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Legacy Park

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Coordinates: 33°17′55″N 111°37′34″W / 33.2985°N 111.6260°W / 33.2985; -111.6260
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Arizona Athletic Grounds
Map
LocationMesa, Arizona
Coordinates33°17′55″N 111°37′34″W / 33.2985°N 111.6260°W / 33.2985; -111.6260
OwnerLegacy Cares, Inc.
OperatorElite Sports Group
Capacity5,000 (outdoor)
2,800 (indoor)
OpenedJanuary 2022
Tenants
Arizona Red Devils (X League) (2022–)
Arizona Arsenal SC (USL 2) (2023–)
Website
elitesportsaz.com

Arizona Athletic Grounds (formerly known as Bell Bank Park, Legacy Park) is an American multi-purpose sports complex in Mesa, Arizona. It opened on January 7, 2022, before its Grand Opening on 4 February 2022, headlined by musician Lindsey Stirling.[1][2][3]

History

[edit]

Bell Bank Park is situated on the site of a former General Motors testing facility.[4] In 2018, Mesa voters voted against a bond request for a state owned sports facility nearby and that paved the way for this facility.[5] [6]

Ground was broken on the project in October, 2020.[7] The facility is the vision of Legacy Sports, and was known as Legacy Sports Park before a 10-year naming rights deal was struck with Bell Bank.[8][9] The facility was estimated to have cost $280million.[10]

Prior to completion, events were booked including the Jam On It amateur basketball tournaments, who committed to hosting events at the facility until 2032.[11]

Bell Bank Park opened with a pickleball event hosted by the Association of Pickleball Players Tour on 4 January 2022.[12]

In February 2022, it was announced that the Gilbert, Arizona, campus of Park University would make Bell Bank Park the home for their athletic events.[13]

From 2022, the stadium is the home of Valley United FC and FC Arizona.

Financial troubles began to emerge almost immediately after opening. Bell Bank ended their naming rights partnership on 14 April 2023 and the park was renamed Legacy Park. [14] On 1 May 2023 just 16 months after opening the park filed for bankruptcy. At the time of the bankruptcy filing the owners of the park Legacy Cares reported $366.7 million in liabilities and $242.3 million in assets. [15] In July 2023 the U.S. trustee monitoring Legacy Park’s bankruptcy case issued a 23-page filing asking the judge to assign a federal trustee to take over the park’s management and business affairs from owner Legacy Cares. The filing accused Legacy Cares of failing to disclose conflicts of interest, improperly diverting assets, failing to justify a budgeted $708,000 management fee to Elite Sports Group, overpaying executives and employing multiple family members of people connected with Legacy. [16]

Facilities

[edit]

The facility spans 320 acres (130 ha) and includes:

Commercial partnerships

[edit]

The facility has commercial partnerships facilitated through Elite Sports. These include:

Venue names

[edit]
Venue Name Dates
Legacy Park April 2023 - Present
Bell Bank Park September 2021 – April 2023
Legacy Sports Park October 2020 - September 2021

References

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  1. ^ "Bell Bank Park Officially Opens as Nation's Largest Multi-Venue Sports and Entertainment Complex". Mesa.az. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Gilbert-raised Lindsey Stirling getting ready to perform at Bell Bank Park in Mesa". Fox 10 Phoenix. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Bell Bank Park Grand Opening". Visit Mesa. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Bell Bank Park opens in Mesa Friday". Yahoo News. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Bell Bank Park, a massive east Mesa sports complex, opens Jan. 7. Here's what to expect". AZ Central. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Mesa voters passing 4 of 6 city requests in preliminary results". AZ Central. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  7. ^ "$250M Legacy Sports Park breaks ground in Mesa". AZ Big Media. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Amazing in Arizona: Bell Bank Park!". Bell Bank. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Massive 320-acre Legacy Sports Park coming to Mesa". AZ Big Media. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Bell Bank secures naming rights for $280 million sports, entertainment complex". INFORUM. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  11. ^ "JAM ON IT BASKETBALL PARTNERS WITH LEGACY SPORTS USA TO HOST AAU BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS AT BELL BANK PARK THROUGH 2032". Bell Bank Park. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Bell Bank Park in Mesa has long-term bookings months before it opens". ABC 15. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  13. ^ "BELL BANK PARK TO BE NEW HOME FOR PARK UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS". Bell Bank Park. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Bell Bank ends partnership tied to massive Mesa sports complex". KTAR. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Mesa sports park owner files for bankruptcy, looks to sell 320-acre venue". KTAR. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Mega park owner under feds' siege in bankruptcy". Queen Creek Tribune. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  17. ^ "PHOENIX CHILDREN'S TO OFFER SPORTS MEDICINE AND URGENT CARE ONSITE AT BELL BANK PARK". Bell Bank. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  18. ^ "BELL BANK PARK REVEALS VALLEY TOYOTA DEALERS AS FOUNDING PARTNER OF NEW BELL BANK PARK". Bell Bank Park. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
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