Denver clears the field for women's soccer stadium construction
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A rendering of the stadium for the Denver NWSL team. Photo: Courtesy of Denver NWSL
Denver Summit FC just scored a major goal.
The big picture: The Denver City Council on Monday gave final approval for a new women's soccer stadium that will become Denver Summit FC's home. The move ends a weeks-long pause tied to concerns over thin financial details and lingering distrust of Mayor Mike Johnston's administration, which helped broker the deal.
Why it matters: The vote puts the franchise back on track to meet its commitment to the National Women's Soccer League to deliver a stadium by 2028.
- The delay sent team owners scouting for sites outside Denver city limits to prevent potential league penalties if the clock ran out.
What they're saying: "This is not a good way to start a new relationship," political pundit Chris Rourke said of the rocky rollout on the latest episode of "Colorado Inside Out."
- Fellow panelist Alton Dillard, however, credited council members for their unwillingness "to just rubber stamp things."
How it works: The deal commits $50 million from the city's capital improvement fund and $20 million tied to the Elevate Denver bond program toward construction at the Santa Fe Yards site in south Denver.
- Initial projections peg the stadium's total price tag at about $200 million, with the ownership group covering the bulk.
- Beyond a 14,500-seat stadium, planners envision a dense, mixed-use district with housing, retail, public space and an expansive park on the long-vacant site.
Zoom out: Ahead of Monday's vote, Denver Summit FC signed a $7 million community benefits agreement that pours investments into nearby neighborhoods over 10 years. The franchise says those funds will support numerous initiatives, including:
- Youth scholarships
- Housing stability and anti-displacement efforts
- Small business support
- Local hiring and workforce development
- Environmental initiatives
- And arts and cultural preservation
What we're watching: How soon construction will kick off. No official date has been revealed.
The bottom line: The stadium fight further exposed political fault lines at City Hall — but, for now, they won't stop Denver from keeping its new women's soccer team inside city limits.