Denver Summit FC gets go ahead for downtown stadium project

The Denver City Council voted to approve $50 million in funding on Monday to purchase land, supporting the development of the planned new Denver Summit FC soccer stadium at Santa Fe Yards.

It was one of the biggest hurdles left for the NWSL club’s much-anticipated permanent home that is expected to open in 2028.

“Denver Summit FC is extremely pleased with Denver City Council’s vote to approve the Santa Fe Yards Stadium project,” said Summit FC controlling owner Rob Cohen in a news statement. “We are excited to continue to take the next steps in building a purpose-built, soccer-specific stadium in Denver’s urban core for our community, our athletes, and our supporters. We greatly appreciate the support and collaboration from the Denver Community, Denver City Council, WENU, the Mayor’s Office, local businesses and our fans and supporters. We look forward to building a stadium that will provide a positive impact on our community for generations to come.”

The plan calls for a state-of-the-art, 14,500-seat stadium at Sante Fe Yards (Broadway and I-25) near the heart of the city. It will be the first purpose-built sports and entertainment district built for professional women’s sports in Colorado.

“This is a monumental day for South Broadway, for women’s soccer and for women’s sports, and for Denver as a whole,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in the same news release. “I am grateful to Councilmembers for their thorough review of this project and their partnership on this transformational project, to Rob Cohen, Jen Millet, and the entire Denver Summit team, and most especially to businesses and neighbors near the stadium, who saw an incredible opportunity and fought to ensure their community would be included in it. Let’s go!”

Several ordinances were needed to change zoning laws and free up the money needed for the project. The stadium deal had gotten caught up in the politics of it all — stalling for some time as the folks with the power debated where the funds would come from.

Cohen had mentioned the team had started looking for alternative solutions for their forever home. The team plans to play in a temporary stadium in Centennial for two years.

Santa Fe Yards will be a 14-acre redevelopment, featuring a 3.5-acre recreational park and a future mixed-use development. The club says the facility will be constructed with the possibility of expanding to host larger crowds and bigger events in the future.

The project, near the Broncos’ one at Burnham Yard, is also on a site that has sat empty for years. Like the football team’s stadium, the hope is that this soccer stadium can build a community and reconnect some disconnected parts of Denver.

The team will begin playing in just a few months and the hope is they’ll play in their forever home in just a few years.

Related

Summit set for temporary home launch, Lindsey Heaps debutDenver Summit FC smashes NWSL attendance record in home openerDenver Summit FC launch inaugural kitColorado’s Mikaela Shiffrin wins third Olympic gold with historic slalom runColorado’s greatest soccer player is coming homeDenver Summit FC to play first match at Empower Field at Mile High