Broncos Still Pondering Their Future Home Stadium, Denver Site Looking Like Best Bet

The Denver Broncos need a new home stadium. Their current venue, Empower Field at Mile High, has been in use since August 2001. While it’s still more than adequate on Sundays, it’s obvious that the structure is starting to look and feel like it’s more than a little bit past its prime compared to the league’s newly minted football castles in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Minnesota.

So what’s the word? Currently, no one knows. Broncos president Damani Leech has publicly stated that the team is still very much open to every and all possible scenarios. Renovation, demolishing and rebuilding on the same site, moving to a new location in the Denver area, or maybe even outside city limits in nearby Aurora, Centennial, Lakewood, or Broomfield.

Of course, Broncos Country is dying for a little clarity while Leech keeps preaching patience. “This is a 30 to 50-year decision,” he’s said on several occasions. In other words, the Broncos don’t want to rush the decision-making process and end up regretting their choice later on.

Burnham Yard, an industrial rail yard up until 2016, has been all over the local news. It’s an area close to Lincoln Park, not far from downtown Denver. Multiple buildings were demolished earlier this year, fueling speculation and rumors of a possible new stadium site.

Earlier this year, a mysterious buyer spent approximately $146 million acquiring ten properties in that neighborhood. Abandoned lots, condemned warehouses and buildings, and acres upon acres of undeveloped land. Property sellers all signed Non-Disclosure Agreements, making the whole thing feel even more than a little discreet.

No one within the organization has confirmed or denied anything, but internet sleuths and local media are putting pieces of the puzzle together. Burnham Yard “checks all the boxes”. It’s close to downtown Denver, meaning it’ll keep the storied franchise right in the middle of the city’s identity. That last critical part is significant because the idea of the team relocating to the suburbs, like Aurora or Lone Tree, has been met by passionate criticism from the Orange and Blue die-hards.

Exacerbating the Burnham Yard rumor is the Vibrant Denver Bond Package, proposed by Mayor Mike Johnston. It includes nearly $140 million budgeted for infrastructure upgrades in that very same area. Improvements to roads, bridges, and public transit. Updating energy grids and water systems. Anything and everything under the sun. Of course, all that money isn’t necessarily set aside for the Broncos. If a stadium were to be erected there, though, it would literally be a turnkey situation.

These are the many reasons why Burnham Yard has emerged as the frontrunner if the team opts for a new stadium.

The Broncos haven’t ruled out staying put. Empower Field at Mile High isn’t the swanky hot spot in the league, yet Broncomaniacs will tell you it has one of the best gameday atmospheres. It’s undeniably tough to imagine Denver football anywhere else.

Leech himself has been quoted as saying a complete renovation of Mile High is still a huge possibility. That means modernizing the suites, adding more fan-friendly amenities, upgrading the concession stands, and addressing all of the inadequacies that a 25-year-old stadium may have in order to bring the place up to par with newer NFL stadiums.

For longtime Broncos die-hard fans and former players, Mile High is more than just a stadium. It’s where unforgettable memories were made. John Elway lifted three AFC Championship trophies there, beating the Cleveland Browns twice and the New York Jets once. It’s where Peyton Manning lifted two, beating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots both times. It’s where generations of families have passed down their love and passion for Broncos football.

The NFL landscape is changing. Ownership groups around the league are building facilities that double as entertainment districts where fans can hang out year-round, complete with restaurants, bowling alleys, movie theaters, retail shops, condo units, and concert venues. The Walton-Penner Group undoubtedly has the resources to make the fans happy.

Of course, this won’t be settled overnight. The Broncos are still doing their due diligence, and until the team feels 100 percent certain, it’s all speculation.

Whether it’s at Mile High, Burnham Yard, or the suburbs, the upcoming decision will shape both the franchise and the city of Denver itself for at least a quarter century. Fans don’t know where they’ll be tailgating in 2030, but they can bet the Broncos are treating this like The Drive version 2.0. Slow, deliberate, and aiming for a perfect ending.

Of course, there’s that one inevitable question. To dome or not to dome?