Future Legends ordered to stop using sponsor’s name
WINDSOR — A Weld District Court judge has ordered the Future Legends Sports Complex to remove all use of its pickleball sponsor’s name and likeness in the massive sports project, noting that continued associations could do the company harm.
GrowSecure, doing business as Layman Lewis Financial Group, filed a complaint against Future Legends LLC last week, claiming that the financially struggling sports venue continues to use its name after Layman canceled its sponsorship.
“Of great concern to Layman Lewis is Future Legends’ financial troubles,” the lawsuit stated. “As a financial group, sponsoring a financially inept complex diminishes Layman Lewis’ goodwill and reputation in the Windsor community.”
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Layman Lewis pulled out of its sponsorship agreement in November but stated that Future Legends continued to use its name, advertising and trademarked materials in the complex and digital marketing.
Layman stated in the lawsuit that Future Legends had not lived up to its part of its sponsorship in which the complex was to host several pickleball tournaments, with Layman having exclusive naming rights. The deal was to put up $120,000 over three years. Layman Lewis reports it put in $40,000 to date, but there has only been one tournament since its sponsorship started in April 2023.
Weld District Court Judge Kimberly Schutt granted Layman’s request for a temporary injunction, ordering Future Legends to stop using Layman’s name in its advertising within the complex and in its digital marketing.
The financial services company said in a lawsuit that Future Legends did not live up to its end of the bargain, and further associations would be harmful to its reputation.
“Future Legends emphasized its ability to provide sponsors with unparalleled visibility, naming rights, and intellectual property benefits across its expansive complex,” the lawsuit states. “Future Legends also promised its commitment to hosting large-scale tournaments and community events, offering sponsors additional visibility through hospitality packages, event activations, and signage throughout the complex.”
Layman Lewis stated that Future Legends representatives assured them “of substantial exposure to a diverse audience, including players, spectators, and guests frequenting the nearby facilities, such as the restaurants and Hilton-branded hotels slated to open in the summer of 2024. Relying on Future Legends’ representations and promises, Layman Lewis agreed to the pickleball sponsorship.”
But to date, the complex is not even close to full buildout. An indoor soccer dome is operational, but was severely behind on practically all utilities, taxes and expenses. The dormitory for visiting teams is partially complete, and only the collegiate stadium is fully constructed. Construction on everything stopped a year ago, when contractors walked off the job for nonpayment.
The pickleball courts were built next to the sand volleyball courts, which has resulted in frequent cleanup of the courts, further damaging Future Legends’ reputation of operating a professional complex, the lawsuit stated.
To date, Future Legends has been sued for more than $56 million in unpaid loans and unpaid construction bills, has multiple leans, and owner Jeff Katofsky is battling in court to convince a federal bankruptcy judge that he has received a $260 million loan to fix everything, although he has yet to file loan documents to that effect. An evidentiary hearing on that issue is slated for February.
Amid all this, Layman Lewis saw impending issues. As part of its sponsorship, Future Legends was to hire a pickleball coordinator, but two came and left in rapid succession, the lawsuit reports, “due to Future Legends’ poor management.” In fact, only one pickleball tournament has been held at the complex, and Layman Lewis paid for all of it.
Schutt issued an immediate temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction effective for 14 days against Future Legends’ continued use of Layman’s name.
Case cited:
24CV31141, GrowSecure, d/b/a Layman Lewis Financial Group LLC vs. Future Legends LLC filed Dec. 11, 2024, in Weld District Court.
A Weld District Court judge has ordered the Future Legends Sports Complex to remove all use of its pickleball sponsor’s name and likeness in the massive sports project, noting that continued associations could do the company harm.
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