When Gaylord Entertainment Co. for $150 million in bonds to formally announced late last help move the National month its plans to build a Western Stock Show & Rodeo huge hotel in Aurora, Colo., out of their city to a spot it seemed that project had in Aurora right next to the jumped ahead of Mesa in Gaylord project. Gaylord's pecking order. Building the $824 million After all, the Gaylord resort Gaylord doesn't depend on in southeast Mesa was moving the venerable supposed to have broken livestock show, but the ground by, at the latest, company believes the two this coming Dec. 31; a recent attractions would be a extension granted by the city perfect match. has pushed that deadline out While Colorado fights over another three years because its Gaylord, the ink on of the economy. Mesa's Gaylord deal dried But Aurora isn't necessarily years ago, with a potential a slam-dunk for Gaylord, cost to taxpayers here far either. less than in Colorado. Press reports out of Denver Gaylord announced its Mesa have sizzled with controversy project in September 2008. since Gaylord made its The overall development was official announcement on June supposed to have included 21, about two months after another upscale resort, a first signaling its interest championship golf course and in the Denver area. classy shopping venues on the The Denver Post reported north end of DMB Associates' on June 26 that interests in Mesa Proving Grounds. After Aurora and Denver were the economy crashed, DMB digging in for "a modern-day never did identify the border war" over the project, prospective second resort. with the Denver area's much- Mesa promised no sales-tax touted reputation for rebates to lure Gaylord. regional cooperation a Instead, Gaylord would retain possible casualty. up to $51 million in bed-tax Much of the debate centers receipts over 30 years, but around a staggering $300 the company would be required million in subsidies being to use that money to market offered by the city of Aurora the property and Mesa tourism to help build the 1,500-room in general. hotel and convention center. In addition, Gaylord is to Brad Segal, a prominent receive property-tax breaks, Denver urban expert who has amount unknown, because of a done consulting work for lease arrangement with Mesa. Chandler, slammed the In an election that generated subsidies last week in a almost no controversy, Mesa commentary for the Denver voters approved the deal by Business Journal. "How can an 86-14 percent margin in Aurora leaders justify giving March 2009. $300 million to out-of-state Mesa Mayor Scott Smith has billionaires while they're remained publicly calm about closing the city's libraries Mesa's prospects, even though and cutting basic services?" analysts have said it would he asked. be virtually impossible for Even that amount, however, Gaylord to build both here might not be enough to seal and in Colorado at the same the deal. Aurora also is time. pushing for almost $170 He and City Manager Chris million in state sales-tax Brady are visiting Nashville breaks for the project; a next week to meet with state commission has until Gaylord brass on the status March 1 to decide about that of Mesa's project. request. Smith admitted late last In addition, Denver's month that the longer Mesa's hospitality industry is up in Gaylord is on hold, the more arms over the threat they tenuous it becomes. But he believe Gaylord poses to said Mesa would return to their city's convention first place in Gaylord's line business. if the business-travel And to top it off, Denver economy recovers to Gaylord's voters might be asked to satisfaction. approve tax increases to pay
Tags: Colorado, debate, Gaylord, Hotel, ignite, Plans, subsidies
