Westfield names the 7 companies that bid on Grand Park and the men considering the options

Brittany Carloni, Indianapolis Star
·4 min read

The six-person committee the city of Westfield established to review proposals tied to the sale or management of Grand Park Sports Campus met for the first time earlier this month, taking the city into the next step of determining the future of the 400-acre property.

The city late Friday released the names of the committee members and the seven companies that submitted proposals to the city last month.

Previously:Westfield says 7 companies submitted bids on Grand Park

Westfield’s Redevelopment Commission in March released a request for proposals seeking companies interested in outright purchasing or operating Grand Park. The sports campus opened in 2014 and the events center opened in 2016.

The seven companies interested in Grand Park are:

It’s unlikely the contents of the bid proposals made by the companies will be publicly available any time soon. According to the request for proposals, the substance of the bids will remain confidential until a selection is made or the companies’ proposals are rejected.

More on Grand Park:What appraisals say about the value of Grand Park Sports Campus

In a video posted to the city’s YouTube page earlier this month, Mayor Andy Cook said the decision could take “months.”

The committee consists of six men from various positions tied to government, education, public safety and business in Westfield.

Committee making decisions about Grand Park sale, management:

What some of the companies have said about Grand Park

Although it is not clear what kind of proposals the seven companies made for Grand Park, IndyStar spoke with representatives of four of the seven organizations in June about their interest in the sports campus.

More:Cal Ripken Jr.? Dale Davis? Here are people behind the companies interested in Grand Park

Card & Associates

Card & Associates, which operates the Pacers Athletic Center, was the first private developer on the property, according to a letter of intent the company submitted to the city in April.

In June, owner and operator Andy Card said his company would seek to purchase Grand Park.

Card said he wants to continue “the legacy” the city of Westfield has built.

"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.

Additionally, the company is planning a 270,000 square-foot field house it will operate in Lebanon.

Ambassador Enterprises

Private equity firm Ambassador Enterprises has a connection to Westfield. The firm’s vice president of strategic initiatives, Sherry Grate, is the former superintendent of Westfield Washington Schools.

"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 in June states. "It's a tremendous asset for Westfield and the area, and we want to keep ownership in Indiana."

REV Entertainment

REV Entertainment spokesperson Madison Pelletier in June confirmed the company had “interest in and admiration for Grand Park.”

The company manages events at Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the current and former stadiums for the Texas Rangers.

Anytown USA

Anytown USA, a real estate development company focused on youth sports, is interested in purchasing Grand Park, spokesman Jim Isch told IndyStar in June.

"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.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Westfield's Grand Park: 7 companies bid; 6 men tapped to make choice