Colorado Eagles owner considers move from Loveland to Greeley

Colorado Eagles owner and developer Martin Lind is exploring the idea of moving his hockey franchise to Greeley and building a new arena and ice center that would be part of a larger transit-oriented development featuring retail, a water park hotel and housing.

Greeley City Council voted Tuesday to sign a memorandum of understanding with Lind's Water Valley Company to jointly explore the "viability, feasibility and public benefit" of a public-private partnership on what has been dubbed the West Side Project.

The development would be located generally west of the Promontory development at U.S. Highway 34 near U.S. Highway 257 and within Greeley's growth management area, according to the memorandum of understanding.

Lind said he didn't have more specifics.

The Greeley development would be a departure from Lind's efforts to build some of the same amenities at Larimer County's fairgrounds and events complex, The Ranch, which includes Blue Arena, where the Eagles have played since their inception in 2003. The Loveland arena is owned by Larimer County.

The county has been pursuing upgrades to and expansion of the complex as part of its master plan. Late last year, it asked for bids to build a new event arena and youth hockey facilities, including the possibility of an additional mixed-use development on about 15 acres.

A new arena and hockey center in Larimer County would be paid for using money from the county's 0.15% sales and use tax specifically for improvements to the events complex.

At the time, Lind told the Coloradoan that his company submitted proposals and was interested in building a luxury hotel, indoor waterpark, restaurants and possibly a Topgolf on that land . The Coloradoan reported that the Eagles and Northern Colorado Youth Hockey League had signed letters of interest to operate from the new arena.

When asked Monday whether he was still pursing any development in Larimer County, Lind said: "We have promised our loyal fans and our youth hockey community something magnificent for far too long. We are sincere about exhausting efforts to get them what they deserve."

When asked if he is encountering roadblocks or problems in Larimer County, Lind said he had no comment.

The Coloradoan reached out to Larimer County officials but has not heard back.

The memorandum of understanding with Greeley describes the West Side Project as a mixed-use, transit-oriented, entertainment district that would include an 8,600-seat arena and ice center with three sheets of ice; a transit center/multimodal hub with connections to local, intercity and national bus service; retail; lodging that would include a water park hotel; and mixed-income and affordable housing.

"The West Side Project is intended to be a catalyst for development on the west side of the city that will provide significant social and economic benefits to the city and its residents, including job creation, public transportation options and increased tax revenue," the document says.

Water Valley is also working to have the Northern Colorado Youth Hockey program move to a Greeley ice center, according to the memorandum of understanding.

The document says the city of Greeley will conduct evaluate public financing tools that could be used, such as tax rebate agreements, tax increment financing, direct contributions, bond issuances, and public improvement fees and related credits, or creating new entities, like a general improvement district, metropolitan district, regional transportation authorities, or nonprofit.

Greeley will conduct a economic impact study and evaluate options for purchasing or compensating The Water Valley Company for acquiring the arena site.

If both parties agree to proceed, then negotiations on a public-private partnership would begin, according to memorandum.

Lind, through his company, developed the Windsor communities of RainDance, which includes RainDance National Resort & Golf, and Water Valley, which includes Pelican Lakes Resort & Golf. He also owns Discovery Air aviation campus at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado Eagles owner considers move from Loveland to Greeley