AURORA — On 1,100 acres in rural Adams County, in what is technically Aurora, developer Bill Schuck plans to build the largest sports project in Colorado history.
Shuck said he envisions an oval, a road course, a drag-racing facility, indoor and outdoor karting facilities and a concert pavilion as part of the Colorado Motorplex.
“We are confident that we will be seeing racing in the Front Range of Colorado in the very near future,” said Schuck in his Colorado Springs office, surrounded by images of the Motorplex. “This is going to happen. The question is not if, but when, and our plan is to have a track in place for the public to attend in 2013.”
There is a competing proposal. Oakwood Homes’ Pat Hamill said last year that he had discussions with International Speedway Corp. and Aurora city officials to build a project anchored with a racetrack near Interstate 70 and E-470.
Earlier efforts to bring NASCAR or Indy racing to Colorado have been vexed by challenges to finding a suitable location for a track. A site in Commerce City was rejected in part because it was too close to homes, and earlier efforts in Aurora were turned down for fear the taxpayers would have to support it.
At Schuck’s Transport development, bordered by Front Range Airport and I-70, there are no nearby homes, access is easy into and out of the development, the property is already zoned for a track and no tax dollars are needed to build the project. Schuck said the oval alone will cost “several hundred million” dollars to construct.
“This economy is very, very difficult,” he said. “Fortunately, we’re working on a concept that’s very unique. This is not just another real estate deal.
“We have spoken with (NASCAR team) owners,” he said. “We have spoken with drivers. We have spoken with numerous investors, all of whom have expressed an interest in becoming part of this facility. Colorado needs a motor sports facility.”
Schuck said he has not received any guarantee that major league racing will come if he builds the oval. Yet, he said, the reaction he has received in the process of putting the plans together has been overwhelmingly positive.
He said he expects to break ground next year, creating numerous jobs and what he calls an economic boom for Aurora and the state.
