Douglas County, Colorado commissioners greenlit four contracts and a financing mechanism on April 1 for the Zebulon multi-sport complex, a $100 million project planned for Sterling Ranch that could break ground as early as October 2026 and open by December 2028.
Key Takeaways
- Douglas County approved all four Zebulon items using certificates of participation (COPs), a lease-financing tool that does not require voter approval
- Slammers Baseball may contribute up to $17 million in capital toward its own building and fields at the complex
- The site is a former dynamite manufacturing facility; nearby soil has PFAS contamination, with remediation costs assigned to Sterling Ranch
- Sports programming will span hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, plus dining and recreation amenities
- Community turnout split 50 speakers in favor and 28 against, with opponents citing debt concerns and environmental risk
How the Zebulon Youth Sports Complex Gets Built Without a Public Vote
The financing hinges on certificates of participation, or COPs, a mechanism that lets the county borrow against future facility revenue without putting a bond measure on the ballot. County officials say revenue generated by Zebulon will repay the debt. Taxpayer parks dollars exist as a backstop but are “not anticipated to be needed,” and open space funds will not be tapped.
The approved contracts include $2.7 million to KT Development for phase one design and construction, $12 million to SR Construction LLC for infrastructure improvements, and $140,000 to Stifel for financial advising. SR Construction LLC was formed in 2026 and is managed by a Sterling Ranch affiliate.
Private Capital From Club Teams and Aquatics Programs
The deal structure opens a lane for private operators willing to invest upfront in exchange for facility access and naming rights. Mark Holzemer, president of Slammers Baseball, told the meeting his organization plans to fund its own footprint within the complex. “We’re going to come to the table with capital to build a complex, build a building, and pay for the fields,” Holzemer said. He estimated the cost at $12 million to $15 million, with bids still coming in, and noted the total contribution could reach $17 million.
Highlands Ranch Aquatics is also in discussions to partner on an Olympic-sized swimming pool, adding another anchor tenant to the project.
Revenue projections underpinning the COPs have not been made public in detail. County officials stated: “Absolutely this will be used, and absolutely it will be full, and it will be profitable and sustainable.”
Environmental and Community Friction
The Sterling Ranch site previously housed a dynamite manufacturing operation. Nearby soil carries PFAS contamination, though the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has cleared the land for development. Remediation costs fall on Sterling Ranch, not the county.
Opponents were vocal. Jodi Messenich, a Sterling Ranch neighbor, told commissioners: “We were not represented with a vote whether or not we wanted this complex.” Denise Martinez from nearby Roxborough added: “Saying that they’re going to build a play place for kids, and there’s contaminants right there. It is so wrong. Our kids need to come first. Their safety needs to come first.”
Supporters pushed back. Kathy Redmond, a Castle Rock hockey mom, said: “The ice is needed, and it’s not just for hockey, it’s for all ice sports.” She pointed to the long weekend drives her family currently makes for rink access.
Commission Chair George Teal and his colleagues voted to approve all four items. The county planned a kickoff meeting with the developer the following week.
A Closer Look at the Voter-Free Facility Financing Model
The private capital commitments from Slammers Baseball and potentially Highlands Ranch Aquatics reduce public exposure but do not eliminate it. The county’s revenue backstop relies on taxpayer parks dollars if facility income falls short. Opponents raised concerns that Douglas County, currently debt-free, would carry significant obligations for years. The county has not released detailed revenue projections for the complex.
Douglas County Approves $100M for Youth Sports Operators
Club directors and facility investors should study the Zebulon model closely. The deal demonstrates that anchor tenants willing to contribute $12 million to $17 million in upfront private capital can secure long-term facility access and naming rights within a publicly financed complex. Aquatics programs, baseball clubs, and multi-sport operators should evaluate whether a similar capital contribution model is viable in their markets. Environmental due diligence remains non-negotiable: PFAS contamination history and regulatory clearance status should be verified independently before any operator commits capital to a comparable site.
Douglas County approves $100M Zebulon sports complex using voter-free financing, with Slammers Baseball pledging up to $17M amid environmental and debt concerns. directly.
Source: Cbsnews
Image: The $65 million facility will feature a number of fields, ice rinks, courts and a pool. (Courtesy of Douglas County)
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