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Kevin Kelley advises clients on the development, operation and renovation of sports facilities; structuring complex mixed-use and re-use development projects; and the acquisition, development, financing, operation and disposition of multi-family, industrial, office, and retail properties, hotels and resorts and self-storage facilities. His clients include developers, investors, owners, public entities, and REITs.

Concentrations

  • Arena, ballpark, stadia and practice facility development, operation, and renovation (NBA, MLB, MiLB, NFL, and NWSL), including non-relocation and community benefit agreements.
  • Sports entertainment district development and operation
  • Mixed use, master planned developments, and redevelopments, including entitlements and condominiums and common interest communities
  • Resort development and operations, including branded condo-hotels
  • Acquisition, financing, operation, and disposition of self-storage portfolios

Capabilities

Experience

  • Represents the city of Green Bay in negotiating terms with the Green Bay Packers for an extension of the team's lease at Lambeau Field, addressing new commitments for community investments by the Packers and modifications to reflect “going forward” investments in the facility.°
  • Represents the Charlotte Hornets in redevelopment of Spectrum Arena and development of a new training facility.°
  • Represents the City of San Antonio in the development of a new NBA arena and sports and entertainment district
  • Represented the city of Phoenix to renegotiate the Suns’ agreements for Talking Stick Resort Arena, including negotiating a $230 million renovation of the facility and new non-relocation provisions.°
  • Represented the city of Oakland in negotiating terms for the city’s investment in infrastructure related to the Oakland A’s proposed waterfront ballpark district on the San Francisco Bay and extension of the A’s commitment to call Oakland its home.°
  • Represented the city of Anaheim in negotiating the structure of the sale of Angels Stadium of Anaheim to an affiliate of the L.A. Angels of Anaheim, with 130+ acres of adjacent land for development of affordable housing and mixed-use development.°
  • Represented the public owner of T-Mobile Park in renegotiating the Seattle Mariners’ lease, with extensive provisions to ensure the ballpark will remain in the top one-third of all MLB ballparks.°
  • Represented the Wisconsin Center District in the development of the new $524 million Fiserv Arena for the Milwaukee Bucks.°
  • Represented the city of Sacramento in the development of the $477 million Golden 1 Center arena for the Sacramento Kings.°
  • Represented the city of Phoenix in renegotiating the Milwaukee Brewers’ use agreements for the city-owned spring training facilities, which included extending their term and negotiating the terms of conveying development rights to the Brewers for new mixed-use development on city-owned land.°
  • Represented the city of Fresno, owner of Chukchansi Park, the hometown ballpark of the Fresno Grizzlies, in renegotiating the city's facility use agreements with the Grizzlies following Major League Baseball's takeover of Minor League Baseball (MiLB). Guided the city in understanding potential impacts of MLB’s new framework for Player Development Licenses (PDL) and drafted and negotiated amendments to existing agreements to re-align certain terms with new requirements imposed by MLB.°
  • Represented Denver’s Regional Transportation District in the redevelopment of the city’s historic Union Station using both public and private funds to create a mixed-use project of public transportation, a boutique hotel, and retail, food and beverage, and office spaces.°
  • Led representation of Intrawest Resorts in its development of resort communities across the continent, from concept through delivery and disposition.°
  • Advised both private sector and higher education clients on using P3 delivery models for development of higher education facilities, including student housing and energy districts.°
  • Represented a self-storage REIT in its acquisition of multiple portfolio acquisitions, including a 112-property portfolio for $1.2 billion.°
  • Represented a national client in spearheading development of Fox Park, a new 41-acre master planned community to feature office, residential, retail and entertainment uses on the site of The Denver Post’s former printing plant.°
  • Represented private developer clients in various mixed-use and multifamily developments in the greater Denver metro area.°

°The above representations were handled by Mr. Kevin Kelley prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

Recognition & Leadership

  • Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2015-2024
  • Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Real Estate Law, 2015-2024
  • Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Tier 4, 2023
  • Selected, IFLR1000, Real Estate (Denver), Highly Regarded, 2019, 2022-2023
  • Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Colorado Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2009-2023
  • Selected, National Law Journal, Sports & Entertainment Law Trailblazer, 2019
  • Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc.
    • Recipient, “Peter Bowes Award,” 2018
    • Selected, “Volunteer of the Year,” 2016
  • Junior Achievement – Rocky Mountain “National gold Leader Award, 2020
  • Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0

°AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell DistinguishedSM and Martindale-Hubbell NotableSM are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies.

  • Member, Colorado Bar Association, 1991-Present
  • Member, Denver Bar Association, 1991-Present
  • Director, Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation, 2022-Present
    • Member, Finance Committee, 2023-Present
    • Member, Investment Committee, 2023-Present
  • Director, Downtown Denver Partnership Management Group, Inc., 2016-Present
    • Member, Management Committee 2018-Present
    • Member, Finance Committee, 2022-Present
    • Chair, Municipal election Task Force, 2023
    • Chair, Urban Ex Steering Committee, 2018-2019
    • Chair, Downtown Denver Awards Jury, Nominating Committee, 2016-2017
  • Director, Downtown Denver, Inc., Director, 2015-Present
    • Member, Affordable Housing Task Force, 2016
    • Member, Downtown Regulatory Working Group, 2015-2016
  • Board of Directors, Junior Achievement, Rocky Mountain Inc., 2010-2021
    • Chair, 2018-2020
    • Member, Executive Committee, 2015-2021
    • Chair, Stock Market Challenge, 2011-2012
  • Director, Denver Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 2016-2021
    • Member, Executive Committee, 2019-2021
    • Member, Finance Committee, 2019-2021
    • Member, CEO Selection Committee, 2021
  • Member, Executive Committee, Metro Denver Economic Development Council, 2014-2017

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1988
  • B.A., summa cum laude, Washington and Lee University, 1985
    • Distinguished Military Graduate
    • Omicron Delta Kappa
    • Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
  • Colorado