Burnham Yard: From Rail Hub to the Future Home of the Broncos

For more than a century, Burnham Yard was one of Denver’s most important industrial sites, and it looks like soon it will be home to the Denver Broncos.

The 58-acre railyard just south of downtown served as a major hub for locomotive repair and freight movement, tying the city to the growth of the West. After closing in 2016, the site sat largely dormant, waiting for a new chapter.

That chapter is now underway. On September 9, 2025, the Denver Broncos announced Burnham Yard as their preferred site for a new retractable-roof stadium and mixed-use district. Backed by the Walton-Penner ownership group and designed to be privately financed, the project would transform the long-vacant railyard into a vibrant destination of sports, entertainment, retail, and residential life. The stadium is expected to open in 2031, coinciding with the end of the team’s lease at Empower Field.

While not yet final, the project has the visible support of Denver’s mayor and other key civic leaders, making the move to Burnham Yard feel less like speculation and more like a foregone conclusion. For Denver, it means keeping the Broncos in the city’s core, revitalizing a historic site, and positioning the Mile High City for marquee events on the national stage.