The stadium will feature an enclosed retractable roof while maintaining natural turf. Surrounding the venue will be retail, hotels, and office spaces designed to maximize year round use and long term value to the community. Ownership stressed that no public dollars will go toward the stadium, aligning with Mayor Mike Johnston’s pledge that the city will not finance the project. “This is a remarkable win for Denver,” Johnston said. “The Broncos are staying in Denver, we will finally open up the historic Burnham Yard for development, and we will get to reimagine the Mile High Stadium site as a thriving community in West Denver.” The Walton Penner Ownership Group described the plan as a civic partnership and framed the project as an investment in both football and the city itself. Burnham Yard is a 58 acre site once owned by Union Pacific Railroad. The property was sold to the state for $50 million in 2021 and is now part of a conceptual agreement that includes 25 acres of Denver Water’s adjacent campus. The Broncos’ current lease at Empower Field expires in 2030, though it has extension options. Once the lease ends, the stadium site will return to city control for redevelopment. The new facility could require more than $4 billion to complete. The infrastructure package includes nearly $90 million for the removal of part of the 8th Avenue viaduct, which would be converted into a surface street, and another $50 million for reconfiguration and repair work on the 6th Avenue bridge. The Broncos argued that Empower Field, now nearly 30 years old, needed about $700 million in upgrades to remain viable for another 25 to 30 years. By contrast, a new facility offers more flexibility, aligns with league trends toward entertainment districts, and improves the fan experience. Other sites were considered in past years, including Lone Tree and areas near the airport. Many fans opposed those options, seeing them as too far from the city center. The Burnham Yard location keeps the team in a central position near downtown and along the I 25 corridor, making it accessible while opening a long neglected area for redevelopment. The stadium plan builds on a wider wave of growth in the district. A new women’s soccer facility is being completed just down I 25, and five construction cranes already mark ongoing residential expansion in the area. With full approval now in place, changes to the surrounding neighborhood are expected to accelerate quickly. The project also reflects a shift in ownership priorities. The Broncos attempted to redevelop the Empower Field site under a master plan, but the scope of work and cost led to the decision to pursue Burnham Yard. Across the NFL, teams are moving into modern stadiums with surrounding districts, and Denver is now following that path. Fans and civic leaders have pointed out that this decision represents not just an upgrade but also a preservation of civic identity. Keeping the Broncos in Denver rather than pushing them outward maintains their place at the heart of the city. For decades Burnham Yard has been an underutilized rail site with aging buildings. In five years, that same land could house a modern stadium district alive with shops, restaurants, and the energy of 70,000 fans. The Broncos’ decision ensures the team remains tied to Denver while unlocking one of the city’s most significant redevelopment opportunities.