International Speedway Corp. announced plans this morning to build a major motorsports speedway in Adams County near Denver International Airport.
Sites under consideration include approximately 1,300 acres in Aurora off I-70 near the Watkins exit, directly south of the Front Range Airport and approximately 1,300 acres in Commerce City between the 88th Avenue overpass and 96th Avenue exit on E-470, extending one mile west to Tower Road and one mile east to Piccadilly Road.
A NASCAR event could be held at the racetrack. ISC is a publicly traded company that promotes of more than 100 racing events annually, including the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Daytona 500.
We ve believed for some time that the greater Denver market is a logical place for racing to have a major presence due to its substantial fan base and overall connection to professional sports, said Kathy Milthorpe, ISC Managing Director, said in a statement. We see a great opportunity for both our company and the region, and look forward to engaging the community to explore the possibility of bringing a first-class racing entertainment complex to the area.
ISC said the track would be a public-private partnership. Company officials cautioned that the project is still in a very early evaluation phase and that no decisions have been made regarding the location, the potential cost of the project or how the public-private partnership might be structured if the facility were constructed.
ISC operates 13 racetracks across the country, including the Daytona International Speedway and the Talladega Superspeedway. ISC has formed a wholly owned subsidiary called the Rocky Mountain Speedway Corp. to handle the development. Terms of any agreements between RMSC and the respective land owners are not disclosed.
ISC is committed to working closely with the communities where we are located, Milthorpe said. We will take every opportunity to fully communicate relevant milestones and solicit feedback regarding this exciting potential metro-Denver development, which we believe will create tremendous benefits for all involved.
ISC has long been rumored to have interest in opening a racetrack in metro Denver. The company purchased and closed Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain late 2005, primarily to clear the area of competition. PPIR has since been under contract to a private buyer who is looking to turn it into private membership based track.
