeks professional design and construction administration services for the project, which aims to enhance the County’s entertainment facilities and community spaces.
The project will transform the existing Crown Theatre, with its permanent stage, and the Arena’s open floor plan into a state-of-the-art complex capable of hosting concerts, performances, sporting events, and community gatherings. Planned upgrades include modernized seating, enhanced acoustics and lighting, advanced technology, improved concessions, VIP boxes, and ADA-compliant amenities.
The RFQ follows a June 4, 2025 vote by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners to discontinue the previously proposed Crown Event Center in downtown Fayetteville. Instead, the County will focus on renovating and modernizing the current Crown Theatre and Arena, building on prior feasibility studies, community input, and the Board’s guiding principles emphasizing accessibility, functionality, and fiscal responsibility.
Cumberland County encourages responses from local, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, disabled veteran-owned, and small diverse businesses, as well as firms that have not previously partnered with the County. The selected firm will provide full design, development, and construction oversight services.
Key RFQ Dates:
- Questions Due: 5 p.m., Oct. 27, 2025, via email to County Manager Clarence Grier at cg****@****************nc.gov
- Submittals Due: 3 p.m., Nov. 14, 2025 (five hard copies and one digital PDF on a flash drive)
- Interviews: Week of Dec. 8, 2025
- Selection Notification: Week of Dec. 15, 2025
The full RFQ, submission requirements, and supporting documents are available at: Cumberland County Crown Event Center Committee.