Lubbock County Commissioners on Monday approved a November 6 ballot item in which voters could give the final OK to a new Lubbock County Expo Center.
If approved, the Lubbock County Expo Center (LCEC) would in some ways replace the Lubbock Coliseum, which is slated for demolition in 2019. It would have a dirt floor, and promoters emphasized that it would not compete against the soon-to-be completed Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences.
“We’re way behind, to be honest with you,” said Randy Jordan, chairman for the steering board. “We let others get ahead of us, and now we are playing the catch-up game.”
Other cities such as Amarillo, Odessa and College Station have their own expo centers, and Jordan believes Lubbock should be no exception. He said it would help the city in the long run.
“Anything that we can do to help create a venue that will in turn create money is good for the county,” said Jordan. “Money that is spent here is money that will come back to us all.”
The plan is to pay for the LCEC with a hotel/motel tax. Final say would be up to Lubbock County voters.
