DIRECTV Data Center in Tucson Sells as Long-Term Triple-Net Investment

TUCSON, Ariz. (August 21, 2025) – A DIRECTV data center and broadcasting facility in southeast Tucson has sold as a long-term, net-leased investment for $8,080,000 ($560 per square foot).

The property, located at 9608 E. Old Vail Road on a 13.43-acre site (APN: 141-18-533A), includes a 14,427-square-foot building originally developed for DIRECTV, now part of AT&T.

The asset traded at a 6.55% capitalization rate with annual net operating income of $529,377. Lease terms include 18+ years remaining on a triple-net lease with 3% annual rent escalations, providing investors secure, long-term cash flow.

Jeffrey Thomas of The Thomas Company | Net Lease Capital Markets in Idaho served as the exclusive listing broker for the sale.

A July 2024 report from Data Center Dynamics noted that the Tucson facility and a companion DIRECTV site at 401 Direct Drive in Benson, Ariz., were being marketed simultaneously by The Thomas Company, with the Benson property priced at $4 million. Both sites recently renewed 20-year leases running through 2043, occupied by AT&T-owned DIRECTV on a triple-net (NNN) basis.

Mission-Critical Facilities

The Tucson and Benson sites are described as “mission critical” for DIRECTV’s day-to-day operations and are considered “part of the technical core, housing critical infrastructure that makes broadcast signals viable.” Their continued operation underpins DIRECTV’s broadcasting network and satellite communications footprint.

Launched in 1994 by Hughes Electronics and United States Satellite Broadcasting (USSB), DIRECTV delivers satellite television services supported by a fleet of 12 satellites in geostationary orbit. Hughes Electronics nearly merged with EchoStar/Dish in 2002 before the deal was scrapped. In subsequent years, ownership evolved through News Corporation (2003) and Liberty Media (2006), before Liberty spun off DIRECTV as a standalone company.

In 2014, DIRECTV was acquired by AT&T in a $48.5 billion deal. AT&T later sold a 30% stake to TPG Capital in 2021. Today, DIRECTV continues to operate as a leading satellite television provider and is listed on the Nasdaq.

The sale underscores strong investor demand for specialized, mission-critical assets with reliable tenancy, particularly data centers and broadcasting facilities that remain essential to today’s digital and telecommunications infrastructure.

For additional information, The Thomas Company can be reached at 800.775.3350.

 Source: RED Comp #12057