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Denver Broncos president Damani Leech acknowledged on Saturday that while the club still views a 2031 opening for its new retractable-roof stadium as a realistic objective, the project's timeline could slip unless key community processes move faster. Speaking at the team's newly unveiled headquarters, Leech stressed that the franchise cannot achieve this goal alone.
Leech told reporters that the Broncos are eager to engage directly with community representatives involved in the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) and the small-area plan, noting that recent interactions have been mostly at a staff level. He explained, "We've had a lot of great initial conversations with community representatives. More recently it's been more on a staff level. We're eager to engage with those community members directly to understand what they're looking for, what needs and interests they have in the development."
The CBA is one of several items the Broncos must bring before the Denver City Council. A source familiar with the matter indicated that the small-area plan could reach the council by January, a vote that is critical for the Denver Urban Renewal Authority to proceed with an urban renewal plan, which would determine tax-increment financing eligibility. Additionally, the project involves relocating about 20 acres of Denver Water operations, a complicated undertaking that Leech discussed in weekly meetings with Alan Salazar and his team.
Key Analysis
Beyond the CBA, the Broncos are managing multiple parallel tracks, including the purchase of SRM Concrete and the selection of design firms. Earlier this year, the team chose Kansas City-based Manica Architecture to design the stadium and Denver-based Tryba Architects to lead the master plan for the surrounding entertainment district. Manica's portfolio includes Allegiant Stadium and the Chase Center, while Tryba has worked on major Front Range projects like Google's Boulder offices.
Leech expressed a mix of optimism and frustration, noting that while progress is being made, the complexity of the process can be daunting. "There are days when I'm driving home and I'm really excited about the progress that we're making," he said. "And, I'll be honest, there are days when I have concern and frustration because you can't control it all." The team hopes to begin construction in spring or summer next year, contingent on final approvals.
Originally reported by headtopics.