Can Women’s Soccer Stadium Revive Denver’s Santa Fe Yards?

The city of Denver may pour $70 million to build a women’s soccer stadium on a 41-acre vacant lot south of downtown, which could serve as anchor for a large retail village.

The proposed 14,500-seat stadium at the southeast corner of Interstate 25 and Santa Fe Drive would cost between $150 million and $200 million and serve as home to Denver National Women’s Soccer League team, set to debut next year, the Denver Business Journal reported.

The City Council is expected to vote on the $70 million outlay on Monday. A rezoning request is expected to go before the council in November.

The site, once a rubber factory, has had many failed redevelopment attempts despite more than $116 million in public funding to clean and prepare the land. Past projects hit a wall because of financial challenges, complex land conditions and evolving market dynamics.

This time, Robert Cohen, owner of the new NWSL team, asserts that building the stadium is essential to keeping the team in Denver.

The proposed stadium would occupy 14 acres on the northwest corner of the site and is slated to open by 2028. Of the $70 million, $42.5 million would be used to buy the land and $7.5 million would go toward on-site infrastructure, with the rest earmarked for off-site upgrades such as sidewalks.

Mayor Mike Johnston envisions a mixed-use development around the stadium, similar to plans near Ball Arena, featuring residential units, commercial spaces, restaurants and parks. An economic study projects the stadium could spark $650 million to $700 million in surrounding development, revitalizing the Baker neighborhood.

“We’ll build residential and commercial around it. I think gone is the day of a stadium with an 80-acre parking lot around it,” Johnston told the Denver Business Journal. “What we all want is activation and restaurants and bars and residences — that will be our goal in all of these developments.”

If approved, the city’s $70 million would cover land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and upgrades to nearby areas.

The city council’s South Platte River Committee has already endorsed the proposal despite concerns over economic uncertainties and the city’s strained budget.

Skeptics question the feasibility of the ambitious timeline, citing challenges such as rising construction costs, labor shortages and funding delays. Nonetheless, proponents see the project as a win-win for Denver, women’s soccer, local businesses and neighborhood morale.

— Dana Bartholomew