DENVER — For a stadium that might be meeting a wrecking ball in seven years for all anyone knows, the Broncos sure are putting a lot of money into the place.
After investing $100 million for upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High last year, the Broncos invited the media to view the latest stadium enhancements for 2024. It all starts with ownership, a group led by CEO Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner.
“There are two things to me that are apparent about our ownership group,’’ Broncos president Damani Leech said. “First and foremost, a commitment to winning. They want to be successful on the field. I think you’re seeing that with the investments both from a [coaching and personnel] staff standpoint as well as from a players’ standpoint. They want to win and they want to win now. Greg used the words, he’s very impatient.
“I think the second is the commitment to the fans. And right away as we saw last year, ‘What can we do to make the fan experience better here on game days?’ A really thoughtful approach about it and it really pushed us to be thoughtful about not just what we’re doing but why we’re doing it. And we expect to continue seeing that year after year.’’
At least through 2030, the final year of the Broncos’ lease with Empower Field. The Walton-Penner ownership group has been researching the possibility of building a new stadium. The start of the 2031 season would be a logical target date – if ownership decides a new stadium is the way to go. Staying at the existing stadium past 2030 is still an option.
“It’s certainly a complicated process,’’ Leech said. “One that’s going to take a long time to figure out. Obviously, we have a lease that runs through 2030. So, we’re taking our time and doing all the research we can. Really all options are on the table in terms of what the future could hold.
“But most of our focus right now is on this season, this team and this stadium.”
This year’s Empower Field enhancements include:
*A $500,000 expansion of the Ring of Fame Plaza located outside the south end zone. With two players from the famed 1977 Orange Crush, Steve Foley and Riley Odoms, getting elected recently into the team’s Ring of Fame, the Broncos needed to expand the Plaza to make room for at least two more pillars. …
*The renovation of two suites into a premium “1977 Club” that features all you can eat and drink and a bird’s eye corner view of the playing field, among other amenities.
*Three new Colorado-themed murals on walls inside the stadium, an art project created and led by owner Carrie Walton Penner. There are now 11 murals painted on the stadium hallway walls since the beginning of the 2022 season.
*Another $6.5 million invested into the stadium Wi-Fi system for greater connectivity. This is an ongoing battle for a stadium that brings in 75,000 feet-stomping, loud-cheering customers on game day. The Broncos, though, continually seek to upgrade with the latest technology.
*A new and improved food menu in the club and suite areas with a special emphasis on TAG, Blue Pan and 10 other local restaurants, along with 10 new dishes.
The hot dog-and-a-beer option is still there. But many fans want choices.
“I think it’s more about the evolution of stadiums and game entertainment across all of sports, really,’’ Leech said. “When you think about initial stadiums that were built with one seating product -- it was just general admission. And then came suites. I think now what we’re trying to do is make sure we offer a wide, diverse menu of opportunities for fans.
“There’s still 50,000-plus general admission seats here in the stadium, so we’re trying to fill in the gaps between suites … and people who sit in the regular seats but want to have an experience before and after the games.”