ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — There are advantages for a team whose owners are not only among the world’s wealthiest, but conscientious of doing things in a first-class manner.
Once again proving they spare no expense, the Walton-Penner ownership group has announced plans to build a new headquarters project for the Denver Broncos. Per an industry source, the project is expected to cost $175 million.
The three-story building will be built on the current land plot, specifically where the berm-seating area is now.
The Broncos will break ground on the 205,000-square foot project – 30 percent greater than the team’s current facility – this spring and is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2026 season.
Counting the $100 million in Empower Field at Mile High upgrades this season, the Walton-Penner ownership group has now invested more than a quarter billion of their own money in team facilities. And that doesn’t include the $400,000 the ownership group paid to replace their worn-out playing surface at Empower Field in the name of player safety for the final game of the 2022 season.
“Our vision is to create a new home for the Denver Broncos that reflects our values of winning and teamwork with a modern Colorado design,” Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner said in a statement. “While we considered several options to modify our current facility, we decided to do this the right way by building a new player-centered headquarters with an efficient layout and the latest amenities. Having both our football and business operations on the same campus will foster a championship environment in pursuit of our goals on and off the field.”
As for Broncos fans accustomed to watching Broncos’ training camp practices from the berm, don’t worry – temporary seating will be installed in time for next year’s camp. When the project is completed in 2026, fan seating – either stands or another berm – will be where the current headquarters building is now.
The new headquarters was architecturally co-designed by the HOK and Rockwell Group. Walton-Penner is still gathering bids on which contractor will be used for construction. The decision to build the new facility occurred after Penner led a contingency that included co-owner Carrie Walton Penner and team president Damani Leech on tours of newer or renovated headquarter facilities of the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. 9NEWS first reported in late-April of the Broncos’ ownership group touring other team’s training facilities and headquarters.
“This is a transformative time for the Denver Broncos led by the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group that has demonstrated a deep and impactful commitment to investing in world-class facilities,” Leech said in a statement. “We are thrilled to share plans for a new team headquarters with Broncos Country, bringing together our organization and contributing to a positive culture that supports the No. 1 goal of winning. The combination of layout, collaborative spaces, flexibility and size will place the Broncos’ new training facility among the very best in all of sports.”
While the Broncos owners decided to build a new facility because more space was needed – particularly in the players’ locker room – they also wanted the team headquarters to become more efficient. Player pathways will be reduced as the new headquarters building will be connected to the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse. The team’s strength and conditioning building will be torn down with the equipment room, trainer's room, treatment facilities, weightlifting and conditioning facility, a walkthrough room and cafeteria build into the main headquarters building.
The current facility is known as Centura Health Training Center as the team’s business department mostly had its offices at the Empower Field stadium while football operations had its offices at the Dove Valley facility. The new team headquarters will move about 70 staffers from the business offices with the football department.
The current main building at Centura Health Training Center will be torn down and another berm for fan seating will be built back up in time for the 2026 season training camp.
Broncos general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton served as de facto consultants in helping guide the architects on the layout for the new headquarters as the ultimate goal behind the new facility is to enhance player performance. Beau Lowery, the team's vice president of player health and performance, also provided input.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Locked On Podcasts
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free pp to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.