Broncos Announce New Stadium: A Holy Huddle for Denver Catholics

The Denver Broncos, City of Denver and State of Colorado announced the preferred site for a new Denver Broncos Stadium Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Denver Broncos' X account)

Break out your jerseys and maybe even your blue-and-orange rosaries — Denver is getting a brand-new stadium, and the Mile High City is buzzing.

On September 9, the Broncos officially announced Burnham Yard, a 58-acre historic rail yard just south of downtown, as the preferred site for their future home. The retractable-roof stadium is slated to open by the 2031 season and will anchor a new mixed-use district filled with shops, hotels and year-round attractions.

And here’s a piece of good news for taxpayers: the team has pledged that the stadium itself will be privately financed, with public money going only toward infrastructure improvements like roads and transit.

As the Broncos' owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a joint statement announcing the new stadium, “Denver has been the proud home of the Broncos since Day 1. This community-inspired vision will allow our city and team to continue to grow and thrive together at Burnham Yard.”

A Catholic Kind of Celebration

For Denver Catholics, this announcement is more than a sports headline — it’s a moment to reflect on the joys of community, tradition and yes, a little healthy hometown pride. In a city where faith and football are both taken seriously, the news of a new stadium feels like a blessing worth giving thanks for.

Some may joke that Catholics already know a thing or two about “stadium seating” — just look at our packed churches on Easter Sunday. Whether at Mass, at coffee and donuts or at a football game, we know well the power of gathering — around Christ, community and the gridiron.

Dreaming Big: Could Denver Host a Super Bowl?

With a retractable roof and modern design, the new stadium puts Denver in the running for something it’s never hosted before: the Super Bowl. While the city’s high altitude and unpredictable winter weather once made such dreams unlikely, the Broncos’ new facility could change all that. Imagine Catholics from across the country flying in for the big game, perhaps attending morning Mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary or St. Joseph before kickoff, and showing that faith and football can both thrive in the Mile High City!

A Catholic Name in Lights?

The Catholic connection to the Broncos already runs deeper than most fans realize. CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems, currently sponsors the team’s training facility in Englewood.

While nothing has been announced about stadium naming rights, some Catholics can’t help but imagine what it would mean if a Catholic name adorned the new home of the Broncos. A stadium bearing the name of a Catholic organization would stand as a visible reminder that faith continues to have a place in the public square — even in the world of professional sports.

At the very least, the idea has sparked a bit of fun speculation: what if Denver’s new Super Bowl–ready stadium was also a quiet witness to Catholic values of healing, community and human dignity?

A Place for More than Football

Catholics know that places are transformed by the spirit brought into them — whether through worship, service or community gathering. While the new stadium will primarily host Broncos games, it could also serve as a venue for concerts, community events and — who knows? — maybe even large archdiocesan gatherings or a Eucharistic rally under that retractable roof. Remember Mass with Pope St. John Paul II at Mile High Stadium in 1993?

And while there’s humor in the thought of a stadium confessional line rivaling the hot-dog stand, the point is this: spaces that bring people together can also become spaces of grace. As Pope Francis reminded us, the Church goes where the people are — and in Denver, that often means going where the Broncos play.

Giving Thanks and Looking Ahead

At the end of the day, a new stadium is just concrete, steel and a lot of orange seats. But it also represents hope, renewal and a vision for the future. It’s a chance for Denver Catholics to give thanks for the gift of community life, to pray for those who will build and work in the stadium, and to ask God’s blessing on all who will gather there.

So as we wait for kickoff in 2031, let’s take a cue from St. Paul: “Run so as to win” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Whether it’s on the field, in our parishes, or in our daily lives, let’s live with faith, perseverance and a whole lot of Broncos spirit.

And who knows — maybe one day soon, Denver Catholics will be able to say: “We hosted the Super Bowl… and yes, we prayed for the referees, too.”