PHOENIX — As the Broncos continue to work toward solidifying Burnham Yard as their new home, Owner & CEO Greg Penner emphasized the importance of community and partner collaboration.
"It's an ambitious timeline that we have, and we won't be able to accomplish our goals in terms of timing and getting in there by ourselves," Penner said Monday at the NFL Annual Meeting. "It's not just something the Broncos are driving. We've got to have a lot of support from partners and others that are involved with the site."
The Broncos — who announced Burnham Yard in September as the preferred site for a new stadium development — are working with civic leaders, community members and other stakeholders to finalize the site as their future long-term home.
"We're getting closer," Penner said of finalizing the future stadium location. "Again, some important steps have been taken, but when we change that from preferred site to 'This is the site,' we'll have all of our ducks lined up and be prepared to say we're formally moving forward with that site. Not sure exactly when that's going to be, but hopefully sometime in the coming months."
Penner credited Owner Carrie Walton Penner, President Damani Leech, General Counsel Tim Aragon and others from the team in engaging the community and civic leaders. Penner emphasized the Broncos aren't alone in moving toward the goal, and he pointed to a number of different stakeholders the Broncos are working alongside.
"It's help and input from the community," Penner said. "It's [help] from city council and the mayor. And then Denver Water is going to be an important part of the process. Obviously, it's a utility that provides a tremendous asset to the community, and we need to make sure as we move forward that their service isn't interrupted in any way. We're cognizant of that, but also coming up with a plant that allows us to get in there on the timeline we have in mind."
Penner said while the Broncos don't currently have an agreement in place, the team would plan to extend its lease with Empower Field at Mile High if a new stadium isn't completed by 2031.
As the Broncos work toward a stadium development that's expected to be roughly 150 acres, Penner noted the support from external parties during the start to the process. Still, he noted the need for urgency to reach the team's goal of opening a new stadium in 2031.
"The support has been good, and everybody I think wants to do the right thing," Penner said. "But again, there's a lot of different parties with different interests. As of now, we're on track, but again, it's ambitious to get to the 2031 goal that we have."
