ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — While the Broncos continue to evaluate the possibility of a new stadium, President Damani Leech said there has been "no determination" as the team undergoes a comprehensive process.
"[I'm] certainly aware of all the media coverage here recently," Leech said Saturday at Broncos training camp. "We share in the excitement and interest that it's generated among the fans. We appreciate it. It's good for us to learn what some of the fans say and hear in response to some of those media reports. But, no, I wouldn't say any decision is made. It's a very comprehensive, long-term process that we're going through. We're trying to be very deliberate about it. [There's] still no determination about whether it's a new stadium or whether it's a renovation or the location that it's in — a lot of work to go there."
Leech said the Broncos have not made any decision on preferred sites for the stadium, and he reiterated the team has looked at Denver, Aurora and Lone Tree as locations for a potential new stadium along with the option of renovating Empower Field at Mile High or building on the current site.
As Denver works through its process, Leech also said Denver will not unnecessarily hurry a decision.
"We're not going to put a timetable on it," Leech said. "This is a 30-, 40-, 50-year decision that we don't want to rush by a matter of weeks here or there. We're going to continue to do our due diligence until we feel like we're in a position to make the right decision."
While the Broncos evaluate potential paths, the construction on the new Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit is rapidly moving forward.
"Almost a year ago we had our groundbreaking [ceremony], and for me, my office faces the construction site, and I marvel at how quickly it's gone up," Leech said. "… There's over a hundred people there every day working, the construction crew, sunup to sundown. They're working, like, 150,000 man hours [that have] gone into the facility. So, to see it go up so quickly is amazing. [Senior Vice President of Construction] Amy Dee, our head of construction, does a great job managing it. It reminds us about how much more we have to go. We have the topping out ceremony that will be in August, which is the highest beam [placement]. We'll enclose the building by November, so from a weather standpoint they'll be able to do all the interiors and get us to a situation where we're able to move in by May of next year."
Leech said he walked the space for the first time in recent weeks and got a closer look at the new facility.
"We talk about efficient player path and travel, and to walk it is really, really interesting and special," Leech said. "A lot of that stuff will happen over the next several weeks and months, and it'll be really exciting."
The stadium and training center efforts are just two examples of the Broncos' current agenda, and Leech credited the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group for leading the organization forward.
"We have a full agenda," Leech said. "What has been great about our ownership group is the vision and passion that they have to make this … the best team to play for, work for and cheer for — and that becomes the training facility, that is the stadium, that is the uniforms we've done.
"We'll continue to do more work, there will continue to be more things on our plate, things will come up like the 'ALL IN. ALL COVERED.' program. We're really excited about that. Over 15,000 helmets will be distributed across the state of Colorado high school football programs in the next three years. Things like that are really exciting."
