An exclusive deal with PepsiCo for the right to sell beverages at the new Grand Park sports campus will pour $2 million over 10 years into the city of Westfield, officials announced last Thursday.
Westfield city officials call the deal one more step in creating a park maintained with private investment rather than public money.
“It really does legitimize the private sector’s willingness to invest in this project,” said Westfield Mayor Andy Cook. “And we’re not even open yet.”
Cook confirmed that the city is working on other exclusive contracts, including naming rights for the facility, and negotiating with health-care providers over on-site medical services.
“Hopefully, this is just the beginning,” Cook said.
The terms of the deal allow PepsiCo to serve its beverages exclusively at eight concession stands within the new sports campus. Among those drinks: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Gatorade, Mountain Dew, Lipton iced teas and Aquafina.
The city will get a $500,000 lump sum on Sept. 1 and the balance of the contract paid out over the next 10 years.
Cook said that money will go directly toward maintenance of landscaping, parking lots and the 9.5 miles of paths through the campus. Maintenance of the soccer fields will be handled by the Indiana Soccer Association, and the baseball fields will be maintained by the Indiana Bulls, the two sports organizations that will be responsible for booking events and tournaments.
At 400 acres, Grand Park will be one of the largest youth sports facilities in the nation, with 31 soccer and multipurpose fields and 26 baseball diamonds. City officials project the campus will draw up to 650,000 visitors to Westfield in its first year of operation and up to 1.5 million in future years.
