Broncos Announce Burnham Yard as Preferred Site for New Stadium and Mixed-Use District
DENVER, CO – The Denver Broncos, in partnership with the City of Denver and the State of Colorado, have officially named Burnham Yard as the preferred site for a new retractable-roof stadium and year-round mixed-use district.
The announcement marks the most significant step yet in planning for the team’s long-term home, aligning with the expiration of the current Empower Field at Mile High lease in 2030. The project will be funded privately by the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, with city and state support for surrounding public improvements, all with no new taxes.
Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos/2025 Denver Broncos
A Historic Site for a New Era
Burnham Yard spans more than 100 acres along the I-25 corridor, between 6th and 13th avenues. Once one of Denver’s most active railyards, it played a central role in the city’s economy for nearly 150 years before operations ceased in 2016. The Broncos have reached conceptual agreements with the State of Colorado to purchase 58 acres of the site and with Denver Water for 25 acres, while private acquisitions will make up the remainder.
Owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner emphasized both the site’s location and its historic value. “We couldn’t be more excited about Burnham Yard as the preferred site to build a new stadium and an incredible year-round destination,” said Greg Penner. “We think it’s an opportunity to activate old historic buildings and features as part of what we’re building.”
Stadium Features and Timeline
The new stadium is envisioned as a retractable-roof facility with a natural grass field, giving the Broncos flexibility to host games in Denver’s elements while also accommodating premier events such as Super Bowls, Final Fours, College Football Playoff games, year-round concerts, and other large-scale events.
The stadium is planned as the centerpiece of a mixed-use district that could ultimately deliver millions of square feet of development, including restaurants, retail, hotel and housing options, office space, entertainment venues, and dynamic public spaces. Multi-modal transit connections, including RTD light rail, are planned to link the district to the broader city.
The Broncos have set a target completion date of 2031, coinciding with the end of their current stadium lease, but have the option to extend if needed.
A Private Investment Model
Unlike many stadium projects of the past, the Burnham Yard stadium will be financed through private investment by the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, with no public tax dollars allocated to construction. The city and state will fund infrastructure improvements that benefit the broader community, such as roads, transit, and public space connections.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis praised the model: “They said very early on, ‘Our model is not going to the taxpayers and asking for hundreds of millions of dollars like stadium deals of the past. We’re going to finance this and figure it out.’”
Community Engagement and Next Steps
The Broncos emphasized that this announcement marks the beginning of a more transparent phase of community involvement. The team has committed to working with Denver City Council on a Community Benefits Agreement, ensuring that surrounding neighborhoods and community organizations have a voice in shaping the development.
“This is not yet a celebration but rather a meaningful checkpoint,” read a joint statement from Greg and Carrie Penner, Mayor Mike Johnston, and Governor Jared Polis. “Most importantly, this announcement marks the beginning of a much deeper and transparent phase of broader engagement with our neighbors.”
The next stage will focus on civic engagement, higher-level design and planning, and the necessary agreements and approvals before construction can begin.
Looking Ahead
If completed as envisioned, the Burnham Yard project would represent one of the largest privately funded sports and entertainment investments in U.S. history. For Denver, it would also open up a long-closed railyard site for redevelopment, connecting downtown and west Denver with new housing, businesses, and public amenities.
“Today is a remarkable win-win-win for Denver,” said Mayor Johnston. “The Broncos are staying in Denver, we will finally open up the historic Burnham Yard neighborhood for development, and we get to reimagine the Mile High Stadium site as a thriving community in West Denver.”
For fans, the Burnham Yard announcement signals the start of a new chapter in the Broncos’ six-decade connection with Denver, one that could shape both the team and the city for generations to come.
All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
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All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
4 minute read • The Denver Broncos, in partnership with the City of Denver and the State of Colorado, have officially named Burnham Yard as the preferred site for a new retractable-roof stadium and year-round mixed-use district.