Sports Authority Field at Mile High could receive renovations, though some details still need to be addressed by the Denver Broncos and the stadium’s owner.
There are currently some cases in which teams–the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans being very recent cases–are looking to spruce up stadiums from the late 1990’s. The Broncos first moved into Sports Authority Field at Mile High back in 2001, and the stadium has not received significant upgrades since its opening.
On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Football Stadium District discussed a broad range of projects, including new suites and creating more flexible standing-room only options. It is early in the process, but additional details were discussed. More from Denver ABC 7:
“Sports Authority Field is now 20th in the league in terms of total area video display in the bowl, but you are 12th in the league with the single-largest screen,” said Mile High Stadium Senior Architect Lanson Nichols.
He updated the Mile High Board Tuesday on what needs to be fixed, as part of a ‘State of the Stadium’ 15-year assessment.
“Some people have called this the arms race of the NFL,” he said. “You look at it and every year, somebody is just bigger, bigger, bigger.”
The stadium got a once-over – from concrete, to welded connections and the 76,000 seats that will need replacing.
“The projection that we’ve got right now is over three seasons, starting in about four years, is about $16 million.
One factor that could affect the timing is the stadium’s naming rights. Sports Authority filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this spring and attempted to sell the contract on the stadium through an asset auction before relinquishing the agreement. Currently the naming rights are in the hands of the Broncos, who are leaving the Sports Authority Field at Mile High name in place until another partner is found.
Image courtesy of the Denver Broncos.