Broncos football, parking and Colorado’s transportation future
In the Aug. 20 Villager, Bob Sweeney writes that Colorado should build trains and still remember Broncos parking and tailgating.
Bob Sweeney ·
There is no statue built to a critic, and I certainly don’t want to be one when it comes to the Denver Broncos and their plans for a magnificent new stadium at historic Burnham Yard.
I think the Broncos are making an exciting investment in Colorado, and the Walton-Penner family ownership group deserves credit for privately funding the new stadium and envisioning a development that could become an important part of Denver’s future.
But I would like to offer one friendly suggestion: As the plans move forward, let’s remember the fans. Highways are crowded with automobiles, and when those automobiles leave the highways, they fill parking lots. Drive to a hospital, shopping center or major event and you quickly discover that parking is a precious commodity.
A Broncos game is no different. Today’s Empower Field at Mile High has a tremendous amount of surrounding parking, and that parking has become part of the Broncos experience. Tailgating is a Colorado football tradition. Fans arrive early, some with elaborate setups, grills and food, and some even bring campers and spend the night.
I recently attended a transportation meeting where the future of Colorado transportation was a major topic. Colorado is looking seriously at expanding passenger rail along the Front Range, with the Colorado Connector eventually linking Fort Collins, Denver and Pueblo. The proposed starter service between Denver and Fort Collins could begin as early as 2029, with expanded service toward Pueblo planned later. A 0.333% sales tax is being considered for the November ballot to help finance the larger system.
I think Colorado should build the trains. Let’s improve the buses. Let’s make it easier for people to get around Colorado without sitting in traffic. But let’s also remember that Colorado is still an automobile state. There will only be so many Broncos home games each year. Transit will have to serve Colorado every day, not just on football Sundays.
When the Broncos build their new home, I hope they provide sufficient parking and preserve the wonderful tailgating tradition that has become such an important part of Broncos football.
Print source: The Villager, Vol. 44 No. 39, Aug. 20, 2026, page 4. Issuu edition.