The city is set to invest up to $70 million in land acquisition and improvements for Denver’s professional women’s soccer stadium, as revealed in a presentation by Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration posted online on Wednesday.
In March, plans for the 14,500-seat stadium at Santa Fe Yards in Denver’s Baker neighborhood were announced by Johnston and the National Women’s Soccer League team ownership group. However, City Council members are seeking more details on the costs before committing to the project, as their approval is required for the land purchase and rezoning.
The city’s investment will cover the purchase of land near Broadway and Interstate 25, essential infrastructure updates, enhancements to bike and pedestrian access, and improvements to parkland amenities surrounding the site. The proposed stadium location is situated west of the I-25/Broadway light-rail station, with the city already owning a portion of the land known as Vanderbilt Park East.
Funding for the project is expected to come primarily from the Capitol Improvement Program, leveraging positive interest performance from the Elevate Bond, a 10-year, $937 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2017 for city and community projects.
If approved by the council, the city will allocate up to $50 million for on-site development and up to $20 million for off-site improvements. The unnamed soccer team has committed to constructing the stadium on the site, which was previously occupied by the Gates Rubber Co.
The remaining $20 million funding source is yet to be determined, with possible collaboration with the Denver Urban Renewal Authority to explore Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) options after existing infrastructure reimbursement obligations are met.
This evolving story will be updated as more details unfold.
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Original Publication Date: April 9, 2025 at 1:24 PM MDT
