PHOENIX — As the Broncos progress toward Burnham Yard as the preferred site for a new stadium development, Owner Carrie Walton Penner stressed the importance of a collaborative process between the Broncos, the community and their partners on the project.

"It takes all of us," Walton Penner told DenverBroncos.com at the NFL Annual Meeting.

Walton Penner said it has been terrific to hear from the community to start the process, as the team has held a series of Community Information Meetings to elicit feedback. Walton Penner also noted the scope of the work, which has involved community leaders and state and city officials.

"It's been fantastic, and it's been really exciting." Walton Penner said. "Part of it has been really exciting to hear and learn about the history of Burnham Yard. We're still in listening mode right now, doing a lot of work with community members, city council, the mayor's office. The governor has been a great partner and very supportive."

Walton Penner said she can feel the momentum for the project, and she's eager to work with the community and additional partners to make the world-class stadium development a reality.

"We're excited to partner across the community to make this an incredible year-round opportunity for Denver and for the organization," Walton Penner said.

As the Broncos work toward a target opening date of 2031 — which President Damani Leech described this week as realistic but ambitious — Walton Penner described how that momentum must translate into action.

"We have a number of different processes in place and kind of running simultaneously to each other," Walton Penner said. "We really are getting to a point where all of these great partnerships and the conversations meet, and we need to just keep making the timelines."

Walton Penner credited Leech and General Counsel Tim Aragon for their work in engaging the community and other leaders, and she's now eager to see the next steps begin to take place.

"The timeline is aggressive," Walton Penner said, "and so we're looking forward to getting a little bit more momentum there, too."

ON THE MOVE

As the organization continues through the early stages of a new stadium development, another of their key infrastructure projects is entering its final phase.

The new Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit headquarters is just months away from its planned opening in late June, and anticipation is building for the new building, Walton Penner said.

"It's been exciting to watch it across the field, from groundbreaking until today," Walton Penner said. "And so, we're just now getting ready to put some final touches on over the next couple months and then get ready to move across. … Part of it is we're staying in our home and we're just moving across fields, so I think that the energy that comes with that is fantastic."

The benefits will be extensive for business staff and the football team. Most of the staff who work at Empower Field at Mile High will be able to work side by side with those at the new facility, producing a more united organization — "one team that really are all together and located in our new facility," as Walton Penner put it.

The impact for the football team will also be significant. Instead of three key, separate buildings where players spend much of their time, they will be able to stay within the same facility for all their needs.

"It really is all about the players," Walton Penner said. "From ground zero, first floor, it is the players' floor, and … the heart of that is their locker room. It's a much bigger and enhanced locker room. But all around them, we designed it with the idea that we want our players taking as few steps as possible to get everything that they need and have access to everything they need and really conserve their energy for getting things done on the field."

A GROWING IMPACT

Since the Walton-Penner Ownership Group purchased the Broncos, Walton Penner has worked to be part of shaping the league in meaningful ways. At the NFL Annual Meeting, she spoke about the growth of her work within several of the NFL's committees, where she and other team owners work together on addressing issues and opportunities under their purview.

"For the last few years, I've been on the NFL Foundation Board and then the diversity committee," Walton Penner said. "So, I've been doing those for a few years, and this year I added the player health and safety. All three of those really are in alignment with what my background is and my engagement with the team, as well, in different areas.

"So, it's great to see a lot of the different improvements, some of the rules that we will be listening to [Tuesday], the rule recommendations and changes for players on the field. And, you know, as the NFL continues to really focus on how do we strengthen the game and how do we make sure the game is as safe as possible, it's exciting to be part of that."

CELEBRATING A YEAR

The Broncos recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the unprecedented ALL IN. ALL COVERED. initiative, which was featured on a recent 9News special. Asked what made her most proud of the new program that helped make football safer across Colorado, Walton Penner cited the momentum the initiative has helped create across the state.

"Ninety-nine percent of high schools across Colorado and programs have signed on to this," Walton Penner said. "We have distributed almost 4,000 helmets over the last year. So, that's been really exciting — and just to see that this is something that's creating incredible momentum across Colorado is fantastic."