BORN2RUN Sports facility will seek bankruptcy protection

The complex intends to continue operations while it reorganizes.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Born2Run Sports Complex, beset by financial problems, was expected to file for federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today.
Thomas Linton, chief executive and majority owner of the facility which opened in April, said the plan is to continue normal operations while the company is reorganized under Chapter 11.
It was a matter of the project outgrowing the available financing, he said. He said he believed he had arranged sufficient financing but was never able to get his hands on all the money. The project broke ground in October 2003 with an estimated cost of $4.5 million, but the construction costs rose to $11.5 million as the project expanded.
Linton said he's poured nearly $3 million of his own funds into the effort, but bank financing didn't develop as quickly as anticipated nor was he able to secure as much financial assistance as he'd hoped.
A number of vendors who supplied building materials for the complex but weren't paid began filing lawsuits against the complex in Mercer County Common Pleas Court months ago.
He said he is confident that the thought process of developing a sports complex will continue.
Ownership
The complex and adjoining property is actually owned by Michelle Properties LLC, which is a development company Linton owns.
He sold off part ownership in both the development company and Born2Run in an effort to raise capital but still owns controlling interest in both. Linton said he has temporarily shut down his Linton Industries company n New Castle because the Born2Run complex is taking up all of his time and effort.
Operations at the 115,000-square-foot complex have been a huge success, he said, and a full-page newspaper advertisement by Born2Run published today noted that 85,000 people have attended sports programs there since it opened six months ago.
Linton said if he doesn't come out of bankruptcy in a position to own and operate the facility, he'll have to "start climbing the ladder again."
Born2Run offers a variety of sports programs. It also offers special-needs activities such as weight loss camps, and after-school programs.