Major breakthrough in years-long fight to reopen Yigo Raceway Park

Three years since the Guam International Raceway shut down and the motorsports community lost their homefield, there’s been a major breakthrough to save the raceway.  Lease negotiations are finally moving forward with a price tag on the table, though there’s uncertainty whether the community can afford it in the long run. 

A major breakthrough has been achieved in the years long fight to reopen the Yigo Raceway Park. After a year-and-a-half of negotiations, the Chamorro Land Trust Commission's board of directors unanimously voted to approve a lease with the Guam Motorsports Association on Thursday, though not without some concerns on the price tag.

GMA vice chair John Burch, Jr. said, "It's just a startup cost that's going to be incredible. The buildings are in disrepair. You know, the track has to have some safety mitigations going on. And I'm not sure we can do that in six months."

The non-profit organization proposed a 20-year lease for the 252-acre property, offering zero-rent for the first three years, then $10,000 per month in the fourth year.  The CLTC counter offered with zero-rent for the first six months, $1,500 per month the rest of the year, $2,500 per month in the second year, $5,000 per month in the third year, then $10 thousand per month by the fourth year.

GMA expressed concerns whether they can afford that in the long run.  Burch added, "You know the community is going to have a very hard time affording $10,000 a month even in year four. I want to make sure that what we agree to is successful and sustainable by our community."

Commissioner Jeremy Rojas said GMA’s offer is “not consistent” with cltc’s “fiduciary obligation.” He stated, "This approach acknowledges the rehabilitation phase while ensuring that CLTC begins receiving return as operations grow."

The CLTC evicted former tenants guam racing federation in 2023 for rent payment issues and unauthorized clearing and grading activities. Rojas acknowledged that the raceway’s closure the past three years led to real impacts like increased illegal street racing, loss of youth engagement, and the cancellation of long-standing cultural racing events.

He praised GMA’s business plans which seek to address that. Rojas continued, "It's clear to me that what is being proposed is not simply the reopening of a racetrack, but the plan addresses public safety, youth education, workforce development, environmental stewardship, cultural revitalization and long-term operational sustainability."

The CLTC is to draft a lease for board approval within the next couple of weeks, followed by final approval from the attorney general and the governor.