Cal Ripken Jr.? Dale Davis? Here are people behind the companies interested in Grand Park
The majority of the companies that expressed interest to Westfield about purchasing or operating Grand Park have a focus in sports and entertainment.
At least three of them have connections to former professional athletes in the NBA and the MLB.
Eighteen companies told Westfield earlier this year they planned to submit a bid to either purchase or enter a public-private partnership to operate the 400-acre sports campus. Nearly all of the companies made the April 1 deadline to inform the city of their intent. Only Eastern Sports Management missed the cut off.
The companies that made the deadline have until June 22 to submit their bids to the Westfield Redevelopment Commission. A committee will review the bids and an anticipated decision is expected mid-July, according to a provided timeline.
Grand Park: 18 companies are interested in purchasing or operating Grand Park in Westfield
Westfield: City was fastest growing community in Indiana in 2021, IU analysis finds
IndyStar called and emailed all 17 companies to ask about their interest in Grand Park and what they would do if selected at the end of Westfield's process. Six of the companies responded.
The business interests of the organizations could indicate that sports will continue to be part of Grand Park’s future, even if Westfield no longer operates it.
"The city has done a really, really good job and did exactly what it was supposed to do in creating an economic driver not only for Westfield, but for the region," said Andy Card, owner and operator of Card & Associates and the Pacers Athletic Center, which is seeking to purchase Grand Park.
"It's my opinion ... the city's kind of brought it as far as it can go and now it's time for a private operator to take Grand Park to the next step and the next level that it can be."
The $49 million Grand Park Sports Campus opened in 2014. It includes 31 soccer fields, 26 baseball diamonds and other facilities. A $26 million indoor event center opened in 2016.
Here are more details on the companies that could submit bids for Grand Park.
Academy E
Where it’s based: Indianapolis
When it formed: September 2021
According to state corporation data, the registered agent of the Academy E is Tadd M Miller, who is the CEO of Milhaus, an Indianapolis-based development company. Milhaus’s website describes the company as a “mixed-use development, construction, and property management company.”
Academy E and the town of Whitestown are building a nearly 200,000 square foot sports facility as part of a multi-use project, Rob Laycock, president of the Academy E, wrote in March to Westfield director of enterprise development John Rogers. The residential part of the project would be developed by Milhaus, Laycock wrote.
Laycock declined to comment to IndyStar on the Academy E's interest in Grand Park.
Ambassador Enterprises
Where it’s based: Fort Wayne
When it formed: May 2006
Ambassador Enterprises is a private equity firm, which “actively seeks to buy companies, greenfield opportunities, and to partner with other like-minded leaders,” according to its website.
Sherry Grate, the former superintendent of Westfield Washington Schools, serves on the firm’s staff as the vice president of strategic initiatives.
"We believe in Grand Park and its impact on the Westfield community, local businesses, the central Indiana region, and the millions of people who visit the campus every year," a statement provided to IndyStar states. "It's a tremendous asset for Westfield and the area, and we want to keep ownership in Indiana."
Anytown USA
Where it’s based: Illinois
When it formed: February 2018
Anytown USA is a real estate development company centered on the youth sports industry, according to the LinkedIn page for Lou Tenore the company’s founder and CEO.
The company is interested in purchasing Grand Park, spokesman Jim Isch told IndyStar.
"It's our intention to operate it as an independent community sports asset. The only difference we would be from what it currently is is our plan is to invest money and to make it even a more premier sports asset in the U.S.," Isch said.
Anytown wants to build on what Westfield has done with the property, Isch said.
"We don't want to build a bunch of houses on that land," he said. "We want to take this sports facility and make it even better."
Bullpen Ventures
Where it’s based: Westfield
When it formed: August 2017
Bullpen Ventures' letter of intent submitted to Westfield is signed by owner and manager Ken Kocher.
Kocher is a member of Bullpen Tournaments, LLC, which runs the baseball operations at Grand Park. Bullpen Tournaments has previously been the subject of scrutiny in Westfield City Council discussions about Grand Park. The company was cited in a 2020 State Board of Accounts report that said Westfield did not properly approve or follow agreements with Bullpen Tournaments.
According to state corporation data, the vice president of Bullpen Ventures is Matt Saba, who serves as the director of operations and finance at Pro X Athlete Development. The president of Pro X Athlete is former major league baseball player Joe Thatcher, the nephew of Westfield Mayor Andy Cook.
Kocher did not respond to requests for comment from IndyStar.
Card & Associates
Where it’s based: Westfield
When it formed: June 2016
Card & Associates Athletic Facilities operates the Pacers Athletic Center at Grand Park and was one of the first private developers to come to the sports campus.
The company is planning a 270,000 square-foot field house it will operate in Lebanon.
Owner Andy Card said he has interest in purchasing the campus and continuing "the legacy."
"How I intend on doing that is by leveraging the relationships that we've created over the last 10, 11 years at the Pacers Athletic Center," Card said.
"In my opinion, the best chance for Grand Park to be all it can be? It needs to be a local owner that understands and has been here and just understands the continued potential of this facility and these grounds."
Confidential client of Cushman & Wakefield
Where it's based: Unknown
When it formed: Unknown
An Indianapolis-based director of real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield told Westfield in an email that a "confidential client" intends to bid on Grand Park.
IndyStar contacted the firm for additional details but received no response.
Indiana Metro Utility Supply and Technology
Where it’s based: Indianapolis
When it formed: September 2016
In an email, attorney Octavia Florence Snulligan wrote that Indiana Metro Utility Supply and Technology intends to bid on the Grand Park RFP “with several other partners.”
According to state corporation data, the CEO of the company is Gawen “Bonzi” Wells, who played basketball at Ball State and professionally in the NBA.
Snulligan did not respond to requests for comment from IndyStar.
Indy Sports and Entertainment
Where it’s based: Indianapolis
When it formed: October 2012
Emails between Westfield's director of enterprise development and Greg Stremlaw, president and CEO of the Indy Eleven soccer team, indicate that a new entity that is not Indy Sports and Entertainment will submit a bid on Westfield’s request for proposals.
A new entity of the development company the Keystone Group and “others” might partner on submitting a bid on Grand Park, according to Stremlaw’s emails.
Ersal Ozdemir, is the founder and chairman of Indy Eleven and the Keystone Group. The soccer team’s official north training center is Grand Park.
Stremlaw did not respond to requests for comment from IndyStar.
LakePoint Sports
Where it’s based: Emerson, Georgia
When it formed: July 2013
LakePoint Sports is a 1,300-acre sports campus outside of Atlanta. The campus features eight Major League-sized baseball fields, three multi-use fields, a 10-court beach volleyball pavilion and a three-lake wakeboarding park, according to the company’s website.
It also boasts a 170,000 square foot indoor center with a continuous wood floor that can hold 12 full-court basketball games or 24 full-court volleyball games.
IndyStar contacted LakePoint Sports for comment but received no response.
Legacy Sports Group
Where it’s based: Westfield
When it formed: January 2020
Legacy Sports Group is led by William Knox, the former director of Grand Park Sports Campus. The company has a services agreement with Westfield’s Redevelopment Commission to help the park with marketing and sponsorships.
According to Grand Park’s website, Legacy Sports Group has two staff members working for the sports campus.
The company wants to enter a public-private partnership to focus on the operations and management of Grand Park, Knox told IndyStar.
"Our goal is to as it relates to the response to the RFP is just to continue working with the park on evolution and growth in the future," Knox said. "That could be through our company itself or through other relationships, but we feel it's important to make sure that there's some history, a part of a team that would continue to operate the campus, such that it can continue to grow and do the things that it needs to do not only for the city of Westfield or central Indiana, but for the region."
Oak View Group
Where it’s based: Los Angeles
When it formed: June 2015
Oak View Group is led by Tim Leiweke, a veteran in the sports and music industry. Irving Axoff, a 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and longtime music manager, serves as a board member.
The company has nine divisions with focuses on subjects such as business development, arenas, facilities, media and conferences.
IndyStar contacted Oak View Group for comment and received no response.
ProPlayer Holdings
Where it’s based: Atlanta, Georgia
When it formed: June 2009
Former Indiana Pacers star Dale Davis is the CEO of ProPlayer Holdings.
The company in 2021 invested in a $20 million athletic facility in College Park, Georgia, according to media reports.
IndyStar contacted Davis for comment and received no response.
REV Entertainment
Where it’s based: Arlington, Texas
When it formed: February 2018
REV Entertainment manages events at the current and former stadiums for the Texas Rangers. Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium are both located in Arlington, Texas, but the company also works with sports and entertainment events and venues around the country, according to its website.
REV Entertainment spokesperson Madison Pelletier confirmed the company's "interest in and admiration for Grand Park," but said it would not comment on ongoing projects.
Ripken Baseball
Where it’s based: Aberdeen, Maryland
When it formed: June 1999
Ripken Baseball, run by former Hall of Fame baseball player Cal Ripken Jr. has locations in Maryland, South Carolina and Tennessee. The company runs youth baseball facilities.
In 2011, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported that the company was looking to Indianapolis for potential expansion locations.
IndyStar contacted Ripken Baseball for comment and received no response.
Sports Facilities Companies
Where it’s based: Clearwater, Florida
When it formed: February 2019
The Florida company operates sports facilities in nearly 30 locations around the country. Sports Facilities Companies is comprised of advisory, management and development divisions that help communities “plan, fund, develop, or operate sports, recreation, entertainment and fitness centers,” according to its website.
IndyStar contacted Sports Facilities Companies for comment and received no response.
Sports Force Parks
Where it’s based: Canton, Georgia
When it formed: September 2019
Sports Force Parks centers on sports tourism and can perform feasibility studies, planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance of youth sports complexes, according to its website.
The company has a focus on public private partnerships. It has locations in Ohio and Mississippi.
IndyStar contacted Sports Force Parks for comment and received no response.
Venue Strategies
Where it’s based: New York, New York
When it formed: February 2019
Venue Strategies focuses on planning, development, financing and operations of sports venues and special event and entertainment centers, according to its website.
The company has completed private sector, public sector and university projects around the country.
IndyStar contacted Venue Strategies for comment and received no response.
Contact IndyStar's Carmel and Westfield reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter @CarloniBrittany.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Grand Park has familiar faces interested bidders. Who are they?
