Santa Fe Yards Stadium – design description

How does the new stadium project for the Denver NWSL look in a nutshell?

The new stadium in Denver will be built about 3.5 miles (more than 5 km) south of downtown and will be home to a new women's soccer team that will join the NWSL professional league in 2026. The facility is expected to be ready for the 2028 season, and until then the team will play matches at the stadium located in the training center.

The new stadium will receive covered stands on three sides of the field and an open south side – with views of Pikes Peak. The capacity of the facility will be 14,500 spectators and is expected to be the largest investment in infrastructure dedicated to a women's soccer team in history. Responsible for the design is the renowned studio Populous.

How did plans for a new stadium for the Denver NWSL come about?

In June 2023, a group of investors announced plans to create a professional women's soccer team in Denver. The initiative proved successful: on January 30, 2025, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) officially announced the expansion of the league to include a new Denver-based team.

The new team, tentatively referred to as Denver NWSL (a final name has not yet been chosen), is expected to begin playing in the league starting with the 2026 season. A new team from Boston (Boston Legacy FC) will also join the NWSL that same season, which will expand the league from 14 to 16 teams.

The National Women's Soccer League is the most prestigious women's soccer competition in the US, along with the USL Super League. Denver NWSL paid a record entry fee to join the league ($110 million). Part of Denver NWSL's ambitious plans from the very beginning was investment in infrastructure, including the construction of a modern stadium.

When were plans to build a new stadium for the Denver NWSL announced?

As early as March 18, 2025, at a specially organized ceremony attended by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, among others, plans for a new stadium were announced and the first renderings were presented. The project was developed in cooperation with the renowned studio Populous.

Where will the new stadium for the Denver NWSL be built?

The new stadium is to be built in Santa Fe Yards, located about 3.5 miles (more than 5 km) south of downtown Denver. The site is situated between the Interstate 25 and the South Platte River, adjacent to the I-25 & Broadway light rail station.

The site formerly housed some of the buildings of the Gates Rubber Company factory. The factory ceased operations in the 1990s, and the buildings on the site where the new stadium is to be built were demolished in 2007.

After the demolition of the buildings, plans for a real estate development were made, but they were not realized, and the site remained undeveloped for a long time.

When will a new stadium be built for the Denver NWSL?

No start date has been announced, but it is stated that the new stadium should be ready in spring 2028, for the start of the new season.

How much will the new stadium for the Denver NWSL cost?

The cost is not yet known, although it is expected that it will probably be in the upper range for this type of investment. Expenses for the construction of the stadium are expected to be fully covered by the owners of the Denver NWSL, but the city is to contribute to the development of infrastructure around the venue.

Where will the Denver NWSL perform until the new stadium opens?

On March 27, 2025, plans were announced for the construction of a training complex, of which the stadium will be a part, to serve Denver NWSL as a temporary venue during the 2026 and 2027 seasons (or longer, in case the investment is delayed).

During this time, the facility will be equipped with additional mobile stands that will increase its capacity to 12,000 spectators – once the new permanent stadium opens, the capacity of the venue at the training center will be reduced to 4,000.

The training complex is to include a total of 8 fields, as well as extensive technical and social facilities, creating a high-end sports center.

The training center will be built with the cooperation of Denver NWSL and Cherry Creek School District, which together will finance the investment estimated at $20-25 million. The facilities are expected to serve both schools and the club.

The center will be built in Centennial, in the southeastern part of the Denver metropolitan area, adjacent to the training facility of the NFL team, the Denver Broncos, and near Centennial Airport.

What are the plans for a new stadium for the Denver NWSL?

Dedicated to the women's soccer team, the new stadium will be a soccer-specific facility, with stands on three sides of the field to accommodate 14,500 spectators. The stands will be covered, and the highest will be the main stand, located on the west side and equipped with extensive facilities as well as VIP offerings.

The space behind the southern goal will remain open, providing fans with views of Pikes Peak. In the future, it will be possible to build another stand on this side, which should increase the stadium's capacity to around 20,000 spectators.

What will be built around the new stadium for the Denver NWSL?

Part of the entire concept are development projects that, together with the stadium, will occupy an area of 14 acres. The plan also calls for the creation of a 3.5-acre recreational park.

What role will the new stadium at Santa Fe Yards serve?

The stadium will primarily serve the new Denver women's soccer team, which will play in the NWSL professional league. The facility is also expected to be open for hosting cultural events and any other possible activities.

A unique feature of the stadium is that it will likely be the largest investment in infrastructure dedicated to a women's soccer team in history. Combined with the new training center, Denver NWSL will receive excellent conditions for operation and development.

Plans for a new stadium for the Denver NWSL were announced a year after the opening of CPKC Stadium in Kansas City. The facility, dedicated to another NWSL team, the Kansas City Current, was the first such major investment created for a women's soccer team, at the time setting a whole new standard in global women's soccer.