Inside Denver’s Burnham Yard Sale: How the $50 Million Rail Deal Could Transform Housing, Transit, and Jobs

Denver’s long-dormant Burnham Yard railyard is poised for a dramatic transformation after the Denver Broncos formally named the 58-acre site as their preferred location for a new, retractable-roof stadium and mixed-use entertainment district. In a joint announcement with Governor Jared Polis and Mayor Mike Johnston, team owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner outlined a vision that would shift the NFL franchise about a mile northeast from Empower Field at Mile High and unlock one of central Denver’s largest infill parcels for redevelopment. Why Burnham Yard? • Size and location: The former Union Pacific maintenance yard sits between I-25 and the South Platte River, bracketed by 6th and 13th avenues—ample room for a 70,000-plus-seat venue, practice facilities, hotels, and year-round retail while keeping fans near downtown, light-rail lines, and bike paths. • Transportation overhaul: CDOT’s ongoing Front Range Passenger Rail studies already call for new tracks, bridges, and a relocation of freight spurs, giving the franchise a chance to fold stadium parking, a potential commuter-rail stop, and pedestrian bridges into the broader mobility plan. • Economic catalyst: City officials project more than 10,000 construction jobs and $3 billion in private investment, with bond funds under discussion for roadway, flood-mitigation, and utility upgrades. Key details from the Broncos’ proposal • Retractable roof: Ownership wants a multi-use venue capable of hosting Super Bowls, FIFA World Cup matches, Final Fours, concerts, and conventions—events that require a climate-controlled environment to compete with Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Arlington. • Public-private finance: The team says it will shoulder “an unprecedented share” of construction costs, but it will seek city and state partnerships for site preparation, infrastructure, and tax-increment financing districts—discussions that will dominate the 2026 legislative session. • Timeline: Stakeholders aim for environmental review and rail realignment agreements by late 2026, ground-breaking in 2027, and opening kickoff in the 2030 season, aligning with major lease decisions at Empower Field. Impact on current Empower Field The existing stadium lease runs through 2038, but clauses allow renegotiation if a replacement facility is financed. Early concepts repurpose Empower Field into a tech-focused mixed-income housing community or convert it into an MLS-ready soccer stadium, though no formal plan is on the table. Community reaction Neighborhood groups in Sun Valley and La Alma/Lincoln Park are demanding affordable housing quotas, minority-owned contracting targets, and guarantees that new bridges across the South Platte will not displace residents. Meanwhile, local businesses welcome year-round foot traffic and promise of riverfront promenades. What’s next CDOT and the Broncos must finalize a purchase agreement for the state-owned yard, the city council will weigh a “vibrant bond” package that earmarks $89 million for two replacement bridges near the site, and metro-area voters may ultimately be asked to approve a lodging-tax extension to cover public contributions. For now, Burnham Yard—once a symbol of Denver’s industrial heyday—has suddenly become ground zero for the Mile High City’s biggest sports and economic play in decades.