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series of limited liability corporations have purchased at least 13 parcels of land around a potential future Broncos stadium site in Denver since last summer, spending over $150 million combined. The transactions started in August and continued through this spring, surrounding the Burham Yard railyard, a state-owned property that is for sale.
At least nine of the LLCs were created in 2023, and none of the sales involved loans. BusinessDen reported that at least 10 of the LLCs have ties to the Broncos' Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, but this has not been independently verified by The Denver Post.
The Broncos declined to comment on specific real estate transactions around Burnham Yard or elsewhere, stating they are involved in a comprehensive process regarding their future stadium. Real estate records show that some of these LLCs were handled by Lea Ann Fowler, a real estate attorney who previously worked with the Broncos' general counsel Tim Aragon.
Recent sales near Burnham Yard averaged close to $300 per square foot of built space, significantly higher than other industrial properties in central Denver. The total purchase price for 13 recent sales around Burham Yard is nearly $153 million. Acquiring land like this can serve multiple purposes for a professional sports franchise, including setting up a club to build and develop or using it as leverage while negotiating with a municipality.
The Burnham Yard site is considered a possible location for a new Broncos stadium, but it may be too small on its own. Consultants agree that the yard fits the bill for a professional sports stadium, but additional land would be needed for a stadium and an adjacent entertainment district. This can be an expensive proposition, but it's often worth it when considering the potential revenue from a $2 billion venue.
The Broncos' current lease with the Metropolitan Football Stadium District runs through 2030, giving them time to decide on their future plans. Team president Damani Leech stated that they have "a healthy amount of pressure" to move forward in their decision-making process, but they are not bound by a specific timeline for announcing a project site.
