Broncos Announce Preferred Site For New Stadium

To Dome Or Not To Dome

Broncos Country has been divided on this one. The answer is both yes and no. Initial design concepts show a cutting-edge retractable roof along with a natural grass field. The roof will allow games to be played in the elements, should the team prefer, and at the same time maximize its usability for other events. Super Bowls, NCAA Final Fours, NCAA Playoffs, National Championship games, political conventions, concerts, Wrestlemanias, monster truck rallies, and many others.

“The stadium is going to have all the modern amenities and bells and whistles, and then around it, we have a real opportunity in that area to create an incredible mixed-use district,” the ownership group said. “That’ll be a real appeal, we think, for the community and our fans.”

Historic Site Gets Spotlight

The Broncos, the city of Denver, and the state of Colorado have strong desires to highlight Burnham Yard’s rich history and significance to the city.

“One of our goals is to make sure that we are engaging community members 365 days a year in the area around the stadium,” Walton Penner said. “So, it’s not something that will just have a large parking lot all around it, but really creating some place that’s special that people leave and talk about and say, ‘Oh my gosh, when you come to Denver, you’ve got to be here at Burnham Yard.'”

The team plans to collaborate with community leaders to showcase some of the historic site’s remaining structures by incorporating them into the stadium’s design.

“The first time we stepped on the site, there was a real appeal going back to the history of Burnham Yard and the rail, which is an important part of Colorado history,” Penner said. “We think it’s an opportunity for us to activate a number of those old historic buildings and features on the site as part of what we’re building.”

Mile High Farewell

If or when everything goes according to plan, the land Empower Field at Mile High currently sits on will revert to city ownership. The city and community members will then decide on the fate of the stadium. If recent history is an indicator, the site will likely be transformed into a mixed-use neighborhood. Replacing the stadium and its parking lots will be housing units, offices, shopping, green spaces, and improved street connectivity. One concept includes an oval apartment layout, storefronts, and a new street grid replacing the current cloverleaf interchange.

“This stadium is the next big investment for us,” Penner said. “And it’s going to be, we think, a central piece of our experience for the fans over the next 50, 60 years.”