Denver Water statement regarding the Sept. 9, 2025, Denver Broncos announcement about Burnham Yard

On Sept. 9, 2025, the Denver Broncos, Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced that Burnham Yard is the preferred home for the new stadium site.

For more than a hundred years, this area has also been home to Denver Water and the site of its newly constructed Operations Complex, completed in 2019. Making room for a new Broncos stadium while keeping Denver Water whole has been the subject of intense discussion and negotiation between the Broncos and Denver Water for many months.

“The Board of Water Commissioners recognizes that keeping the Broncos stadium in Denver is an important and exciting opportunity for the community we serve,” said Stephanie Donner, Board President for Denver Water. “We have committed to helping make Burnham Yard home of the new stadium, with the understanding that any impacted Denver Water facilities need to be fully replaced to the same high-quality standards, and at no expense to Denver Water’s ratepayers or adverse impacts to our operations.”

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For this location to work, the Broncos need Denver Water to relocate some of its facilities on the south side of the complex. The Administration Building, where roughly half of its 1,200 employees report, will stay in its current location. Buildings that currently house Denver Water’s operations and maintenance, distribution, trades, fleet, meter shop, warehouse and health clinic workers will need to be relocated.

“While this is not something we sought, Denver Water understands the significance of this opportunity for the city of Denver and the economic importance for the larger community we serve,” explained Denver Water CEO/Manager Alan Salazar. “Over the last several months, we have been exploring how we can help to keep the Broncos in Denver at their preferred location without compromising our critical mission or jeopardizing our financial or operational needs. Most important of all, accommodating a new stadium cannot be financed or subsidized by our ratepayers.

“Today’s announcement shines a light on the path of how we get a deal done that is important for the future of both the Denver Broncos and Denver Water — two organizations with unique ties to the region,” Salazar added.

Critical to this partial relocation is that it be accomplished in a manner that complies with the Denver Charter and Denver Water’s covenants with its bond holders, both of which commit Denver Water’s resources to the operation and management of the water works system. Therefore, the Broncos have agreed to pay all costs necessary to fund Denver Water’s relocation, including, but not limited to, new property acquisitions, site preparation and construction. Funds from water rates will not be used.

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In partnership with the city of Denver and the Broncos, Denver Water has identified multiple sites that would enable the utility to relocate the impacted facilities and operations in a way that maintains and, in some cases, enhances its ability to effectively achieve its mission to serve the community.

The largest property is at 40th and Clayton, in north Denver. There are also two smaller properties, one near the current stadium and the other directly north of Denver Water’s current complex, that could house facilities that need to be relocated.

Determining how much it will cost for the Broncos to relocate some of Denver Water’s facilities and operations will occur over the next few months.

“We will be working out the full agreement over the next few months with the Broncos and the city of Denver to ensure any transition is as smooth as possible for our employees and customers,” Salazar said. “Delivering a clean, reliable water supply every day, without fail and at an affordable rate remains our top priority. Our employees are rightly proud of our mission to provide water for 1.5 million people in the region, but they also understand how important a new stadium will be for the community.” 

Denver Water proudly serves high-quality water and promotes its efficient use to 1.5 million people in the city of Denver and many surrounding suburbs. Established in 1918, the utility is a public agency funded by water rates, new tap fees and the sale of hydropower, not taxes. It is Colorado’s oldest and largest water utility. Subscribe to TAP to hydrate your mind, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.