Broncos submit stadium plans for review

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The NFL’s Denver Broncos have submitted a Large Development Review (LDR) pre-application to the City of Denver for their new stadium.

The Broncos said the LDR outlines preliminary plans for the development of Burnham Yard as the preferred site for the privately funded stadium and mixed-use community.

The preliminary draft—which is conceptual in nature—will be modified over the next year in collaboration with the city, ensuring it aligns with Denver’s long-term needs and priorities.

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver (US). The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference West division. The team is headquartered in Dove Valley, Colorado.

The Broncos currently play at the 76,125-capacity Empower Field at Mile High, an American football stadium in Denver, Colorado, United States. It opened in 2001 to replace the Broncos’ original home, the old Mile High Stadium.

The targeted completion date for the new stadium is the 2031 season, which aligns with the expiration of the Broncos’ current lease at Empower Field at Mile High with the Metropolitan Football Stadium District. The Broncos have the option to extend the lease, if needed.

The Broncos said the new stadium will showcase innovative technology and modern amenities to elevate the fan experience, enhance Denver’s home-field advantage and attract premier events throughout the year.

The initial design concepts for the stadium include a natural grass field and a retractable roof featuring the latest technology.

The roof would allow Denver’s games to be played in the elements while maximizing both the year-round flexibility of the stadium and its long-term value to the community.
 

Community engagement

Broncos Owner & CEO Greg Penner and Owner Carrie Walton Penner—along with President Damani Leech and team leadership—have engaged with numerous community members since Burnham Yard was announced in September as the preferred site for a retractable roof stadium anchoring a mixed-use community.

In addition to working on the Large Development Review, the Broncos also continue to engage simultaneously on both the Community Benefits Agreement and Small Area Plan processes on a city, community and neighborhood level.

The City of Denver’s Community Planning and Development (CPD) department provided initial input for the Broncos’ Large Development Review, which will continue to be shaped by community feedback through a dynamic, transparent and collaborative process over the next year.

The Broncos said in a statement, “The Large Development Review—alongside the Community Benefits Agreement and Small Area Plan—is an opportunity for the Denver Broncos to ensure the stadium and mixed-use community bring meaningful, lasting benefit to the area.

“Our goal is to create a true local asset that expands access, improves quality of life and provides year-round impact for the broader neighborhood, metro area and visitors.

“As our organization begins this process, we are in listen-first mode and remain deeply committed to collaborative, inclusive and transparent engagement. Working closely with civic leaders, we are dedicated to honoring and celebrating the rich, diverse history of the area along with the cultural fabric of the community.”

“While the conceptual design in the Large Development Review is a high-level preliminary draft, we look forward to partnering with the city of Denver and our future neighbors to shape the next phases of planning.

“Together, we will refine this conceptual layout into a detailed plan that respects the surrounding neighborhoods, adds new homes and creates vibrant community amenities and green spaces to be enjoyed throughout the year.”

Included in the LDR is a preliminary conceptual map of the layout of how the development site could be organized as well as the team’s desire to highlight the history of Burnham Yard, an historic former railyard that predates Colorado statehood.

Initial plans propose to locate the stadium on the western edge of Burnham Yard—furthest away from residential neighborhoods to the east—surrounded by a linear park and mixed-use community featuring restaurants, housing and amenities.

Anchored by the world-class retractable roof stadium, this vibrant community hub will connect fans, neighbors and future generations across Colorado while improving connectivity and accessibility to the area.

The Broncos have partnered with Sasaki, a global design practice with deep experience working on some of the largest and most prominent developments in Denver, for the site’s master plan.

The team also introduced a website, newstadium.denverbroncos.com, featuring the latest stadium news along with an opportunity for fans and members of the community to sign up for updates and information.

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