A conceptual drawing of a Rocket Racing League race. (Courtesy photo)
The Rocket Racing League took a big hit on Monday when the Las Cruces City Council voted to end a lease agreement with the start-up company.
The council terminated the lease for four parcels at the airport because the company didn’t fulfill the terms of the lease, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting.
“I think we all supported the dialogue around this project,” the newspaper quoted Councilor Gil Jones as saying. “No one, as I recall, was opposed to the mission of RRL. But I think everyone recognized it was a risky venture. I hope they continue to find success elsewhere.”
The company planned to build hangars and its headquarters at the airport. From the Sun-News:
“Initially the lease covered six 10,000-square-foot parcels (parcels 36, 37, 41, 42, 43 and 44), at $2,000 per parcel per year. The lease required RRL to build facilities on the parcels by a deadline.
“According to the council resolution, RRL only built partial hangars, on parcels 36 and 37.
“The New Mexico Construction Industries Division had ordered construction on those hangars stopped, and refused to issue subsequent permits, because RRL had not properly constructed firewalls within the buildings.
“The state ultimately gave RRL a variance to allow that work to continue, however as of last August, the state had not granted a certificate of occupancy for RRL’s remaining hangar, according to the council resolution.”
The league had plans to hold races that pit up to 10 racers against each other on virtual, closed-circuit tracks in the sky. The racers can fly at up to 320 mph, and the league planned to eventually hold races at Spaceport America.
Now its plans are unclear. The Sun-News was unable to reach league officials for comment.