Dish Network to sell Littleton property to billionaire founder's SPAC

Dish Network plans to sell its Littleton office campus to an entity linked to the company’s founder, then lease it back.

Conx Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, said in a March 11 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it is set to pay $26.75 million to buy the 5701 S. Santa Fe Drive property from EchoStar Corp.

EchoStar acquired Dish at the end of last year. The two had previously been part of the same company.

The sale of the Littleton property is expected to close in the second quarter, per the filing. Either party can cancel the deal if it doesn’t close by May 15.

EchoStar has agreed to lease back the property for 10 years, initially paying $228,500 a month, per the filing. That amount will increase 2 percent annually and the lease will include two five-year renewal options.

Dish Network lists its headquarters in filings as 9601 S. Meridian Blvd. in Douglas County. The Littleton property is considered the headquarters of Dish Wireless, according to Conx.

Conx Corp. was founded in 2020 by billionaire Charlie Ergen as a blank-check public company designed to make acquisitions in the telecommunications industry. Ergen, who Forbes estimates is worth $1.2 billion, also founded Dish Network and EchoStar, and is chairman of both companies.

The Littleton property consists of about 25 acres just west of downtown Littleton, according to property records.

Dish Network has been cutting staff locally for months. Since November, the company has informed the state labor department of about 715 layoffs. The most recent notification came last week, when the company said five of its attorneys would be let go — one senior corporate counsel, one corporate counsel and three associate corporate counsel.

This story was reported by our partner BusinessDen.