Denver is on track to open a new 155-acre park and build one of the first-ever stadiums dedicated to women’s sports after the City Council approved both deals Monday, handing Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration two wins in one night.
But both projects, particularly the stadium deal, still have hurdles to overcome.
In an interview before the final votes, Johnston called the meeting “a historic victory” for the city.
“We understand that people have questions. That’s their job,” he said. “If these pass tonight, we will be on a path to fundamentally transform the city for generations to come.”
Johnston announced the stadium and the park deals at news conferences earlier this year, but both still needed approval from the 13-member City Council to come to fruition.
A stadium in Baker
The women’s soccer stadium, which would seat 14,500 people and open in 2028, will face more council votes in the fall after the public has a chance to weigh in and planners decide on the final design. No money will change hands until after those votes, said Laura Swartz, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Finance.
Under the plan — developed by the team’s ownership group and Johnston’s administration — the city would spend up to $70 million to acquire and prepare the site for construction. Then the National Women’s Soccer League team would spend about $200 million to build the stadium.
Several council members said they would give initial approval but wanted to see the detailed plans, along with assessing the economy, before agreeing to shell out the money. Twelve of 13 council members ultimately gave their stamp of approval.
“It’s a dicey time,” said Councilman Paul Kashmann, who voted yes. “We may find things ease up over the next six months, or it may be doom and gloom — and we will have to make some very dire decisions.”
The project comes as part of a deal with the soccer league to bring their next team, which owners haven’t named yet, to Denver.
While most economists say stadium projects rarely, if ever, achieve their promised economic benefits, the mayor’s office has cast it as a potential boon for the city’s businesses and tax revenue. In a city-produced economic study, the staff analysts projected a $2.2 billion impact over three decades.
But not all on the council bought that pitch.
“We’d be investing in a large parcel that we wouldn’t otherwise be buying just to assist a private ownership group to have a place to build a private stadium,” said Councilwoman Sarah Parady, who was the sole “no” vote.
Without the stadium, the team likely wouldn’t have stayed in Denver, the ownership group’s leader, Rob Cohen, told the council last month. After the meeting, Cohen said he was committed to making sure the council is comfortable with the final deal, including a promised community benefit agreement between the neighbors and the team.
“They renewed my faith in democracy,” Cohen said of the council. “It just shows that smart, intelligent people can disagree and debate and have thoughtful conversation but in the end make a decision that’s in the best interest of our city.”
The NWSL stadium, set to be built on the Santa Fe Yards redevelopment site in the Baker neighborhood, would also host events like graduations, high school sports and concerts in addition to games. The long-term plan for the site includes a neighboring mixed-use development with housing, restaurants and a hotel.
City officials expect to spend up to $50 million for the land and another $20 million for improvements to the surrounding area, including for access improvements. The money will come indirectly from interest accrued from the 2017 Elevate Denver bond program. The city will put that interest toward other city projects that are being paid for through its capital projects fund, using the fund’s resulting savings for the stadium.
Park Hill Open Space
The council also approved an agreement with Westside Investment Partners to obtain the former Park Hill Golf Course and turn it into a park.
To secure the park land, the city agreed to give Westside a 145-acre plot near Denver International Airport with a similar valuation.
Johnston announced the deal at a news conference in January. While Johnston’s administration originally planned City Council votes in February, they quietly pulled the item from the calendar without saying when it would return.
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“Deals like these involve many moving parts and don’t get done overnight but are well worth it,” said Jon Ewing, a spokesman for the mayor. “Today, finally, we are able to deliver Park Hill back to the people.”
The item the council approved Monday authorizes the land swap. Another bill to allow the rezoning is expected in June. The city and Westside will also each complete 90-day due diligence surveys of the plots before the deal is finalized.
The Parks and Recreation Department plans to complete any necessary or low-cost construction as soon as possible to allow the public to begin using the space as soon as this summer. After a public input period, the department will begin designing and constructing bigger amenities for the park in 2026.
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