The city of Denver may spend as much as $70M “buying land and making surrounding improvements for a permanent professional women’s soccer stadium in the city,” according to Jenna Barackman of the DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL. A proposed public spending package and intergovernmental agreement outlined Wednesday to the South Platte River Committee “envisions Denver buying land” for the NWSL expansion franchise’s home field and for “infrastructure investments connecting the 41-acre site” to surrounding Denver neighborhoods. The owners of Denver’s new NWSL team in March announced plans to build a 14,500-seat stadium and a recreation district on the property, known as Santa Fe Yards. City documents reveal that Denver “could contribute a maximum” of $50M to “acquire the stadium site permanently and conduct on-site stadium improvements.” It could also spend up to $20M for “off-stadium improvements.” But Denver City Council “must first vote on rezoning the property and on a budget ordinance before the money can be appropriated.” The city has “also vowed not to move forward with the funding until a ‘community process,’ which is expected to be ongoing until November, has concluded.” The community outreach process includes “reaching out to under-represented communities, information sessions, a website that collects online input and outreach to organizations” (DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/9).
Denver could spend up to $70M acquiring, improving NWSL stadium site
