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Yesterday the El Paso Sports Commission gave its quarterly financial presentation to the County Commissioners Court, reporting $459,873 in revenue in the second fiscal quarter.
The presentation was typical and unremarkable until Tony Rodriguez, Director of Events, made an interesting comment toward the end.
He stated that four different individuals told him–including one in April–that there is a plan for UTEP to replace the El Paso Sports Commission in the management of the County Coliseum.
The nonprofit Sports Commission has managed the facility for nearly 23 years, bringing in a variety of big-ticket events while also accommodating local schools and professional sports teams.
COMMISSIONERS COURT LEFT IN THE DARK
After his remarks, the County Judge and Commissioners stared at Rodriguez in stunned silence, as they had no idea what he was talking about. Last year there had been a single casual mention that UTEP might be interested in the Coliseum, but that was it.
In reply, Samaniego exclaimed “It’s never come through the Commissioners Court!” That’s right. The Commissioners Court never voted to direct staff to negotiate with the university.
Betsy Keller, the Chief Administrator of the County, was the only one who seemed to be in the know and it was obvious she had communicated with UTEP officials.
She confirmed that a RFP is in the works and that the County will be soliciting bids to manage the Coliseum once the Sports Commission’s contract expires at the end of next fiscal year, September 30, 2027.
She hastened to add that the bidding process will be open to all parties, including the El Paso Sports Commission, and so UTEP has not been selected.
However, the optics were poor and there were several embarrassed faces in the room.
We asked Keller if she had been negotiating to have UTEP replace the Sports Commission in the management of the Coliseum and without the knowledge of the Commissioners Court, but we did not receive a reply.
$12M FOR COLISEUM INFRASTRUCTURE, SECOND SHEET OF ICE AND FIELD HOUSE TO BE BUILT
At then end of the presentation, Cory Herman, founder of the El Paso Hockey Association and owner of the Rhinos, announced plans to add a second sheet of ice to the Coliseum for hockey and competition skating, and then build an indoor field house for lacrosse, volleyball, and other sports.
This morning the Sports Commission announced they “have joined with the El Paso Rhinos to give a huge improvement in the quality of life for everyone.” Not only will there be a second sheet of ice, but 12 million dollars will be injected “into the infrastructure of the Coliseum without using property taxes.”
The statement indicates there will only be a deal if the Sports Commission is retained as the manager of the Coliseum.
We expect the RFP to be released within two or three weeks and will continue to follow this story.
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