Broncos president Demani Leech spoke to the media on Saturday and gave an update the franchise’s stadium plans.
Good morning, Broncos Country!
Now that training camp has started, the focus of the Denver Broncos is on football.
But the work has not and will not stop on the business side of the franchise, particularly on the stadium front. Here’s where things stand:
- Stay at the current site and either renovate the current stadium or build a new one.
- Find another place near downtown, specifically the possibility of a new location between the 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue exits off Interstate 25, known as the Burnham Yard.
- Build a new stadium in the Lone Tree suburb.
- Build a new stadium out by Denver International Airport in Aurora.
Based on recent coverage and developments, the Broncos seem to be leaning toward the Burnham Yard site for a new stadium. However, the organization has also met with Lone Tree city officials about the Broncos’ interest in the city as a stadium site, and the mayor has acknowledged those discussions. The two sides have had multiple discussions at the Broncos headquarters and in Lone Tree, according to 9News.
Based on what Broncos president Demani Leech said on Saturday prior to the start of training camp practice, no decision has been made about the stadium.
“Certainly aware of all the media coverage here recently,” Leech said to the media. “We share in the excitement and interest that it’s generated among the fans. We appreciate it. It’s good for us to learn what some of the fans say and hear in response to some of those media reports. But, no, I wouldn’t say any decision is made.
“It’s a very comprehensive, long-term process that we’re going through. We’re trying to be very deliberate about it. (There’s) still no determination about whether it’s a new stadium or whether it’s a renovation or the location that it’s in, a lot of work to go there.”
If Denver Mayor Mike Johnson has anything to do with the decision, it’ll remain in Denver. As he said to Denver 7, the local ABC affiliate, the Broncos will leave and build a stadium outside of Denver “over my dead body.”
When asked about Johnson’s comments and whether they’ll influence the decision, the process, or the timeline, Leech said:
“Certainly respect the excitement and enthusiasm of the mayor. He’s a big fan of the Broncos, whether it’s coming to games … But also, I think both the mayor and governor (Jared Polis) have been sincere in wanting to do what’s right for the Broncos. They understand the role the Broncos play in this community. So, I’ve had very good conversations with them.
“That being said, we’re not going to put a timetable on it. This is a 30-, 40-, 50-year decision that we don’t want to rush by a matter of weeks here or there. We’re going to continue to do our due diligence until we feel like we’re in a position to make the right decision.”
As to whether the organization has a preferred site for the new stadium, again, Leech said one has not been made.
“We have not made any decisions about preferred sites,” he said to the media prior to Saturday’s practice. What you’ve heard from us is really at a city level, so city conversations, city viewing, Denver, Aurora, Lone Tree. Beyond that, the levels and details there, no decisions have been made.”
If the Broncos do decide to build a new stadium, Leech acknowledged he’s enjoyed touring some of the newer stadiums in professional sports to get some inspiration.
“It’s been fun doing the research,” he said. “When we travel, whether it’s for work or vacation, I like to go check out stadiums — my wife doesn’t like that — check out mixed-use developments and see what’s happened, whether it’s in baseball, basketball, or football, is really, really interesting. I enjoy doing it.”
A hot topic is and will be whether a renovated Mile High or a new stadium will be open-air or some sort of dome.
“I think you’re going to get a mix of reactions there,” Leech said. “Our survey (that) we did about a year ago, got a lot of great feedback from our fans; we got great feedback from our partners and premium holders. When we get to that point, we’ll dig back into that data, but we’re far from designing anything at this stage.”
That brings up the possibility of staying put at the current location.
Plans to renovate the areas around the current stadium into a mixed-use entertainment development were already in place. However, those plans were put on hold since the organization’s stadium plans remain up in the air.
The current location is a definite attraction, given that the Broncos have played there since their inception in 1960 at the then Bears Stadium. The current stadium just had its 24th season and has undergone numerous renovations over the years.
“Our lease ends in 2030, and that’s certainly a mile marker we’re taking into account,” Leech said. “That being said, as you know, our ownership group has done a tremendous amount of resource commitment to the stadium. The Metropolitan Football Stadium District has been great partners. We feel like the stadium is really in great shape. That being said, in five more years, our lease will be up, and it’ll be a 30-year-old stadium.
“On a macro level, you look around the league, what’s happening? Stadiums built in that era, some younger, are either being built new or taking on significant renovations; you look at Carolina and Jacksonville. So that’s certainly something we’re thinking about. We’re also thinking about this in terms of the next 30 years and what we’ll need to serve our football program, but also our fans.”
Time will tell what the Broncos decide to do about a stadium, but you’d think a decision will likely come relatively quickly to start the process. When you consider how much time it will take to renovate or build a new stadium, the organization doesn’t want to take too long.
As Leech said in a February interview, “… we feel pretty soon we need to figure out what we’re doing.”
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