{"id":136371,"date":"2025-06-17T06:53:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T06:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/136371\/"},"modified":"2025-06-17T06:53:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T06:53:12","slug":"new-report-fuels-more-talk-of-downtown-broncos-stadium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/136371\/","title":{"rendered":"New report fuels more talk of downtown Broncos stadium"},"content":{"rendered":"

A report from The Denver Post<\/a> further linked the Denver Broncos to the downtown site known as Burnham Yard for a possible location for the team\u2019s new stadium.<\/p>\n

The newspaper reported Monday that it obtained confirmation from Denver Water verifying documents showing the utility\u2019s meetings with Broncos executives and city officials. The discussions, ongoing for more than a year, involve Denver Water\u2019s 36-acre campus, which is adjacent to the potential stadium site in the La Alma\/Lincoln Park neighborhood.<\/p>\n

News of the Broncos\u2019 interest first surfaced last week when BusinessDen revealed<\/a> that the team was linked to LLCs making 10 separate land purchases around the former railyard in the city center, totaling $150 million. Those purchases began late last summer.<\/p>\n

The area being targeted, according to reports and local speculation, is the 58-acre Burnham Yard, owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation. It is located between Sixth and 13th Avenues to the south and north, and bordered by Seminole Road and Osage Street to the west and east. Union Pacific closed Burnham Yard in 2016, and in 2021, the Colorado Department of Transportation bought the land for the purpose of big transportation projects. They had eyes on the planned Front Range Passenger Rail line, but a state study later concluded the area would not be useful for that or other things after all \u2014 hence the sale.<\/p>\n

Denver Water\u2019s campus is near the site and recently underwent a $200 million investment, including an acclaimed<\/a> new headquarters in the area that opened in 2019. The Post reported that there have been meetings that have included Broncos president Damani Leech and Denver Water CEO Alan Salazar and board chair Stephanie Donner. Some of the meetings between the team and the utility have occurred as frequently as weekly.<\/p>\n

Denver Water has operated at the site for 130 years and is considered an anchor institution, according to spokesman Jimmy Luthye.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have had discussions with the Broncos as part of their exploration of potential future stadium sites, but it is premature to draw any firm conclusions,\u201d Luthye told The Post. \u201cIn these discussions, we\u2019ve tried to make sure they fully understand any potential implications for Denver Water facilities and operations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two sides have discussed the utility\u2019s financing plan, environmental findings, geotechnical surveys and conditions at neighboring properties.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear whether the Broncos would ask Denver Water to vacate its campus if Burnham Yard is chosen, or if the team would need only a portion of the property.<\/p>\n

The Broncos\u2019 purchase of surrounding land suggests the team may need to expand the site, which is relatively skinny<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Earlier<\/a> this spring, reports indicated that the Broncos have also had conversations with officials in Lone Tree<\/a> and Aurora about sites in those suburbs. The Broncos could also renovate or rebuild on the current site of Empower Field at Mile High.<\/p>\n

The stadium sits on land that has primarily hosted the Broncos since their founding in 1960. The current stadium opened in 2001 and is owned by the taxpayer-funded Metropolitan Football Stadium District. The team\u2019s lease expires in 2031.<\/p>\n

. The team\u2019s lease on the venue expires in 2031.<\/p>\n

Team owner Greg Penner said earlier this year<\/a> that adding a dome or retractable roof is a possibility. A domed stadium could position Denver to host major events such as the Super Bowl, the NCAA Final Four and winter concerts.<\/p>\n

If the site is Burnham Yard, the Broncos would need to work with the city to improve access, as multiple viaducts carry traffic over the area to Interstate 25. A major RTD light rail stop sits adjacent to the site. RTD had previously considered adding more tracks to improve service.<\/p>\n

As with any major investment, the project remains in early stages. But recent reports show the Broncos are investing significant time and money into Burnham Yard.<\/p>\n

Follow @Shapalicious<\/a><\/p>\n

\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n