El Paso Coliseum upgrades touted; Rhinos propose privately funded second ice sheet under long‑term lease

The El Paso Sports Commission presented its quarterly report to County Commissioners on May 4, highlighting recent Coliseum upgrades, a busy event slate and a Rhinos‑led proposal to expand ice facilities.

Commission CEO Janet Vargas reviewed visual improvements at the Coliseum — updated dressing rooms, new carpet and paint, signage and a deep clean of the judging arena — and listed events hosted from January through March, including concerts, local sports (roller derby, lucha libre), and youth tournaments. She provided attendance and revenue snapshots for the quarter.

Representatives from the El Paso Rhinos and El Paso Hockey Association described a multi‑phase vision: a privately financed second sheet of ice attached to the Coliseum and, later, a fieldhouse that could host indoor sports. The Rhinos’ representative said the organization and private partners would fund construction (the Rhinos have raised capital and equipment in past years) but requested a long‑term contract (the speaker mentioned a 30‑year lease) to justify the investment and to secure tournaments that require multiple rinks. The Rhinos’ presentation included a conceptual rendering and projections that a second rink would permit large multi‑team tournaments and draw substantially more out‑of‑town stays.

County staff and several commissioners expressed concern about procurement fairness and the current request for proposals (RFP) process. County legal and purchasing staff were consulted; the court moved part of the discussion to executive session to receive legal advice about the RFP and unsolicited‑proposal considerations. County administration noted an open or pending RFP and signaled that further legal review was needed before commitments or exclusive negotiations could proceed publicly.

Commissioners and staff described the proposal as potentially high‑impact for sports tourism if structured transparently, but they emphasized that any long‑term lease or public‑private arrangement would require standard procurement procedures and legal review. The Sports Commission said it would return with more complete financial and operational detail for the court’s consideration.