The expansive 320-acre Legacy Sports Park in southeast Mesa, which faced financial hurdles earlier this year, has undergone a significant transformation as of December 14th. AZ Athletic Associates LLC, a venture established by Burke Operating Partners LLC, a San Francisco-based private equity firm, along with Rocky Mountain Resources, successfully concluded the acquisition of the park for $25.8 million. This acquisition was confirmed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Recognized as one of the largest sports facilities in the nation, the complex boasts an array of amenities, including a 3,000-seat outdoor stadium, a 2,800-seat indoor arena, 35 fields catering to soccer, lacrosse, and football, 57 indoor volleyball courts, eight baseball and softball fields, and 20 basketball courts. Over the nearly two years since its inception, the park has welcomed millions of visitors.
Following the completion of the transaction, the venue will be rebranded as the Arizona Athletic Grounds at Mesa Campus, abbreviated as AAG. Previously named Bell Bank Park, the complex lost its naming rights sponsorship from the financial institution in April 2023 due to financial difficulties faced by the park and its owners.
The seller, Legacy Cares Inc., a nonprofit organization responsible for constructing the park, sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2023, slightly over a year after the venue’s inauguration. At the time of filing, Legacy Cares had debts totaling more than $366.7 million owed to over 200 creditors.
