Brandon Leuallen, The Business Times

The Grand Junction City Council voted 5–1 to approve a 25-year lease and operating agreement that grants Colorado Mesa University use of the Lincoln Park Barn and adjacent land near Ralph Stocker Stadium for construction of a new football facility.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment during the council’s March 4 meeting and capped months of discussions between city officials and university leaders about the future of the barn and the Lincoln Park Stadium Complex.

Under the agreement, CMU will lease the Lincoln Park Barn and adjacent areas on the football side of the complex and construct a new football facility between the barn and Ralph Stocker Stadium. The city will retain ownership of the property while granting the university operational control of portions of the stadium complex under the lease.

Financial terms

The agreement restructures the financial relationship between the city and CMU.

CMU will pay the city $300,000 annually for the ground lease and operational partnership while continuing its existing stadium rental fee of $36,705 per year, which carries an annual escalation factor of up to 2 percent. 

The university will also continue prior commitments of $200,000 per year through 2032 and $100,000 in 2033 for stadium improvements, along with a $14,000 annual contribution to the Parks Improvement Advisory Board.

City staff said Stocker Stadium currently costs the city about $301,000 annually to operate after revenues, meaning the new lease payment would offset much of the city’s operating subsidy.

CMU will also assume 80 percent of field maintenance costs and pay half of the cost of future turf replacements.

Barn use

The agreement grants CMU exclusive use of the Lincoln Park Barn for football-related activities such as strength and conditioning, sports medicine and team-support functions.

CMU will be responsible for maintenance, utilities and operations inside the building. The barn’s historic exterior must be preserved, and any exterior modifications require approval from the city manager.

City recreation programs currently held at the barn are expected to relocate to the city’s new community recreation center once it opens.

Public access and existing uses

Existing community uses of Stocker Stadium will continue under the agreement, including events hosted by Mesa Valley School District 51 and other organizations.

The football team also will be practicing on the field on some mornings during the season, which will mean the track and the field will not be open to the public during those times. The stadium field and track must remain open to the public during normal daytime hours when not reserved for scheduled events. 

Public comment

The public comment portion lasted just over an hour, with 21 residents each given three minutes to speak. A slim majority opposed the agreement or urged the council to delay the vote, while several Colorado Mesa University representatives and student athletes spoke in support, and one speaker suggested pursuing a compromise.

Opponents said the barn has long served as a community gathering place for events and recreation programs. Supporters, including CMU football players and university representatives, said improved athletic facilities would strengthen the university’s program and its partnership with the city.

Council discussion and vote

After public comment concluded, Council member Scott Beilfuss made a motion to table the decision for 30 days to allow additional discussion and community input. The motion failed after it did not receive a second.

The council then approved the agreement on a 5–1 vote. Beilfuss voted against the proposal, while Mayor Cody Kennedy and council members Jason Nguyen, Anna Stout, Laurel Cole and Ben Van Dyke voted in favor. Councilmember Robert Ballard was absent.

Background

City Manager Mike Bennett said the proposal evolved through several council workshops and public discussions during the past year.

Colorado Mesa University first presented the concept during a Sept. 15, 2025, workshop that included demolishing the Lincoln Park Barn to make room for a new football-operations facility. Following public feedback and concerns about preserving the historic structure, the concept was revised during a Dec. 15 workshop to retain the barn and instead lease it to CMU while constructing a football facility between the barn and the stadium.

Bennet said the workshops generated significant public interest, with recordings of the discussions viewed more than 10,000 times online. The city also shared updates through its website, social media and the EngageGJ public-engagement platform.

Following community feedback, the concept evolved from replacing the barn to preserving the structure while constructing a new football facility nearby.

The proposal was first discussed publicly during the September workshop when CMU outlined its interest in replacing the aging locker-room facility at the stadium. See The Business Times Sept. 24 article about it online at thebusinesstimes.com. Search for the article titled: “CMU proposes new football facility to replace Lincoln Park Barn.”