The developer of the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Aurora on Thursday will announce a $500 million financial commitment to the project near Denver International Airport.
Ground broke earlier , 1,500-room hotel and convention center, even as a group of Denver and Colorado Springs hoteliers that found the state did not illegally award the project $81.4 million in tourism money.
On Friday, the hotel group to the Colorado Supreme Court.
After receiving the state money, Gaylord Entertainment Co., Aurora’s partner in the project, announced a corporate restructuring that would leave it unable to develop the project.
Marriott International acquired operating rights for the Gaylord brand and brought in Houston-based Rida as developer of the project.
Opponents argued Rida’s revised financial estimates showed cost savings that surpassed the state’s incentive award, proof that state support was no longer needed.
A requirement of the Regional Tourism Act is that any project that receives the state money show it cannot be built absent state support.
Officials for Rida, the Aurora Economic Development Council and the city of Aurora will announce the financial commitment and update the project at a news conference Thursday at the Aurora Municipal Center.
Officials for Rida and Gaylord declined to comment until Thursday’s announcement.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or @cillescasdp
