DENVER (KDVR) — Empower Field at Mile High could likely be torn down sometime in 2031, which might make way for a new neighborhood development in west Denver.
The Denver Broncos, along with Mayor Mike Johnston and Gov. Jared Polis, announced Tuesday that there are potential plans to finance and build a new stadium at Burnham Yard.
The inaugural season at the potential new Broncos stadium location is slated for 2031.
However, the lease at the Empower Field at Mile High runs through the 2030 season. Once it expires, ownership of the land will transfer from the Metropolitan Football Stadium District to the city of Denver.
“I think that stadium would come down. We wouldn’t have a need for two stadiums,” Mayor Mike Johnston told FOX31. “But that will allow us to think about what could be possible at that site with really a blank slate.”
According to the mayor’s office, planning for the future of the 80-acre site will begin in 2026 and will include input from the West Denver community.
The mayor’s office noted in a press release that the ultimate goal is to create a “thriving neighborhood with new housing, parks, community spaces and more — built by Denverites for Denverites.”
Businesses around Empower Field speak
FOX31 interviewed a few businesses around the area of Empower Field about the potential new stadium and possible relocation of the Broncos.
“It will be different, certainly but I’m really eager to find out what the city is deciding to do with that space because having a hole in the ground certainly isn’t attractive to anyone,” Derek Friedman, owner of Sportsfan said.
Sportsfan has been around since 1985 and has had a location about a block away from the Empower Field for about 20 years. Friedman said he expects the current Federal Boulevard location to remain in place.
“I can’t imagine that the city and developers would want to see that either remain as empty or just as a stadium because theres so much development that’s happened right here along Federal and then Jeff Park so I think it’ll be a really cool space once it’s done,” Friedman said.
The area where Empower Field at Mile High sits has been home to a stadium since the 1940s. The “old Mile High” was originally home to the Denver Bears baseball team. The Broncos moved in in 1960. When that stadium was torn down, the new stadium was built right next door.
“I thought it was great that they built it right next to in the same area. I feel like they could do that with this same property as well but I’m not in charge of those things,” Craig Sundberg said.
Sundberg told FOX31 has been working in the area near the stadium for 27 years; however, he is not convinced a new stadium is the right move for the team.
“Just what becomes of the neighborhood is definitely concerning,” Sundberg said. “The development around here is getting really, really fast.”
One business that has remained a constant over the last four decades is The Original Brooklyn’s, which is a bar and restaurant right outside of the stadium, which can be packed on game days.
“I have never been a neighborhood bar. I’m all the of a sudden gonna be a neighborhood bar because I have apartments coming up all around me, which is, in itself gonna be very strange. I’m really excited about it,” said Diane Keefe, a manager for The Original Brooklyn’s.
However, Keefe said she is cautiously optimistic, but does not want to see the property built up with just apartments.
“Six years is a long time. A lot can happen in six years,” said Keefe. “Hopefully you get more bars and stuff like they’ve talked about like they want to do across the street. Hopefully that happens.”
According to Metro Football Stadium District’s Director of Stadium Affairs, Matt Sugar, the current season and the next five will operate like business as usual.
He also noted that maintenance, upkeep and the fan experience will continue as normal until the final game of the 2030-2031 season.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
