January 5th 2025.
When Dick's Sporting Goods Park opened in 2007, there was a lot of excitement in Commerce City. The $71 million stadium, home to the Rapids, was seen as more than just a place for soccer fans to gather. People had high hopes that it would become a popular destination for all kinds of visitors.
However, all these years later, those hopes are still unfulfilled and the people of Commerce City are left wondering when their city will see some change. Dave Wegner, the president of the Centennial 38 supporters club for the Major League Soccer team, is not against Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), the global company that owns the Rapids. He acknowledges that they do great things, but he also believes that they run their sports business like a regular business, while other organizations prioritize the sports aspect.
The Rapids are just one of many sports properties owned by KSE, which is owned by billionaire Stan Kroenke. The company also owns the Los Angeles Rams, London's Arsenal soccer club, and the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Colorado Mammoth. KSE signed a 25-year lease with Commerce City for the stadium and surrounding fields, in exchange for financing, building, and managing them. The original plan included housing, shops, restaurants, bars, and office space in a development called Victory Crossing. However, this development has yet to materialize, leaving the area around the stadium largely unused.
Craig Kim, an at-large member of the Commerce City council, expressed his disappointment in the lack of progress around Dick's Sporting Goods Park. He feels that the city is at the mercy of Kroenke and his company. This inactivity is especially striking when compared to the other sports properties owned by KSE. For example, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, opened in September 2020 and Arsenal is considering expanding their stadium's capacity. KSE has also announced a 25-year redevelopment project for the area around Ball Arena, home to the Nuggets, Avalanche, and Mammoth.
Despite all these developments, Rapids fans feel that their team is not a priority for Kroenke and his company. Kim acknowledges that Kroenke has done great things for other cities, but he wonders when Commerce City will see the same level of investment that was promised 20 years ago.
In 2023, a KSE representative assured the Commerce City Council that the company still had plans for mixed-use development around the stadium. However, as of late December, no new proposals were on the table. The council is waiting for Kroenke to make the next move. According to Travis Huntington, a Commerce City spokesperson, the city is in ongoing discussions with KSE, but there is no timeline for when a new proposal may be presented.
Dick's Sporting Goods Park was built through a public-private partnership, with local voters approving a $64 million bond sale to help fund the $183 million project. KSE put in $45 million in debt and $20 million in cash towards the stadium complex. The goal was to bring a "destination vibe" to the east side of Commerce City, similar to what Coors Field did for Lower Downtown in Denver. The hope was that this would attract more visitors and generate revenue for KSE, the Rapids, and the stadium itself.
Unfortunately, the development around the stadium has not kept pace with the original plans. The nearest restaurants are over a mile away, which has led to fan groups like Centennial 38 organizing their own events, such as busing fans from Denver and hosting tailgate parties before matches. While the lack of development may be a disappointment, some fear that any new development may change the atmosphere and traditions of game days.
The frustration over the delayed development came to a head in 2023 when KSE proposed a land swap with the city. They wanted the city to give them 88.2 acres of land in exchange for 9.7 acres and an additional 6 acres from the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District. However, the city council rejected the deal, citing KSE's failure to follow through on previous promises to develop the area.
Former Commerce City Mayor Benjamin Huseman expressed his disappointment with KSE's lack of progress, stating that they could have shown good faith by following through on their promises. However, nothing has happened yet. While Huseman declined to comment further, current council member Craig Kim believes that there is no indication that Kroenke will present a new development plan in the near future.
When Dick's Sporting Goods Park opened in 2007, the excitement in Commerce City was palpable. The $71 million stadium, home to the Rapids, was meant to be more than just a soccer venue. It was envisioned as a destination for people of all interests to come and enjoy. However, over a decade later, that vision remains unfulfilled and the people of Commerce City are still waiting and wondering.
Dave Wegner, president of the Centennial 38 supporters club for the Rapids, expressed his views on the situation. While he admires the work of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), the owner of the Rapids, he believes that they prioritize their sports business as a business rather than a sports venture. This is in contrast to other organizations that run their sports business with a focus on the sport itself.
KSE, owned by billionaire Stan Kroenke, has a global presence with ownership of various sports teams and stadiums. This includes the Los Angeles Rams, London's Arsenal soccer club, and the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Colorado Mammoth. KSE signed a 25-year lease with Commerce City for $1 per year, with the responsibility of financing, building, and managing the stadium and its surrounding fields. The plans also included a mixed-use development with housing, shops, restaurants, bars, and office space. However, what was once a promising project, known as Victory Crossing, has remained a mere mock-up and has not materialized into reality.
Craig Kim, an at-large councilman in Commerce City, expressed his disappointment in the lack of progress. He believes that the city is at the mercy of Kroenke and his company, and it is a shame that they have not followed through with their promises made 20 years ago. This sentiment is shared by many Rapids fans who feel that their beloved club is not a top priority for Kroenke.
KSE representatives have assured the City Council that their vision for the property still includes mixed-use development. However, this has yet to come to fruition. With the Kroenke family owning 269 acres within the city limits, there is no shortage of motivation for them to follow through on their plans. Mike Neary, KSE's executive vice president for business operations and real estate, stated that they are continuously making progress and having meaningful conversations with the city's development team. He also mentioned that these types of developments take time, but they are committed to making it happen.
As of now, no new proposals have been presented, and the Council is waiting for Kroenke to take the next step. Despite the inactivity, Travis Huntington, a Commerce City spokesman, remains hopeful and stated that conversations are ongoing.
The birth of Dick's Sporting Goods Park was a result of a $183 million public-private partnership. The local voters approved a $64 million bond sale in 2004, while KSE invested $45 million in debt and $20 million in cash towards the stadium complex. The main objective of the project was to bring a "destination vibe" to the east side of Commerce City and attract tourism, thereby generating revenue for KSE, the Rapids, and the stadium itself.
However, the reality is far from the initial vision. The nearest restaurants are a mile away from the stadium, and fans have to take a 15-minute walk to reach them. To compensate for the lack of food and entertainment options nearby, Centennial 38 has organized bus rides from Denver and tailgate parties before matches. Wegner acknowledged that if the area around the stadium was developed, it could potentially jeopardize the unique game day experience that fans have come to love. However, he wishes that KSE would take the risk and follow through on their plans.
In 2023, KSE proposed a land swap with the city. They requested 88.2 acres in exchange for giving 9.7 acres to the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District, who would then hand over 6 acres to Commerce City. However, the City Council rejected the proposal and criticized KSE for not fulfilling their promises. Former Commerce City Mayor Benjamin Huseman expressed his disappointment, stating that the lack of progress showed a lack of commitment from KSE's side. When reached for comment, Huseman declined to speak on the matter. Councilman Kim believes that there is no indication that Kroenke will present a new development plan in the near future.
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