EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — New questions are emerging about a possible change in operations at the El Paso County Coliseum after local organizations said they have been hearing that the University of Texas at El Paso may be involved.

During a quarterly report at a county commissioners meeting, Tony Rodriguez, the director of communications and events for the El Paso Sports Commission, highlighted event success throughout the year and asked commissioners for a new sheet of ice for the arena to help bring more events and revenue to the coliseum.

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Rodriguez also told commissioners that several organizations had informed him that UTEP may be looking to take over operations, something he said he was never told directly.

“The last time I heard on April 13th, there was a gentleman who wouldn’t go do an interview and as we were walking outside, he pulled me aside to say, ‘Hey, listen, I’m considering talking to this person about sponsorship because it’s a big tournament that he does.’ I go, ‘Well, why are you thinking about that? Are we not helping you?’ He was, ‘No, I heard that someone told me that you guys are being taken over by UTEP so you’re not gonna be funded,’” Rodriguez said.

County commissioners said they were not aware of any plans for UTEP to take over operations.

County officials said a request for proposal, or RFP, for purchase is currently being written by the county but has not yet been published.

Emily Schmalz reports on El Paso County Coliseum

The El Paso Sports Commission has been contracted at the coliseum since 2003, and that contract is set to expire in September 2027.

Rodriguez said the Sports Commission will compete if UTEP submits a bid.

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County officials said more discussion on the issue will be on next week’s agenda.

Rodriguez said he left the meeting feeling blindsided and frustrated, questioning why the Sports Commission’s success at the coliseum may not be enough.

“The commissioners don’t know about it, or the county judge, it’s all been behind the scenes with admin and so we just didn’t put it out there because if you’re gonna go for an RFP, make it fair, but if you’re already promising it to someone, you can’t do that,” Rodriguez said.

“It’s a punch in the gut. Because you see that you’re doing everything right, and yet it’s not enough. And that’s not fair because we’re showing it, we’re proving it, it’s in the numbers,” he said.

UTEP did not respond in time for this report when contacted about the possible proposal.

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