You bring the snow makers and I’ll bring the karts. If nobody turns up we’ll just have a kartpulse enduro.
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I’m wondering if they’ve handed the area of land the track is on back to the airport. The point of contact and the people seeking new operator for the track is the airport, not the jetcenter.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
November 17, 2023
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR AN OPERATOR FOR THE KARTING TRACK (PARCEL 62)
THE ARAPAHOE COUNTY PUBLIC AIRPORT AUTHORITY
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO
The Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority (the “Airport Authority”) is the owner and operator of Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colorado and is soliciting Requests for Proposals for the operation of, and improvements to, the Karting Track at Centennial Airport.
The proposer(s) must supply all information required by the Request for Proposals for the Karting Track (Parcel 62). The Airport Authority reserves the right to waive any informalities and minor irregularities in the submittals and to select the proposer deemed to be in the best interest of the Airport.
For any questions and to obtain a complete copy of the Request for Proposals for the Karting Track Parcel (Parcel 62) for the Authority please contact Luke Skaflen, Sr. Business Support Specialist for Centennial Airport at 303-790-0598 or [email protected].
Proposals must be submitted electronically to Luke Skaflen
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Except Mr Skaflen doesn’t respond lol
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Yeah it was for everyone’s reference. I was going to send a message but I’m trying not to squirrel 
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There is a group headed by Todd Varney and the Colorado Karting Tour attempting to put together a regional RFP response.
You could always contact them if you’re interested.
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Today, those of us who are members of the Colorado Karting Tour received an email asking us to write letters in support of Todd Varney as there were other competing proposals.
I’m not sure what his proposal has that others do not but a well run track is desperately needed now that Northern CO has none.
Not sure either. I agree that a well organized, safe, professionally run track would be a great thing for CO karting, especially as other tracks close or futures are uncertain.
If you check their long range plan they propose the area for maintenance storage.
Overall would be a hard sell to implement the needed buildings/updates with all the FAA requirements surrounding the land
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Good sleuthing, I did not dig beyond their landing page. That airport was bigger than I thought though
IIRC the area is also considered a ‘flood area’ / drainage for surrounding areas and the airport. This subsequently limits the uses of the area permitted and also height restrictions because it is right next to the run up area and main runway. The track is at the bottom of a sort of bowl / depression in the land.
@KartingIsLife yeah Centennial isn’t a ‘major’ airport but it’s definitely not a sleepy GA airport either. Lots of corporate jet activity, and it’s a popular spot for the Air Force and military to land for various reasons. It’s pretty cool if you’re a plane spotter or fan because some rare airplanes are based there. I’ve seen P51s, B17s, and F18s come and go fairly regularly.
We literally were doing the national anthem one time and had the kids waving a flag and some F18 pilots saw us as they were landing. They did a touch and go, came around and flew over the track. It was fantastic.
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Righty ho so I have a bit more info. It does indeed seem like the jetcenter have returned the land to the airport, who are seeking a lessee to take on a 30-40 year lease directly with them.
They’re looking for someone who will construct a proper facility including running in of power and water etc. So it’s a long term gig.
I’m not planning to bid it’s just not feasible for me to do it in US but I’m happy to help out the Colorado based guys on here if you want. I have a very detailed kart center financial model that can be used with some tweaks and I can help organize or review your pitch deck.
I can also put you in touch with the French sovereign bank for funding if your intention is to fleet up from SodiKart.
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Yikes 30-40 year lease…. Some someone who’s 20 years old with access to capital?
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A long term lease is the only way you could get funding for capital improvements. Sounds like they want and are committed to a long term plan. That bodes well for someone putting in a proper proposal.
Keeps the proposal process to those truly committed to a long term business model too.
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Done 
Bla-bla-bla waffle waffle can’t write 20 ch anymore 
I can’t get my head around how a liability is going to secure funding? Unless the lease empowers ownership of the property to the lessee? I’d argue a proper proposal would be three to five years with option to continue thereafter. If it can’t be turned around in that time… it’s dead in the water.
It seems like they are going through the motions of an RFP as a matter of process and have no actual desire for it to continue? Thirty years upfront has to be some sort of bad joke in an industry that’s struggling to find underwriters to insure it.
I have to me misunderstanding something because this makes absolutely no sense. Based on this even if the lease was zero dollars it’s still too much
Neal Blue, the owner of the jetpark, is one of the brothers who owns General Atomics, the company I work for. It looks like GA wants to be involved in karting but doesn’t have someone specific to assign to it, or want the liability of their employees running the track.