Spearfish requesting proposals for naming rights for the Sky Ridge sportsplex

SPEARFISH, S.D. — Businesses interested in naming the future sportsplex at Sky Ridge in Spearfish may submit proposals for the opportunity.

“The naming rights package for this sports complex means far more than the traditional corporate sponsorship,” Spearfish Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Ehnes said, “Not only will the business or individual chosen to name the sportsplex be providing a space for area athletes to practice, play, and progress; they will also have the opportunity to gain local, state, and regional exposure.”

The approximately 40-acre sportsplex at Sky Ridge will provide fields for practices, games, and tournaments on four regulation softball fields and six regulation soccer fields (which, when broken down by age, could host 18 games simultaneously). In addition, the sportsplex will feature spectator seating, two concession stands with public restrooms, approximately 450 parking spaces, as well as designated parking for up to four food trucks, a granular surface trail, and space for a future playground area with restroom and picnic shelter.

The scheduled opening for the sports complex is Spring 2023.

Once constructed, it will be home to 400 youth soccer players, 150 youth softball players, and more than 600 adult softball players.

“This sportsplex will allow Spearfish to meet many of the recreational needs of the community,” Ehnes said, describing that it is estimated that the sportsplex will draw an estimated 80,000 visitors to Spearfish annually for the regular season, league, and large tournament games that Spearfish has been unable to host in the past due to lack of adequate facilities.

Part of the funding model for the sports complex includes private donations, allowing community members the chance to invest in the vision, and the request for proposals (RFP) for naming rights is the first step of the fundraising process. The RFP allows proposers to put forth their best proposal regarding terms, conditions, and financial contributions.

The RFP outlines that the name of the sportsplex will be the exclusive name of the facility in all official references during the term of the agreement. The successful proposer will name the sportsplex and have their approved logo placed in multiple areas of the complex, to include two main gateway signs and one secondary entrance sign.

In addition, the proposer’s name would be displayed at all 10 fields and on all tournament schedules/literature; they would receive recognition at the sportsplex’s ribbon-cutting ceremony; their link would be included on the sportsplex website; they would be highlighted on a press release to local media announcing the name of the sportsplex; their name would be permanently displayed as the founding sponsor; they would receive a founder sponsor paver in-laid in the donor walk; and they would have the right of first refusal to continue naming rights upon expiration of the initial agreement (subject to certain conditions).

The request for proposals, detailing submission requirements and evaluation criteria, is available here. The proposal submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. June 25, after which they will be reviewed by a committee, with a recommendation made to the Spearfish City Council in July, with the public announcement of the official name anticipated to take place in September.

An additional sponsorship program will be available to businesses/individuals regarding the fields, concessions, parking areas, and shelters, with details to follow.

Sky Ridge, located in the Exit 17 area, south of Colorado Boulevard and west of U.S. Highway 85, will feature 180 residential lots, developed in phases over five years. Construction on Sky Ridge began in September, and the bid opening for the sportsplex is set for on/after 1:30 p.m. May 19, with the potential for construction beginning early this summer.