EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 With the deadline arriving on Thursday, groups interested in taking over management of the County Coliseum are submitting bids that could reshape the future of the venue.<\/p>\n
The El Paso Sports Commission has managed the Coliseum since 2003, but El Paso County has opened a competitive bidding process to give other potential operators the chance to propose their plans.<\/p>\n
RELATED: El Paso County seeks proposals for management, operation of county-owned Coliseum<\/a><\/p>\n During a tour for potential bidders, El Paso Sports Commission Communications Director Tony Rodriguez said the commission has been working with the county to meet its goals. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen I got here in 2022, they asked for more combative sports. That was part of their strategic planning. And so that\u2019s what we did,\u201d Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, county commissioners approved the competitive bidding process. <\/p>\n Potential operators were then given the opportunity to tour the Coliseum. <\/p>\n Six interested groups attended, including the Sports Commission, UTEP, and attorney and former Sports Commission CEO Brian Kennedy.<\/p>\n Kennedy said his interest in bidding is not driven by concerns about current operations. <\/p>\n \u201cI’m not bidding because I think that there’s something wrong. I’m bidding because I think I have an idea that may not have been approached before,\u201d Kennedy said.<\/p>\n After bids are submitted today, the county will review proposals before deciding who will manage the Coliseum going forward. <\/p>\n The current contract with the El Paso Sports Commission runs until September next year.<\/p>\n RELATED: Six bidders, including UTEP and Sports Commission, tour Coliseum ahead of June 25 bids<\/a><\/p>\n