{"id":720500,"date":"2026-04-28T18:36:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T18:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/720500\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T18:36:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T18:36:17","slug":"denver-sports-star-studded-weekend-drew-millions-in-revenue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/720500\/","title":{"rendered":"Denver sports star-studded weekend drew millions in revenue"},"content":{"rendered":"

A rare convergence of playoff star power created whopping revenues of $172 million for the Mile High City over the weekend of April 17-19, according to Visit Denver, the city\u2019s Convention & Visitors Bureau.<\/p>\n

From that Friday to Sunday, the soaring Denver Nuggets with center Nikola Joki\u0107 were battling the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena, while the Colorado Avalanche moved into a Stanley Cup playoff with the Los Angeles Kings. A similar doubled-down playoff back in 2024 had reportedly drawn some 80,000 fans into Ball Arena and its outdoor fan zones.<\/p>\n

While that was happening, Shohei Ohtani and the L.A. Dodgers were battling the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field; while the Colorado Rapids were hosting soccer great Lionel Messi and the Miami CF at Empower Field \u2014 a matchup that lured a crowd of 75,824, second highest attended game in Major League Soccer history.<\/p>\n

250,000 fans<\/p>\n

And across town, the U.S. Women\u2019s National Soccer team defeated Japan 3-0 April 17 at Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, luring another 17,589 fans to witness the three-game series win.<\/p>\n

Put those together and some 250,000 fans were watching and celebrating big league sports in Denver, according to Visit Denver. Some 37,000 of them enjoyed overnight stays here, helping generate a monumental haul at arenas, hotels, restaurants and entertainment sites.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce-in-a-lifetime chances to see the generational player to catching a favorite team in a favorite city, sports-driven tourism continues to trend,\u201d Visit Denver\u2019s news release said. It added that the rare matchup of three stars \u2014 Joki\u0107, Messi, Ohtani \u2014 helped draw abnormal attendance and excitement.<\/p>\n

That all happened despite the fact that the Rockies are currently playing .448 ball and have taken their usual slot at the bottom of the National League West standings, behind the Giants (.464) and Padres (.556).<\/p>\n

A newly released analysis by the Greenwood Village-based Common Sense Institute suggests that a hard-to-imagine turnaround by the Rockies would create a similar, additional windfall for the city over a season.<\/p>\n

According to the study \u201cIf the Rockies Rocked: What Colorado Would Gain from a Top-Ranked Baseball Franchise,\u201d a Rockies team that could catch the wind that\u2019s powering the Nuggets and Avs, then go on to grab a number one MLB berth, would likely drive fans to spend another $262 million over a season.<\/p>\n

That study was issued at a moment when a sports group headed by Denver Broncos owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner acquired a 40% minority interest in the struggling franchise.<\/p>\n

The Rockies are currently averaging around 33,500 fans a game at 50,000-seat Coors Field. The study suggests a number-one berth would drive a 44% increase, taking annual attendance from 2.4 million to 3.5 million, with many fans arriving for games from out of state.<\/p>\n

\"messi\"Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal in the second half of an MLS soccer game against the Colorado Rapids Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/Geneva Heffernan)<\/p>\n

The Visit Denver report said the Rockies\u2019 Friday and Saturday games over the mid-April convergence weekend showed the highest percentage of overnight visitors, 21%.<\/p>\n

\u201cFew cities can match the energy and diversity of sports in downtown,\u201d Visit Denver CEO Richard Scharf said in the report. <\/p>\n

\u201cThese events fill venues as well as they fill hotels, restaurants, bars, and attractions across the city driving significant revenue to areas businesses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Visit Denver added that the trend could continue through the summer. That will see the current fan energy, including Colorado Rapids and Summit FC home games, supplemented by a Colfax Marathon, the Rugby Nations Cup, Savannah Bananas events, a Red Bull Soapbox Derby, Monster Energy AMA Supercross and other special events.<\/p>\n


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