ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Instead of going through the gargantuan task of moving the famed grassy berm from one side of the Broncos’ practice fields to the other, instead of tearing down both the current, two-story main building and weight training center to build a new, larger, all-in-one headquarters facility, why didn’t the Walton-Penner ownership group decide to simply renovate what they already have?
Why not build a third floor on the existing facility, replace some equipment with updated start-of-the-art gadgets and call it good?
Truth is, that was the original idea.
And as often happens when ideas are exchanged, they multiply into other ideas. The result was Broncos CEO and controlling owner Greg Penner, owner Carrie Walton Penner and owner Rob Walton deciding on building an entirely new $175 million headquarters that is to be completed in time for training camp in 2026.
“This process started as a renovation,’’ said Broncos team president Damani Leech in an interview with 9NEWS. “Ownership came in and asked what do we need to do to make our facility the best for our players? We looked at renovation options. We looked at options to grow up, to expand to the side of our current building.
“What was important for us was staying on the current plot of land. We wanted to reduce the player path for travel. And to be connected to the indoor practice facility was also very important. And that’s what led us to building on the other side of the field.”
Too bad the NFL has a salary cap. Would any team outspend the Broncos in player payroll with the ownership group of the Penners, Greg and Carrie, and Rob Walton? No chance.
“I think this is just one more example of their commitment to this program, to this company, to this team in wanting to be the best,’’ Leech said. “And forcing us to define what greatness looks like in regards to our facilities and in the way that we operate every day.’’
Moving the berm, where fans sit on the west side of the practice fields, to the east side will take some doing. Tons of tons of dirt will have to be excavated and graded. Temporary bleachers will be placed on the south side of the Broncos’ practice field grounds while construction is ongoing for the 2024 and 2025 training camps.
But once the current building is torn down, a new berm for fan viewing will be constructed in time for the 2026 training camp.
Why stick with a berm instead of installing bleachers?
“One of the things from a design standpoint, we wanted the entire building and the campus to reflect Colorado,’’ Leech said. “We wanted a very nature-centric, nature-focused environment for our staff and for our players and for our fans. We think the grass berm is great visually to look at rather than bleachers.”
Broncos management also wanted its business people to join the football department in working at the same building. Currently, there are 70 business staffers with offices at Empower Field at Mile High who will be moved to the team’s new headquarters in 2026.
Ultimately, all things Broncos are about what the team does on Sundays. Or in the case for this week’s game, Monday night in Buffalo. Just about every year since the NFL instituted a salary cap in 1994, the Broncos have spent dollar for dollar to the league’s salary cap. Success, though, has come and gone. And it’s been gone for a while now.
The trick is to spend those dollars wisely.
How will a new home practice facility enhance player performance on game day?
“We’ll have larger spaces, better amenities that are consistent with what players expect and need to prepare themselves for Sundays in the NFL,’’ Leech said. “We’ll have what we believe will be some of the best facilities in the league.
But in addition to performing on Sundays we’re going to have over 100 of our business staff here all under one roof for the first time. That will be great for our overall culture for our company in performing on and off the field.”
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