Burnham Yard

The Denver Broncos are quietly assembling properties near Burnham Yard, a 58-acre former rail yard just southeast of downtown, as speculation grows about a potential new stadium.

Burnham Yard was active from the 1870s under Denver & Rio Grande and later Union Pacific, before going dormant in 2016.

Colorado DOT acquired the site in 2021 for $50 million, originally for freight and transit infrastructure planning.

Since late 2023, ten LLCs tied to former Broncos legal counsel spent approximately $146 million acquiring nearby properties. Three more parcels brought the total spend to around $154 million.

Properties acquired (via BusinessDen):

627 N Osage St — $3.3M (August 2024)
741 N Osage St — $53M (August 2024)
701 N Osage St — $47M (September 2024)
1617 W 12th Ave — $3.2M (September 2024)
1600 W 13th Ave — $1.5M (October 2024)
1201 to 1245 N Quivas St — $4.7M (October 2024)
1520 W 13th Ave — $5M (December 2024)
1530 W 13th Ave — $12.5M (January 2025)
485 N Osage St — $7.7M (April 2025)
1390 W 10th Ave — $7M (April 2025)

Sources say the Broncos are behind the purchases.

The team commented that they are “involved in a comprehensive process regarding the future of our stadium… no determinations have been made.” Their current lease at Empower Field runs through 2031.

Burnham Yard sits about one mile from Empower Field and is adjacent to the 10th and Osage RTD light rail station. That transit connection aligns with city and state visions for mixed-use, transit-oriented redevelopment tying together downtown and Lincoln Park.

The yard’s crescent shape and limited access could require even more land. CDOT has said there are no immediate plans to sell, though site preparation is underway.

The Broncos have made a major land play near downtown. Burnham Yard is officially in the conversation. Whether it becomes their next home remains to be seen.

For more on this story, head to @business.den