Dick’s Sporting Goods Park: Guide to the Home of Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids is an American professional soccer club that plays its home matches at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, also known as DSG Park, a soccer-specific stadium located in Commerce City, Colorado.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Name
In November 2006, Dick’s Sporting Goods signed a 20-year naming rights agreement on the property. While the amount of sponsorship was not disclosed, the duration of the sponsorship and the size of the project made it one of the largest stadium sponsorship deals in American soccer history at the time. The deal includes naming rights, signage, and logo identification not just in soccer-specific programs, but in all programming associated with the fields and any use of the stadium and fields including other sports teams, special events, and concerts.
Dick’s Sporting Goods also became the exclusive retail sporting goods partner of the stadium, fields, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Youth Soccer, and NDP Lacrosse. The sports park serves as the official home of Colorado Youth Soccer and NDP Lacrosse. Additionally, Dick’s Sporting Goods become an affiliate sponsor of a number of soccer and lacrosse tournaments held at the site annually.
Dick’s Sporting Goods History & Description
The Rapids played their first eleven seasons at both Invesco Field at Mile High (2001–2006) and Mile High Stadium (1996–2000). A $130 million project that would include youth soccer fields, retail construction, and a new civic center for Commerce City was announced by the club and the city in 2004. The stadium’s construction cost $64.5 million in total. Voters in Commerce City approved a $65 million bond for stadium-supporting infrastructure upgrades. The former Stapleton International Airport in Denver is nearby, and to the north and east, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, to the south, and to the west, Quebec Street. In the fall of 2005, construction got under way at the site.
The stadium’s inaugural event was an intrasquad scrimmage that was exclusive to residents of Commerce City and season ticket holders. On April 7, 2007, the Rapids played their first official game against D.C. United, and they prevailed 2-1. At the stadium, Herculez Gomez scored the first goal. The 2007 MLS All-Star Game was played there, when the MLS All-Stars defeated Celtic FC of Scotland. This was the stadium’s first year of use.
On October 28, 2010, the Rapids played their first playoff match at DSG Park, defeating the Columbus Crew 1-0. In front of 17,779 spectators, the Rapids defeated the San Jose Earthquakes two weeks later to win their first-ever MLS Cup.
The stadium is owned by Commerce City and run by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), which also owns the English Premier League team Arsenal F.C. through a subsidiary and the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Mammoth. This project was anticipated to cost $131 million, with the city and KSE each contributing an equal amount.