STRONG ECONOMY HELPS RETIRE DENVER STADIUM DEBT EARLY
November 16, 2000
Copyright 2000 MediaVentures
A strong Denver economy should allow voters to retire their $289 million debt on the new Broncos' stadium in 2011, a year earlier than planned. If the economy remains
strong, the debt could be paid off sooner. Sales of naming rights, the money from which goes to taxpayers, would reduce the debt even further. Taxpayers are paying a 0.1%
increase in their sales taxes to fund the construction.
DENVER MAYOR WANTS VOTE ON STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS
November 2, 2000
Copyright 2000 MediaVentures
Denver Mayor Wellington Webb thinks the public should vote on whether to sell naming rights to the Broncos' new stadium and has asked an auditing firm to determine the value of the
traditional "Mile High" name. The mayor's change in position caused three companies bidding for naming rights to withdraw from negotiations. That led the stadium district board to suspend further
talks on a sale.
Other companies were reportedly still in talks and some are willing to keep "Mile High" in the name. District officials said the mayor's public stance made negotiations difficult. They also said the
bidders willing to keep "Mile High" in the name would have resulted in a sale of $52 million to $89 million, which is in line with the board's goals.
Observers said the companies willing to keep the "Mile High" name hoped to win positive public relations by keeping the name. The mayor's move prevented the companies from reaping the
benefits of that move because the mayor would take credit. Gov. Bill Owens called on the companies to come back to the negotiating table.
The companies withdrawing from the talks were AT&T Broadband, Janus Capital Corp. and Invesco Funds Group. The companies willing to keep "Mile High" were not identified. AT&T last
June reserved the Internet address attstadium.com in case it is successful in its bid.
Webb recently changed his position on the sale of the name and now is asking the Metropolitan Football Stadium District to delay a decision on the issue. The district board is reviewing bids for the name and held public hearings last summer to get reaction. Only 91 people came to the hearings and most wanted to keep the traditional name. The district has the rights to the stadium and would receive all money from the sale. If a portion of the sale includes luxury suites or other stadium services, that money would go to the team. The public is paying 75% of the stadium's $401 million cost.
Webb has also said an election should be held on the issue of naming rights, but district officials say they won't ask for a vote.
While the mayor thinks the "Mile High" name is good publicity for the city, sale of the rights would reduce the public's tax burden and allow a sales tax to end sooner.
District officials say they don't plan to change their process. Webb hopes that by determining the value of the "Mile High" name, the board will decide the benefits of the sale are not worth the money. He points to the Dallas Cowboys who sell sponsors a chance to be associated with the Texas Stadium name, rather than sell the stadium's name itself. The team gets a reported $20 million a year from such sales.
Modern Steel Construction / October 2000 / Walter P. Moore
Denver Broncos Pin Their Future on Steel
By: Dennis Tow, PE,
Michael Fletcher, PE, SE
and Lanson Nichols
In November 1998, in the afterglow
of back-to-back NFL World Champi-
onships won by their beloved Broncos,
taxpayers in Denver and six surround-
ing counties voted to replace the
famous Mile High Stadium. Slated to
open in time for the 2001 NFL
season, the new $364 million, 76,125
seat stadium is a design/build project
headed by HNTB Design/Build Inc.
and Turner Construction Company.
Designed by HNTB Sports Archi-
tects, in association with Fentress
Bradburn Architects Ltd. and Bertram
A. Bruton and Associates, and with
structural engineering by Walter P.
Moore, the new stadium exhibits a
sleek modern facility, full of weeping curves, exposed HSS structural steel
and metal-panel cladding around the
rim of the upper deck. The facade of
the building is wrapped in a sinuous
latticework of aluminum, glass and
metal panel curtain wall.
The new stadium is also unique in
that the seating treads and risers
consist of 3/16" thick bent steel plate.
Two factors led the designers to
choose bent steel plates in lieu of the
usual L-shaped precast concrete
sections. First, the entire east sideline
of the existing Mile High Stadium uses
steel treads and risers in order to save
weight in the worldªs largest movable-
seating structure. The eastern section
(all three tiers of seating) can retract
145' to make room for a left field
during baseball season. Secondly, in
the geometrical layout of the new
stadium each column grid line skews
relative to the adjacent column grid
lines. In most modern stadiums, the
sideline and end zone seating sections
are linear, with either a 90-degree
segmented curve through the corner,
or a linear corner turned on a 45-
degree chamfer. HNTB and Walter P.
Moore defined the grid system of the
new stadium as a doubly symmetric
48-sided polygon based on broad-
radius arcs at the sidelines and end
zones with tighter arcs through the
corners. The continually curving
seating rows created by this grid
system provide better sightlines and
field proximity for stadium patrons
and generate the appearance of a
smoothly curved seating bowl. As a
result of this design feature, each
successive row of seats is slightly
longer than the previous row through-
out the stadium. This would have
substantially increased the number of
different precast riser members
required and decreased the economic
viability of precast. Therefore, steel
risers became an excellent and
affordable alternative.
With over 12 acres of exposed steel
plate in three seating bowls, mainte-
nance of the structure was a major
factor in design. The solution leaves
the top surface of the plates un-
painted. Extensive testing and metal-
lurgical analysis of the existing stadium
indicated that the steel treads were
killed A36 material. Also, due to
Denverªs naturally dry climate, the
only corrosion problems in the treads
at the old stadium exist at locations
where water became trapped on top of
the plate by poor drainage or badly
adhered traffic coating.
Based on this information, the riser
plates of the new stadium consist of
killed A36 steel, and each tread was
detailed with a 1/2" per tread drainage
slope. Defining the slope per tread
instead of per foot helped in keeping
these consistent and made the
detailerªs job a little easier. Further-
more, all proposed traffic coatings are
being tested in the field. To provide a
watertight system, penetrations
through the riser plates were mini-
mized, all welds are continuous and a
secondary subroof is provided
between the riser plates and any
finished interior spaces below.
Butt-welds join the treads in single
row sections at the change in align-
ment at each grid line. During
fabrication, each section is bent to
form a 2" return at the top of the riser
section with a second bend creating
the heel of the tread. The front of each
tread bears directly on the 2" return of
the section below, and a 3/16"
continuous fillet weld seals the
sections together. An automated
welding machine that runs around the
nosing of each tread makes fillet welds,
allowing for a total weld length of over
17 miles.
A subframing system of rolled
wideflange sections supports the riser
plates. Vertical L3«3 stubs on stringers
spaced at distances of up to 16'
support each tread. The stringers span
along the slope of the bowl between
girders, which in turn span between
rakers on the column grid lines.
Precast concrete makes up the rakers
at the lower bowl, while the middle
and upper bowl rakers are steel.
Stringer sizes var y from W14«22 to
W30«124, and girder sizes vary from
W24«55 to W36«280.
Due to the combination of long
spans and high live load to dead load
ratio, vibration was a significant
concern in the design of the seating
framing. Each subframing member
throughout the entire stadium was
analyzed for dynamic response to two
excitation modes. The first mode
simulated fans rhythmically jumping in
the stands and was represented by a
30-psf live load under harmonic
excitation with a frequency of 3 Hz
and a dynamic load factor of 25%. The
second mode simulated fans stamping
their feet by increasing the frequency
to 5¥ Hz and decreasing the dynamic
load factor to 5%.
Rather than setting a minimum
fundamental frequency of vibration for
all members to satisfy, each member,
analyzed individually, allowed consider-
ation of the individual loads and
stiffness. Limitation of the effective
peak acceleration was chosen as the
design criteria. The effective peak
accelerations in the stringers were
limited to 5% of the gravitational
acceleration (5% g) for both jumping
and stamping. The effective peak
accelerations in the girders were
limited to 7% g for jumping. The
effective peak acceleration in the
girders due to stamping was not
limited due to the large tributary area
for the girders. Research has shown
that large groups of people cannot
maintain unison with higher frequency
activities such as stamping.
The post-tensioned cast-in-place
concourse framing is separated into
eight midrise buildings to relieve
thermal, creep, and shrinkage stresses,
and to isolate lateral wind and
earthquake loads. To accommodate
differential thermal movements
between the riser plates and the
subframing below, the connections
between the treads and the stringers
consisted of either fixed or slip-
capable details. The slip connections
allowed differential movements around
the bowl between the treads and the
stringers underneath. Rigid fixed
connections were used in the two
center bays of each of the building
sections, with the slip connections in
the remaining bays (those bays within
two grid lines of a building expansion
joint). Longitudinal bracing between
the bowl framing and the concourse
frame was also located in the center
bays of each building section.
The raker frames at the middle bowl
extend from the upper suite level
down to the club level, with a cantile-
ver extending out over the lower
suites. These frames consist of W33
raker beams with W14 columns at the
fulcrum of the cantilever. A heavy
W24 shape serves as a strut from the
club level out to the end of the W33.
The W24 extends beyond the W33 to
support the spandrel member at the
front fascia of the bowl, which contain
the only structural precast members in
the middle and upper bowls. Since the
raker frames effectively tie together
two levels of the cast-in-place con-
course frame, they were included in
the lateral analysis of the concourse
framing. Slip-critical bolts field bolt all
connections.
The raker frames in the upper bowl
are one of the signature items of the
new stadium. The raker beam consists
of a tapered wide flange section built-
up from 1"«26" A36 flange plates and
¥lc A36 web plates varying in height
from 25" to 66". The raker beam has a
straight taper along its lower length,
with a curved taper at its upper end.
Since the height of the upper bowl
varies around the stadium, the radius
of the curve at each raker varies in
order to maintain a constant work
point at the lower end and a vertical
depth of 72" at the upper end. At the
four raker frames supporting the
scoreboards and video boards in the
northern corners of the stadium, the
flanges become 2" thick in the upper
portion of the raker beam to support
the extra weight. The longer raker
beams at the sidelines and end zone
consist of a bolted field splice for ease
of shipping and erection.
HSS 24«¥ columns that lean
toward and away from the field in the
plane of the raker supported the upper
raker beams. The connections at the
ends of the HSS simplify function,
erection and appearance. Rather than
having a complex weldment between
HSS at odd angles, the designers chose
a true-pinned connection. Three feet
from the end work point of each
column, the HSS 24 section termi-
nates into a 1" round cap plate. Two
1" clevis plates spaced 2" apart are
welded to the cap plate, with a 4"
diameter hole in each clevis plate at
18" from the end work point of the
column. The clevis plates fit on each
side of a 1¥le thick half-round gusset
plate. The gusset plates, 24" in radius,
center on the end work points of the
columns with a matching 4" diameter
hole on a radius of 18". A 4" diameter
round stock pin fits through the holes
in the gusset and clevis plates, with ¥l_
thick plate washers serving as spacers
between the plies and six inch
diameter, 1¥lm thick cap plates on
each end of the pin. The column load
is transferred through bearing on the
plates and shear in the pin. Six-inch
diameter pins were used in the
connections of some of the more
heavily loaded columns.
The gusset plates at the upper end
of the columns are field bolted to the
underside of the built-up raker beam
with slip critical bolts in oversized
holes. The lower gusset plates bear on
cast-in-place pedestals, which are 4'
tall extensions of the cast-in-place
concourse frame. The pedestals
increase concourse circulation space
by raising the lower end workpoint of
the columns above the headroom
required for the patrons, and they also
elevate the pin connections to eye level
of the patrons on the upper con-
course.
Two brace columns occur at the
center raker frame of each building
section, and extend from near the
upper end of the raker beam to the
outermost pedestal of the adjacent
raker frames. These brace columns
stabilize the upper bowl for lateral and
erection loads. Walter P. Moore used
three-dimensional CAD models to
describe and define the complex
geometry of the raker frames and the
undulating shape of the rear of the
upper bowl.
Tolerance in erection of the upper
bowl raker frames is provided by the
rotation of the pins and the oversized
holes in the gusset plate connections.
A rigid welded connection detail
would have locked in the raker frame
geometry, without sufficient erection
tolerance.
At the upper end of each raker beam
is a pair of built-up wideflange itusksl_
three feet apart. These tusks, typically
30" deep with ¥lt thick webs and
¥ls«10 ¥ls flange plates, curve 40'
upward and 18' inward over the upper
bowl. A 5'-4" deep Vierendeel truss
connects the tops of the tusks, with
HSS 18 bottom chord, HSS 12¥ top
chord, and HSS 8 5/8 verticals at 9'-2"
maximum spacing. This truss supports
the distributed sound system and
banks of field lighting and the catwalk
that services them. Walter P. Moore
also employed three-dimensional CAD
models in defining the geometry of the
truss members, since the light truss
varies in elevation and location
similarly to the top of the upper bowl.
Due to the slope of the tusks, the top
chord of the light truss leans in closer
to the field than the bottom chord,
which further complicated the
geometry.
Exposed structural steel exists as a
common theme at all vomitories
leading into the seating bowls. The
stringer on both sides of each vomi-
tory ramp and stair is exposed, and
View of north (enclosed) endzone upper bowl, taken from south (open)
endzone:
the ends of the riser plates are closed
with a vertical bent plate. The vomito-
ries within each bowl make sure that
all stringers adjacent to vomitories are
of a similar size (i.e. W21«6¥li in
lower and upper bowls, and W18«6"
in middle bowl), and the horizontal
return on the bent closure plate
matches the flange width of the
stringer underneath.
As part of the design/build process,
the prime fabricator and erector,
AISC-member Schuff Steel Company
of Phoenix was brought into the team
at an early stage to assist in the
development, detailing, and
constructibility of the project. Because
of the design-build process, Schuff
Steelªs early participation, like
numerous other subcontractors,
increased the effectiveness of the
design and added value to the project.
Some of the modifications that were
suggested by Schuff and incorporated
into the design by Walter P. Moore
include a combined bolted and sleeved
connection between each light truss
segment and the tusks and moving the
connection between the tusks and the
upper bowl rakers to the top of the
raker beam. A collaboration of the
designers and contractors also resulted
in some minor material cost savings by
specifying A36 material instead of
grade 50 steel for some of the deeper
(W27 and above) and heavier (over
100 pound footweight) sections in the
seating subframing. Since the design of
many of these members was controlled
by vibration, the change in material
strength did not affect member size.
Three NISD members, BDS
Detailers (Brisbane and Melbourne,
Australia), Coast Detailers (Topeka,
KS) and Steel Draft (Woodland, CA)
supplied the detailing for the project,
with the Brisbane office of BDS
detailing the bulk of the bowl framing
(more than 3,000 sheets of shop
drawings). In addition to the 2,000
tons (over a half million sq. ft.) of 3/
16" steel plate, Schuff Steel was also
responsible for the fabrication of more
than 4,500 tons of seating subframing
and raker frames, and 550 tons of
tusks and light trusses. By the time the
stadium opens for the 2001 football
season, Schuff Steel will have supplied
and erected approximately 12,000
tons of structural steel, including the
circulation ramps, elevator core areas,
concourse infill framing, scoreboards
and curtain wall framing.
A variety of software was used to
design this project. The stringers and
girders of the stadium seating
subframing was designed with an MS
Visual Basic/MS Excel program written
specifically for this project to accu-
rately predict the dynamic response of
the subframing members. RISA-3D
was used to analyze the club level raker
frames as well as to performed the
preliminary analysis for the upper
bowl rakers. SAP-2000 was used for
the final analysis of the upper bowl
raker frames, including the tusks, the
lighting trusses and the scoreboards; it
was also used for design of the
building frames. RAM S-Beam was
used to design the steel-framed infill
floors of the concourses.
The project is financed primarily by
the continuation of the 0.1% sales tax
originally used to construct Coors
Field for baseballªs Colorado Rockies.
The Denver Broncos Football Club is
contributing 25% of the projectªs cost,
and any proceeds from the possible sale
of the naming rights will reduce the
publicªs debt. In addition to the 76,125
seat capacity, the stadium also features
approximately 8,500 club level seats
adjacent to two 38,000 sq. ft. clubs, 106
suites, seven party suites, over 400
points of sale for concessions, thirteen
elevators, more than eight escalators,
two video boards (including one that
measures 96' by 27'), 550 televisions
and cupholders in every seat. The new
stadium also has more appropriately
apportioned menªs and womenªs
restroom fixtures than Mile High
Stadium. The total square footage of the
new stadium contains over 1.7-million
sq. ft. - more than twice the size of the
existing stadium. The seats are also
wider (ranging from 19 to 21") and have
more legroom (33" typical row spacing),
and the main concourses are much
wider (minimum width of 45' at the
lower concourse and 30' at the upper
concourse, versus eighteen and twelve
feet at the existing stadium). The
stadium, ADA compliant, has 730 pairs
of ADA-accessible spaces and compan-
ion seats, compared to only 26 pairs at
Mile High Stadium. With such fan-
friendly and family-friendly amenities
available in a new state-of-the-art
facility, the Broncos will undoubtedly
continue their thirty-year-long streak of
home sellouts.
Dennis R. Tow, P.E., an Associate with
Walter P. Moore and Associates, Inc., served as
structural project engineer for the bowl
framing of the new Denver NFL Stadium.
Michael S. Fletcher, P.E., S.E., a Vice
President with Walter P. Moore, worked as the
firmªs structural principal-in-charge for the
project.Û
Lanson B. Nichols, an Associate Vice
President with HNTB, served as senior project
manager for the new Denver NFL Stadium.
DENVER MAYOR SWITCHING POSITION ON NAMING RIGHTS
October 26, 2000
Copyright 2000 MediaVentures
Denver Mayor Wellington Webb has changed his position on the sale of naming rights to the Broncos' new stadium and now says the traditional "Mile High" name
should be kept. The Metropolitan Football Stadium District board, which is overseeing construction, has been negotiating a deal to sell the name.
Even before negotiations began, the board held public hearings to find out what residents felt. Attendance at the hearings was sparse and those who spoke were mainly
against a sale. Because revenue from the sale would go to taxpayers and help defray the cost of the stadium, the board moved ahead and took bids for both a full sale and a
sale that would require that "Mile High" be part of the name. AT&T Broadband is considered to be the front runner in the bidding, although the name under consideration is
not known.
Webb says the sale just doesn't set well with him and now believes the traditional name should be retained. The stadium opens next year.
THREE BIDDING FOR DENVER STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS
October 19, 2000
Copyright 2000 MediaVentures
Three companies, AT&T Broadband, Janus Capital Corp., and Invesco Funds Group, are making serious inquiries into buying naming rights for the Denver Broncos'
new stadium that opens next year. The Metropolitan Football Stadium District Board, which is accepting bids, will do so for another 30 days.
The district, which will receive the earnings from the sale, is asking for a 20 year commitment to the purchase. Companies are also being asked for two bids - one that
includes the traditional "Mile High" name and one without.
NEWS RELEASE February 10, 2000
DENVER -- The Metropolitan Football Stadium District along with Turner, Empire, and Alvarado Construction and the Denver Broncos in cooperation with school districts in the six county region present "Construction Sights".
Beginning in January 2000, six hundred fifty-three high school students will get a first-hand look at the construction of the new Bronco Stadium, scheduled for completion in August of 2001.
The sessions are designed to provide the students with a close-up tour of the construction site, a broad overview of how to build a football stadium and education trade information on construction as a career choice.
During the visit the students will meet the Senior Management Team and learn about their educational background and experience. They will learn about the systems being installed in the stadium along with safety procedures followed at the job-site and view fall protection gear.
On Thursday, January 27, 2000, 40 students from Adams County District #12 and 20 students from the Bennett School District toured the site. Today, students from North and West High Schools, and the Career Education Center in the Denver Public School District are participating in the program. The students were selected due to their interest in architectural or construction careers.
The Metropolitan Football Stadium District is charged with the responsibility of building a replacement facility for the Denver Broncos and to manage the operations and maintenance of the facility. This event is another example of how the district is about more than sports!
A subsidiary of HOCHTIEF AG, Turner Construction is considered the nation’s #1 builder providing a complete range of construction and program management services. Empire, with headquarters in Denver has a construction management company with a family history in construction spanning twenty-four years. Alvarado Construction is known for quality construction for better than twenty-five years with services in general and construction management.
CONTACT: Matt Sugar Penny May Bollie Bollenbach
Metropolitan Football Empire Construction Turner Construction
Stadium District 303-399-1002 (303) 753-9600
1998 general election
Voters agree to back new Broncos stadium
By Peggy Lowe and Julia C. Martinez
Denver Post Staff Writers
Nov. 4 - Metro-area voters handed Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen his new $360 million stadium on Tuesday, buying into the single most costly public-private venture in the city's history.
Bowlen, who fueled the pro-stadium campaign with $1.4 million and an undefeated NFL team, thanked Denver residents for the vote.
"Tonight belongs to the best fans anywhere, fans of the Denver Broncos, who serve as the foundation for one of the best franchises in all of professional sports . . . ,'' Bowlen said in a written statement. "Ultimately, tonight belongs to the voters who had the wisdom to know that this stadium proposal was the best solution for the Denver region for years to come. . . ‚. You have ensured passage of a referendum that will further enhance Denver's status as one of the greatest cities in America.''
At a campaign party that resembled a Sunday game day, stadium supporters packed into Jackson's Hole sports saloon in Lower Downtown, sending up a cheer each time the five televisions showed their campaign ahead.
"The slogan "we all win' tonight changes to "we all won,' said Broncos lobbyist Bill Artist, as stadium supporters passed out T-
shirts quoting the new mantra. "It's been four long years that the Broncos tried to get this going. Tonight belongs to the fans and to the voters.''
Stadium opponents gathered at the Mercury Cafe. For months, they had decried the stadium proposal as the worst kind of corporate welfare.
"I think we did the best thing we could with limited resources,'' said Bill Schley, whose northwest Denver home served as the headquarters for the opposition. "We knew they would outspend us, but we would do it again if we had to.''
The proposed tax has been one of the most controversial issues in this midterm election, pitting the Schley's mom-and-pop opposition group against a slick, Broncos-
backed advertising campaign.
Stadium supporters mounted a $2.3 million media and lobbying blitz, thanks to the huge donation from Bowlen and other corporate contributions. Bowlen's was the largest single donation to the cause.
Stadium backers tried to convince voters that a new tax-subsidized home for the Broncos would keep the team in Denver for at least three decades and ensure that Denver remains a "big-league'' city. Defeating the measure, they claimed, could mean the loss of the Broncos to Houston or Los Angeles or some other city seeking a pro football franchise.
"I just think it's a great thing for Denver, a great thing for all the communities, really, and great for the organization of course,'' said Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski. "I definitely think it's time to build a new stadium. I really enjoy playing in Mile High Stadium, but . . . I really don't have any sentimental attachment to it. More than anything I enjoy playing in front of the Denver fans, so hopefully when they get a new stadium, they'll be a lot more comfortable and we can all enjoy it even more.''
Under the proposal, residents of the six-county Denver area will shoulder 75 percent of the stadium's cost, or about $260 million, through a penny-per-$10 retail sales tax. Interest on bonds to finance the project would increase that to about $395 million over the 12-year life of the tax. Bowlen will pay 25 percent, or about $100 million, excluding interest.
The tax, which would be levied on most goods except food and medicine, will amount to about $15 a year for households earning $39,000.
The pro-stadium campaign's not-so-secret weapon was the team itself. Since the Broncos won the Super Bowl in January, polls consistently showed supporters outnumbering opponents by a substantial margin. In addition, pollsters said, the team's 8-0 record this season was expected to woo the critical swing vote on the issue, which amounted to as much as a third of the electorate.
Nevertheless, Bowlen took no chances in the weeks leading up to the election, helping to finance a pro-stadium campaign with TV ads that featured coach Mike Shanahan and star Broncos quarterback John Elway.
The city of Denver has agreed to release the Broncos from their lease at Mile High Stadium, which runs through 2018. Mile High will be torn down once the new stadium is built.
At the new stadium, the team's lease will run for 30 years. The Metropolitan Football Stadium District has agreed to turn over near-total control of the facility to Bowlen, along with the millions in revenue that would go with it. Opponents criticized the new lease, accusing the stadium board of, among other things, selling out taxpayers in exchange for a luxury box at the new stadium, which the Broncos awarded to the nine-member body as part of the deal.
Economists called the tax "a bad investment for the city.'' They noted it would hurt poor people the most, because they tend to spend a higher percentage of their income on goods that get taxed.
Bowlen requests special May ballot on stadium tax
Owner of Broncos checks signals after Nov. vote is sacked
By Ricardo Baca
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Thursday, July 31, 1997
ARAPAHOE COUNTY -- Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said Wednesday he will ask the legislature to put a stadium tax vote on the ballot in a special May election.
Putting the $180 million question to voters this November officially was rejected Wednesday by the Metropolitan Football Stadium District. A day earlier, a site selection committee said if a new stadium is built, it should be put near Mile High Stadium.
Bowlen told a meeting of south metro business leaders that he was frustrated by the delay in the site-selection process, but a spring election may work in his favor in the long run.
By missing the November election, the stadium will not have to compete against other tax proposals, including school spending questions and a metrowide transportation sales tax.
Bowlen told the business leaders he wants the Broncos to be playing in the new stadium at the turn of the century, and to do so, construcion must be under way "by this time next year.''
If construction is delayed, Bowlen said he may not be able to live by the agreement he made with the legislature -- that he would pay for costs exceeding $180 million. Inflation would increase costs.
Bowlen wants metro voters to extend a .01 percent sales tax that currently goes to pay off costs of building Coors Field. Tax money would cover $180 million of the estimated $240 million construction cost.
The team says it can't compete without more revenue from parking, tickets, and sales of food, drink and souvenirs. It says it needs a new stadium so it will have more luxury seats to sell and because fans spend more when they can move quickly through wider aisles and shorter lines.
Bowlen, who spoke to the Southeast Denver-Douglas County Economic Development Corp., was asked whether the stadium could be built entirely with private funds.
He said the only way to do that was to sell seat licenses, a tactic used by the Carolina Panthers. Carolina's stadium was built with patrons paying $140 million above and beyond ticket prices for the right to buy season tickets.
"But that wouldn't work in Denver,'' he said. "How could I ask someone who's been buying season tickets for the last thirty years to pay money just to be able to buy them?''
Bowlen noted there is another advantage to having a spring vote, rather than one in the fall.
"If the vote was Nov. 4 and we lost the Nov. 2 game against the Raiders, it would be a problem,'' Bowlen said. "But now, I told (coach) Mike (Shanahan) that all he has to do is win the Super Bowl.''
Panel picks Sports Complex site
Alternative location for stadium at airport would cost $80 million more, committee says
By Ann Imse
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 30, 1997
The long-awaited decision on a new Broncos football stadium site is final -- the site selection committee Tuesday unanimously chose the Sports Complex that now is home to Mile High Stadium and McNichols Arena.
The alternative -- putting a 76,000-seat stadium on the former Stapleton Airport -- would have cost up to $80 million more. That was the estimated cost of duplicating the road access and utlities already available at Mile High.
The committee left to the architects the exact spot where a new stadium would be built on the 79-acre Sports Complex.
Both the stadium and arena are expected to be torn down after their replacements are complete. But some experts believe construction on a new stadium could begin before that, just to the east of either McNichols or Mile High.
The decision does not ensure the Broncos will get a new stadium. A separate board still must choose between renovation and building a new stadium. And voters will decide next year if they want to spend $180 million in tax money toward the estimated $240 million cost.
The Broncos say they need the added revenue of a new stadium to compete in the ever-more-expensive National Football League.
Site committee chairman Odell Barry, framed by a pair of NFL footballs marked "Stapleton'' and "Sports Complex'' for the two sites being considered, said he still preferred Stapleton.
But he gave up on the site at the city's former airport -- on the southwest corner of at I-70 and Havana -- because it was opposed by Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and many city council members.
After years in real estate, Barry said he had learned that "if the owners do not want you there, there is nothing you can do.''
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen initially preferred Stapleton, Barry noted. But that changed, too.
"The owner is saying publicly at the end, 'I just want a new stadium,''' Barry said.
And despite years of complaints from Sloans Lake neighbors about parking, trash and other problems caused by sports fans, "I didn't hear any great outcry from the neighbors'' when the committee considered building the new stadium on the old site, Barry said.
Committee member Bill Howard agreed, saying the committee received one letter from the neighborhood association objecting to the site. The letter also asked for local improvements if the site were chosen anyway, he said.
Committee member Walt Imhoff noted that neighborhood impact will be reduced if the basketball and hockey games are moved to Pepsi Center on the other side of the river. The Pepsi Center deal is nearly complete.
Carolyn Jones complained that the committee's work was reduced to "an exercise in futility'' when only two sites were offered, and Denver turned its back on one of them.
NFL backs Bowlen's play for new Broncos stadium
League VP tells board that remodeling an old facility could be fraught with expensive pitfalls
By John Sanko
Rocky Mountain News Capitol Bureau
Thursday, May 15, 1997
Pat Bowlen wants a new stadium for his Denver Broncos, and the National Football League did nothing Wednesday to undercut his position.
Roger Goodell, NFL senior vice president for league and football development, told the Denver Metro Football Stadium District Board that remodeling an old stadium could be filled with pitfalls.
The board, which must decide whether to remodel Mile High Stadium or ask voters to help pay for a new one, didn't appear surprised.
"I think it was predictable,'' said Ray Baker, who chairs the board. "I would have been surprised if he had said anything else.''
Goodell told the board it could face more problems remodeling the existing stadium than constructing a new facility.
"The No. 1 thing I would say that we look at is a long-term solution,'' Goodell said. "We want to make sure that whatever arrangements we make with the communities that they are going to be satisfactory for a long period of time.''
In the last 18 to 24 months, the NFL has been involved in 13 stadium plans, with renovations either planned or underway at Oakland, Buffalo and San Diego.
Any structure can be renovated, Goodell said, but "the question at the end of the day is, does it make economic sense for you and your community and for the teams involved?''
Bowlen did not attend the meeting, but last week revealed he not only wanted a new stadium, but 200 acres to go with it. He proposed building a state-of-the-art stadium complex that would include theme parks and stores for year-round use and undoubtedly be the envy of every other owner in the NFL.
Bowlen, who wants the stadium built at the old Stapleton International Airport site, is pushing for a November election to ask Denver metro voters to put up $180 million of the estimated $240 million to $290 million cost of a new stadium.
Baker and other stadium board members are awaiting word from an 18-member site selection commission before deciding whether to go ahead with an election this November. The board is hoping for a recommendation before its next meeting.
Stadium petitions likely to start circulating soon
By Ann Imse
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 13, 1997
The Denver Broncos have found a way to try to get the question of a new football stadium before the voters by November.
The football team may start collecting signatures on ballot petitions soon, even before the stadium board decides whether a new stadium is needed.
Rick Reiter, the team's election consultant, said the Broncos will decide on the timing soon. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is insisting on a November election, even though stadium-district officials have been skeptical that all requirements could be completed so quickly.
State law says the ballot question would ask whether voters want to extend the 0.1 percent sales tax for Coors Field until 2012 to pay for the football stadium. Taxpayers would cover $180 million of a $240 million stadium.
The state law says that the stadium board must decide a new or renovated stadium is needed, and that it must choose a site for before setting an election.
Officials have been assuming that the board had to act before ballot petitions were circulated. Even Broncos political consultant Porter Wharton said the team would wait until the board had made a decision.
But a careful reading of the law shows the signatures may be collected independently, Reiter said.
Because Reiter wants four to 12 weeks for collecting signatures that are due Aug. 4, he needs to start soon. "We can't afford to have the signature collection be the one thing that doesn't happen in time,'' the consultant said.
Attorneys for the site-selection committee agreed with Reiter's interpretation of the law.
"Two things have to be in place for the election,'' said Rick Kron of Grimshaw & Harring. "Petitions have to be filed and verified, and the board must pass that resolution. But they're independent actions.''
Kron said the stadium board has until Sept. 9 to pass its resolution. That's the last day for submitting ballot proposals.
The Broncos received other good news Monday. The secretary of state's office cut its calculation of the number of signatures needed to 28,698 from 52,242. The larger figure pertained to a statewide election, not the stadium district.
Bowlen wants football stadium at Stapleton location
But Broncos owner says he would make do with site near McNichols
By Ann Imse
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Thursday, May 08, 1997
Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said Wednesday that he wants a new football stadium at Stapleton Airport.
But he said he would make do with the alternative adjacent to Mile High Stadium and McNichols Arena. But he said those sites don't offer the 200 acres he wants for a stadium and he can't start construction in November.
Bowlen's statement immediately swayed three of 17 members on the stadium site-selection committee, who were ready to vote for a Stapleton site on the spot.
The three -- Odell Barry, Jim Sullivan and Bill Howard -- said they were willing to vote for the 100-acre Stapleton site at the southwest corner of Interstate 70 and Havana Street because it is expandable to 200 acres and available immediately.
None of the other six sites offered to the committee by Denver came close to Bowlen's request for 200 acres.
Bowlen also suggested Denver should give him the land at Stapleton for free -- even though that is barred by law.
"If I owned 4,000 acres at Stapleton and somebody approached me and said I want to spend $300 million in the middle of your 4,000 acres, I would consider giving the land to that guy,'' he said.
Bowlen said he needs a huge tract of empty land mostly for 150 acres of parking lots -- enough for 19,700 cars. The combined Mile High-McNichols site is 79 acres, including the two buildings and adjacent parking.
But Mile High could not be torn down until a new stadium is complete, and McNichols could not be removed until the proposed Pepsi Center is built.
As a result, the near-downtown site "is not available,'' Bowlen concluded.
Denver had proposed building a new stadium adjacent to McNichols or Mile High, but Barry said there just isn't room.
The stadium itself needs only 15 acres. Bowlen also wants 10 acres for game-day picnickers.
Although Bowlen has yet to negotiate a lease for the possible new stadium, many other cities are building stadiums at taxpayer expense and handing over all the revenue to the football team. If Bowlen can win such a lease in Denver, then 19,700 parking spaces at $5 a day could give Bowlen nearly $100,000 per event.
Bowlen's argument didn't sway everyone on the committee. Ben Moultrie said building a stadium with a giant parking lot is hardly the 21st century thinking that Bowlen said he wanted.
City officials pointed out that two other smaller sites at Stapleton are fairly close to the 5,000-car garage and 6,500 surface parking spaces left over from the airport.
Small stadium wrap may work, panel says
Large office building out for possible Mile High renovation
By Ann Imse
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 07, 1997
Wrapping Mile High Stadium with a huge office building won't save taxpayers a dime, Denver's renovation committee concluded Tuesday.
But a smaller wrap might, the City Council committee decided.
It accepted a recommendation by stadium consultant HOK Sport to continue studying a smaller wrap containing only stadium facilities like concourses, concessions and restrooms. Even the small wrap would add 50 feet to the outside of Mile High, brushing close to the property line on the north and east.
HOK now will calculate whether the smaller wrap is cheaper than building a new stadium for the Denver Broncos.
The team wants taxpayers to pay for $180 million of a new $240 million stadium. But local architect Stuart Ohlson persuaded city officials that the money might be better spent refurbishing Mile High and wraping it with a revenue-generating 600,000 square-foot office building.
The committee rejected Ohlson's proposal, deciding there was no evidence to support his claim that private financing of the office and commercial space would reduce the cost to taxpayers.
Office rents might cover payments on a building, but they don't produce enough profit to subsidize a stadium, city Finance Director Liz Orr said.
If the city needs office space, she noted, "it's cheaper just to build a building'' than to integrate one into the stadium.
HOK director Ron Labinski added that a major attraction of a luxury seating level -- one of the Broncos' requirements for a new stadium -- would be a back wall of windows offering spectacular views of the mountains or downtown. Adding office space on the outside of the stadium "would eliminate the view and cut the value of the luxury seating,'' he said.
"Mr. Ohlson's idea is really not a great one,'' he concluded.
However, the brick facade of Ohlson's design could be used on the smaller wrap, said HOK's Dennis Wellner.
The small wrap proposed by HOK would seem like a new stadium, and would meet the Broncos' demand for lucrative concessions and luxury seating, Wellner said. It would keep the stadium's basic structure, which would cost $50 million to $60 million to duplicate in a new facility, he said.
As Wellner described it, the small wrap would keep Mile High's excellent sightlines and steeply raked seats. It would complete the bowl, filling in the south stands. The lower and upper decks would not change, but the middle deck would be entirely revamped for luxury seating.
Two rows of suites would be built on the bottom and top of the middle deck, with club seats in between.
The suites would have twice the glass of the squashed boxes now at Mile High's mid-level, Wellner said.
This design provides room for 20,000 club seats and 200 suites. The Broncos have asked for up to 15,000 club seats and 135 suites.
The mid-level press box would be moved to penthouse area atop the third level, Labinski said.
HOK will provide cost estimates for two variations, one retaining the current 30 inches of legroom between rows of seats on the club level, and the other with 33 inches.
Council members questioned why they should consider the smaller seats, after Labinski said no stadium has been built in 25 years with only 30 inches of legroom.
"How much taller are people now than 50 years ago'' when Mile High was built, asked Council President Cathy Reynolds. "And how much taller will they be in another 30 years?''
But consultant Craig Skiem said the question may become "Is the fan going to pay $100 million to have a 33-inch seat instead of 30 inches?''
"Or will they say, 'We just spent $150 million and it's just as uncomfortable as before'?'' shot back Reynolds.
A horseshoe for the Broncos
By Peggy Lowe
Denver Post Staff Writer
September 25, 1998 - The new Denver Broncos stadium would be a horseshoe-shaped complex with a futuristic, Jetson-esque design, but it would also sport rugged rock walls and a rock-'em-sock-'em fan section much like Mile High Stadium's infamous South Stands.
And just so you know which NFL team plays there: A bucking white bronco much larger than the current one on the Mile High scoreboard would rear from the new stadium's "front door.''
"This truly is going to become the 21st-century stadium,'' said Terry Miller, an architect with HNTB Corp.
HNTB, the company that won the bid to design the new stadium, unveiled its plans on Thursday.
But as stadium designers touted their pioneering project, fans on the street were reminded of the past.
"It looks like the old one,'' said Mark Mays, 30, a construction worker who was shown the plans during his lunch hour on the 16th Street Mall.
Well, yeah. And that's the idea.
HNTB and the stadium board want fans visiting the new stadium to get "the Mile High experience,'' a mix of "intimacy and intimidation'' in which fans are near the field and create a roar that unnerves the opposing team.
The new stadium would cost an estimated $360 million. It would be built just a few feet south of where Mile High is now and seat 76,125 for football - two more seats than Mile High. Although the designs show the words "Mile High Stadium'' on the main entrance, the name probably will be different. The naming rights are expected to be sold for $50 million to $60 million.
The seats at the new stadium would be wider and have armrests, the concourses would be double the current size, and there would be more concession stands. The stadium also would be more accessible to the disabled.
And to the relief of every woman who has ever attended an event at Mile High, the architects have doubled the number of stalls in women's restrooms.
"That's the great part,'' said Karrie Pickett, a hostess at Duffy's Shamrock Bar.
But before a new stadium can be built, voters must approve the project. To raise the lion's share of money for the stadium, voters in the six-county Denver area will decide Nov. 3 whether to extend a penny-per-$10 sales tax already in place. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is required to pick up 25 percent of the stadium's cost.
Bowlen has said he wants 48-year-old Mile High replaced so the Broncos can remain competitive in the NFL. Bowlen would have control over almost all the revenue from the facility, which includes a minimum of 100 luxury suites and 8,500 "club'' seats, from which fans get seatside service and better food and drinks.
Stadium opponents decry the proposed facility as an example of corporate welfare. They note that the Broncos have a lease at cityowned Mile High Stadium through 2018 and say taxpayers will get little economic return on their investment. Located on 83 acres in the Central Platte Valley, the new stadium complex is projected to be completed in 2001 and would be near the Pepsi Center, Elitch Gardens Amusement Park and the Ocean Journey aquarium. The old Mile High and nearby McNichols Arena would be razed.
The turf at the new football stadium would be natural grass. The stadium would be made of glass and steel, Miller said, and contain four levels of seats. Two long light standards would rise over the north and south ends. Stones on the walls - both fake and real - would be used to convey "Rocky Mountain ruggedness,'' he said.
Instead of using concrete like most new stadiums, the builders plan on using steel in the upper decks to retain the Mile High "intimidation factor,'' Miller said. As they do at the current stadium, fans will be able to stomp on the steel to create the noise that irritates Broncos opponents, he said.
The stadium would also have seats close to the field to maintain a sense of intimacy - "the image of the 12th person on the field,'' Miller said.
Because of neighborhood concerns, the designers added a "ring road'' that surrounds the stadium and connects with approximately 67 acres of parking lots. Fans would come through four large entrances, including the east-facing front door.
In the event of a World Cup soccer match or other large event, the new stadium could accommodate extra seating that would boost its capacity to 85,000. The additional seats would go on top of the front door's plaza. HNTB also touts the stadium as useful for many other events, including concerts, rodeos and motocross contests.
The "Colorado Wall,'' under a covered walkway, would extend from the stadium's south end and connect with the new Broncos Bridge across the South Platte River. The pedestrian would connect with parking lots near Elitch's, the Pepsi Center and the Auraria campus.
The Colorado Wall could feature art, historic interactive exhibits or information on sports or the city, Miller said.
PARKING DETAILS DELAY BRONCO STADIUM GROUNDBREAKING
May 20, 1999
Copyright 1999 MediaVentures
The City of Denver and Ascent Entertainment must agree on how to shrink parking lots at McNichols Arena to make room for construction of a new Broncos' stadium, but because the city has not made a proposal to Ascent, construction could be delayed.
The city's contract with Ascent, which is building the new Pepsi Arena, says McNichols will remain open until the Pepsi Center opens this October. McNichols will be the site of NHL preseason games for the Avalanche in September and the city must reach an agreement to Ascent so construction equipment can have access to the Broncos' site. An estimated 1,500 parking places must be removed initially and another 1,700 must be removed soon after that to make room for foundation work. McNichols now has 9,300 parking slots, so it would lose about 35% of its parking.
City officials said they have delayed discussions while the Avalanche were in the playoffs.
November 3, 1998
The Denver Broncos are going to get a new stadium after voters in Denver voted YES on the stadium.
NFL ISSUES FIRST STADIUM LOANS
May 27, 1999
Copyright 1999 MediaVentures
The NFL has approved stadium loans to the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos under a new program designed to help owners fund the cost of new venues. For the Patriots, the loan means the league will pay up to half the cost of the stadium now expected to cost $285 million. The league's maximum investment will be $150 million. The loan will be repaid over 15 years from club seat revenue that would have gone to the visiting team. If Robert Kraft, team owner, sells the team before the loan is repaid, he is responsible for repaying the full amount himself.
The league is expected to loan up to $44 million to the Broncos and up to $55 million for the Eagles.
MAXIMUM PRICE SET ON BRONCOS' STADIUM
July 15, 1999
Copyright 1999 Mediaventures
The general contractor picked to build a new stadium for the Denver Broncos has promised the new venue will cost no more than $364.2 million. The original estimate put the cost of the 76,125-seat stadium at $360 million. If the price goes above the maximum, it will be up to the developer to pick up the tab.
With financing and development costs added in, the total maximum price is $400.8 million. The price includes the razing of Mile High Stadium and McNichols Arena. McNichols is being replaced this fall by the new Pepsi Center. The Broncos will invest $111 million and the balance will come from taxpayers. The amount is below the $335 million authorized by the state for the venue. The stadium is scheduled to open in 2001.
The new stadium will feature more restrooms than Mile High, a high-definition television scoreboard, cupholders for each seat, 8,500 club seats and 106 luxury suites. Mile High Stadium has no club seats and 58 luxury suites.
Press Release
Denver, August 10, 1999
Contact: Matt Sugar of MFSD (303) 244-1002
A ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Mile High stadium will be held on Tuesday, August 17, at 10:30 a.m. on lot G of the Denver Sports Complex site located at the north-east corner of Federal Boulevard and 17th Avenue (Dick Connor Avenue).
Stadium construction is well underway, and the Downtown Denver Skyline, will serve as a backdrop to the groundbreaking ceremony. The public is invited to attend the ceremony which will feature Governor Bill Owens, Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and a host of other elected officials former players and staff.
The new multi-use, 76,125 seat stadium includes 1.7 million square feet of space (approximately twice that of Mile High Stadium) with amenities such as wider concourses, wider seats, more restrooms (including family restrooms) over 400 points-of-sale for concessions and merchandising, elevators and escalators and full accommodations for people with disabilities.
The new $364.2 million stadium is being designed and built by Turner/Empire/Alvarado Construction and HNTB Architects in Association with Fentress Bradburn Architects and Burtram Bruton Architects.
Due to construction parking will be limited. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to use RTD or to car pool. Limited parking will be available in Lot H west of McNichols Arena and south of Dick Connor Avenue. Access to Lot H is gained by heading east on Dick Connor Avenue from Federal Blvd.
Press Release
Denver, August 17, 1999
Contact: Matt Sugar of MFSD (303) 244-1002
DENVER-The Metropolitan Football Stadium District and the Denver Broncos Football Club officially broke ground today for the replacement of Mile High Stadium which will become the new home for the twice running Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos and make way for community events and gatherings well into the next century.
Ray Baker, Chairman of the nine-member Metropolitan Football Stadium District representing the six-county area charged with developing the new stadium, opened the ceremony by dedicating the facility to the citizens of the Metropolitan Football Stadium District.
Baker said, "We stand here today on the eve of a new century, so too we stand on the threshold of a new stadium, a facility that will reflect the spirit of Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. A place to begin new friendships and savor old memories. A place that once again will establish our home and the home of the Denver Broncos as the envy of the nation and the world."
Colorado Governor Bill Owens joined in the ceremony adding, "The Broncos represent a proud Colorado tradition. Today marks the beginning of a new era for the Broncos and for Colorado."
"The new Mile High Stadium is another feather in Denver’s cap," said Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb. "With a new home for the World Champion Denver Broncos, Denver is one of the only cities that can boast three new major league sporting facilities within the last decade. The entire Metropolitan area will benefit economically and remain the sports capitol of the West."
Denver Bronco Owner Pat Bowlen said, "As we face a new millennium, we are moving forward together in building a world class stadium for our city and our state. My pledge is that we will continue to do everything possible to put championship teams on the field year in and year out."
The new multi-use 76,125 seat stadium includes 1.7 million square feet of space (approximately twice that of Mile High Stadium), with amenities such as wider concourses, wider seats, more restrooms (including family restrooms), over 400 points-of-sale for concessions and merchandising, elevators and escalators, and full service accommodations for people with disabilities. The stadium is expected to be completed in the fall of 2001.
The Metropolitan Football Stadium District is made up of a six-county area including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties. Each county is represented by one board member with two additional representatives appointed by the Governor and one appointed by the state legislature completing the nine-member board.
The new $364.2 million stadium is being designed and built by Turner/Empire/Alvarado Construction and HNTB Architects, in association with Fentress Bradburn Architects and Bertram A. Bruton Architects. Dozens of Colorado companies and hundreds of professional designers, engineers and construction tradesmen are involved in the construction of the new state-of-the-art facility.
Preliminary work on the new stadium began March 1, 1999 with utility relocation and soil remediation followed shortly after by foundation and caisson installation. Bryant Street has been re-routed, making way for a temporary Bryant Street to be made permanent by the time of completion. The stadium location also required that Dick Connor (17th Ave.) be closed to through traffic (Dick Conner is near the 50 yard line of the new facility). Crews will continue to work in a clockwise direction from the northwest corner of the facility. Recently completed was the first above ground concrete pour, over 600 yards of concrete, which will serve as part of the main concourse. Three large cranes, the largest over 200 ft. also are visible on site.
Many other improvements associated with the project are well underway. One of those projects, the "Bronco Bridge," already has been expanded to allow more pedestrian traffic to access the sports complex from east of the Platte River. This is one of many site enhancements that will take place over the construction period.
Work will continue throughout the 1999 and 2000 seasons. The facility is expected to open in the fall of 2001.
SOME OF THE OLD TO BE IN DENVER'S NEW NFL STADIUM
September 16, 1999
Copyright 1999 MediaVentures
Designers of the new Broncos stadium in Denver plan to add touches to the venue that remind fans of Mile High Stadium. The large white bronco above the scoreboard will be
moved into the new stadium and some seats from the venue will be bronzed and put in an outdoor park. The new stadium will also retain a horseshoe shape.
Some of the new items will include five columns flying the flags of the counties that helped fund the new stadium. A Colorado Sports Hall of Fame is also planned. The new
stadium opens in 2001.
One change that might be difficult is the sale of naming rights. When the state approved funding for the new stadium, it reserved naming rights so it could decide later whether
they should be sold or not. Denver Mayor Wellington Webb has already made up his mind on the issue and sent a letter to the Metropolitan Football Stadium District asking that the
new stadium retain the Mile High name.
If naming rights are sold, the money will not go to the Broncos. Instead the revenue will be used to reduce the public's debt on the building. Board officials said they will keep
the public's sentiment about the historic name in mind when considering whether to sell the rights, but they also can't ignore a responsibility to reduce the taxpayers' burden.
Team owner Pat Bowlen has also said he would like the new stadium to be called Mile High.
DENVER POLLING MARKET ON NEW STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS
November 4, 1999
Copyright 1999 MediaVentures
Stadium district officials are out talking with local companies to see who might be interested in buying the name to the new Broncos' stadium and if they are willing to include the Mile High name. They hope to have an answer early next month. The deal could be worth up to $60 million with the funds going to reduce the public's share of the expense. There is political pressure to maintain the phrase Mile High in the name, but that could reduce the value for buyers because it would be easy for fans to simply drop the corporate moniker.
DENVER TAXPAYERS PAY LITTLE TO RETAIN MILE HIGH NAME
ON NEW BRONCOS' STADIUM
November 11, 1999
Copyright 1999 MediaVentures
It would cost Denver-area taxpayers between $14 and $31 a year to insist that "Mile High" be part of the new Broncos stadium name, according to an analysis by the
Denver Post. The Metropolitan Football Stadium District board exploring naming rights is considering a requirement that the buyer keep "Mile High" as part of the name.
Marketers believe that would devalue the purchase because fans would simply refer to the stadium by the traditional name rather than use the new sponsor's name.
Revenue from the sale of naming rights will go to reduce taxpayers' contribution. The analysis suggests the extra money gained by dropping the "Mile High" name would
mean the $289 million debt could be retired a year or two early. The debt is primarily funded through a 0.1% sale tax.
A family earning less than $30,000 would save an estimated $17 per year while a household drawing $70,000 a year would save an estimated $31. The tax is not
collected on food, drugs and selected other items.
The district board is researching the issue now and hopes to get a report on the issue Dec. 9.
